The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-11-17
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
At The Burial OF An Unknown Amer
lean Soldier at Arlington Friday.

AT the burial OF an unknown Amer
lean soldier on Armistice Day at Arl-
ington Cemetery on last Friday Pres
iden Harding made the following adj
dress before an immense throng of
soldiers and citizens from all parts
of the country:
Mr.. Secretary of War and Ladies
and Gentlemen: We are met today to
pay the impersonal tribute. The name
of him whose body lies before US took
flight with his imperishable soul. We
know not whence he came, but only
that his death marks him with the ev-
erlasting glory of an American dying
for his country.
He might have come from any one
of millions of American homes. Some
mother gave him in her love and ten
derness, and with him her most cher
ished hopes. Hundreds of mothers are
wondering today, finding a touch of
solace in the possibility that the Ma
ton bows in grief over the body of
one she bore to live and die, if need
be, for the Republic. If we give rein
to fancy, score of sympathetic
chords are touched, for in this body
there once glowed the soul of an Am
erican, with the aspirations and ambi-
tions of citizen who cherished life
and its opportunities. He may have
been a native or an adopted son; that
matters little, because they glorifed
the same loyalty, they sacrificed alike.
We do not know his station in life,
because from every station came the
patriotic response of the five millions,
| recall the days of creating armies,
and the departing of caravels which
braved the murderous seas to reach
the battle lines for maintained nation
atty and preserved civilization. The
service flag marked mansion and cot
tage alike, and riches were common
to all homes in the consciousness of
service to country.
We do not know the eminence of his
birth, but we do know the glory of his
death. He died for his country, and
greater devotion hath no man than
this. He died unquestioning, uncom-
planning, with faith in his heart and
hope on his lips, that his country
should triumph and its civilization
survive. AS a typical soldier of his
representative democracy, he fought
and died, believing in the indisputable
justice of his country's cause. Con-
scious of the worlds upheaval. ap-
praising the magnitude of a war the
like of which had never Mortified hu-
mainly before, perhaps he believed his
to he a service destined to change the
tide of human affairs.
In the death gloom of gas. the
bursting of shells and rain of bullets.
men face more intimately the great
God over all, their souls are adame.
and consciousness expands and hearts
are searched. With the din of battle.
the glow of conflict, and the supreme
trial of courage, come involuntarilv
the hurried appraisal of life and the
contemplation of deaths great mvs-
terry. On the threshold of eternity.
many a soldier, l can we'll believe
wondered how the ebbng blood would
color the stream of life, flowing on
after his sacrifice. His patriotism was
none less if he craved more than tri-
umph OF country; rather, it was
greater if he hoped for victory for
all humankind. Indeed, revere that
citizen whose confidence in righteous
ness of his country inspired belief that
its triumph is the victory or human
ity.
This American soldier went forth TO
battle with no hatred for any people
in the world, but hating war and hat
ing the purpose of every war for con-
quest. He cherished our national
rights and abhorred the threat of
armed domination and in the mael-
strom OF destruction and suffering and
death he fired his shot for liberation
OF the captive conscience of the en-
tire world. In advancing toward his
objective was somewhere a thought
OF world awakened; and we are here
to testify undying gratitude and rev.
erence for that thought of wider
freedom.
On such an occasion as this, amid
such scene, our thoughts alternate
between defenders living and defend
ers dead. A grateful Republic will be
worthy of them both. Our part is to
atone for the losses of heroic dead by
making better Republic for the liv-
ing.
Sleeping in these hallowed grounds
are thousands of Americans who have
given their blood for the baptism of
freedom and its maintenance, armed
opponents of the Nations conscience
1t is better and nobler for their deeds
Burial here is rather more than a sign
n<