Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-31
AT WASHINGTON
CONTINUED from Page one)


all time that the differences which
brought us to civil conflict were due
to antiquities in our union and the
disputes between two schools of po-
litical thought, and when we made
union indissoluble and the nation SUI
preme, we left our people one flag, one
purpose, one pride and one destiny.
"In such a view, we must see that
our opportunity to be useful to man.
kind at large depends first on being
loyal to ourselves. No itSal of gen.
erosity to all pen can justify neglect
first to make ourselves strong, firm,
secure, in behalf of our own people.
We cannot hope to discharge thu
wider responsibilities if we have not
first proved our capacity TO meet the
narrower ones. 1t is our wish to be
useful in the greater realms; but if we
are to do so, we must have no question
of our devotion to the great principles
for which these gave their lives in
the struggle which saved the union
and rededicated it forever to liberty.
counsel no selfshness, not little
Americanism, no mere parochialism,
when l urge that our first duty is 10
our own, and that in the measure of
its performance we will find the true
gauge of our capacity to be helpful
to others.
1T is a good thing to come to this
consecrated place and renew the
pledges of our loyalty to those whose
patriotism gave us our strength and
opportunity. They did not know they
could not know for what greater
things they were laying the founda-
tions. Yet their instinct rightly led
them to the judgment that duty was to
preserve the institution of popular
rule. or National solidarity. They did
not enter upon the war among the
states with primary purpose to end
the institution of human Slavery.
Worthy as that might have been, their
inspiration was higher. They sought
hrst to maintain the union, To keen it
a power for the advancement of Amer
lea and humanity, confident that if
they won all other rightful things in
due time would be achieved. They
were right then; in the end slavery
| received it's decree of Punishment from
this continent, and at last from the
world.
But let me repeat, that great
achievement for humanity was not tn.
aim with which they entered upon our
internecine struggle They were call
ed to prevent secession to save the
National unity. They believed that
the institutions of this country we're
good; that they deserved to be IRE.
served: that they were worth supreme
effort. even all of life Itself. In maxi
ing that effort and that sacrifice, they
ola 1ar more than save what had al
ready been gained; they made possibIe
Tor slavery to, he ended forever.
1T was the same in the more recent
war of the free peoples against tho
autocrats of the world. In ito bee;ns-
hlngs, men fought to protect that
which they already had Their conn
tries lives were at stake: their rights
as Tree men were menaced; and for
'hese they went forth to hattie
There was no thought of crusod;,
Tor the freedom of a world. of oman.
cipatlng distant peoples, of rendar-
ing d nople service to the enemy who
mad attacked them. They had no time
and small disposition to INDULGE IL
truisms.
yet, as in the case of o,,r ci,,,,
war they won far more than 49,.
mad sought in the beginning rho,.
won FOR themselves, their homes thoi,
countries; and in doing so thew do
stroved well-nigh the last intra,ch
mehts of the mistaken doctrine of =.
vine right to rule. = ~
They gained the victory f,r a..
own grateful countries, and with #
.hey won for those whom thew de-
ieated, the opportunity of ESTABLISH
ing free institutions. of planting
aemocracies where absolutism had
heio sway, OF making the peopIe Sill
preme. True, they were able onIv
70 anord opportunity for this great
advance. They could not force free
institutions upon the crushed ara
broken enemy. They could NOT in
sure that those institutions would he
permanent Feven If exnerinant.,I,,
aoopted. Freedom is not to be
crowded upon those who will not
nave 1t; but the privilege of adopt-
ing and having and enjoying it-that
privilege was opened wide to tbe
vanquished communities which had
sought to take it from others. We
DO not yet know certainly whether
the defeated and unwilling benefci-
aries will be able to grasp this boon.
we cannot tell whether they will
pay the price required to maintain
the freedom to which the door has
been opened. We do know. and we
take pride, that our sons and broth
ers afforded them the opportunity.
Thus we see that, whether in our
civil struggle or in the world war the
triumph of the right inevitably i'm
plies gains that sweep far Beyond the
mediate issue. Those heroes of
the Civil War who sleep about us
here wrote that lesson in symbols of
blood and fire where all men might
read. And they did yet more. They
taught the lesson of a great com
munity making its fight for free
dom an exclusive business Of the
whole people. Never before had
there been an example, on such a |
scala of the entire human and in
dustriai power of people being cast
inte the common cause. Wars had |
largely been professional affairs, in |
the hands of trained people, waged |
by conscripts whose knowledge or
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