Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-05-30
FESLER SPEAKS
AT EXERCISES
IN THE CIRCLE
lcontinuea PROM Page one.l

IN 44A1 O4AGOA<A%
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erected by a grateful State to commemo-
rate their services, here in this sacred
place. so dedicated to patriotic and IN
selfish service we are come again to
witness our love and our gratitude for
those in whose memory this monument
viii ever stand and pledge anew our
. highest devotion TO our country and its
institutions" began Mr.. Fesler.
~ @And we are not unmindful of the fact
q that as we gather here in the discharge
4of this high and sacred duty of our
citizenship, there is but a few miles away
q great concourse of people drawn from
the proper observance of this day by an
occasion wholly unworthy and apart from
the true spirit of the day. |
II hold such an event to be desecra-
ton Of this day which should be pro-
hTbited by law.
DAY BELONGS TO
NATIONS HEROES.
This day belongs to the men, living
and dead, who have offered themselves
TO preserve this Nation. to keep alive
the spirit OF liberty and humanity
throughout the world, and to save the
peoples OF the earth from the domino
ton Of the most merciless military au
toeracy that ever cursed the world 1t is
a day that has been set aside by every
patriotic community in this land for con
temptation and reflection upon the high
est duties Of American citizenship
day for reverence for the memory of
those who have made the supreme sac
rsfce for a great cause Such day must
not be capitalized for an automobile race
a.Au the nations, with which the United
States was associated IN the World War,
are paying tribute to the American sol
der dead today. In more than seventy
centers throughout France approximately
IS. 600 graves viii be decorated. Where
Americans are unable to be present to
take charge Of the exercises the French
government IS sending representatives to
do So So. while the French people are
thus paying tribute to American valor
and heFoism, a few hundred meet here
for that purpose. while more than 100000,
forgetful Of all the services and sacrifices
Of American soldiers from Fit. Sumter TO
the ArgOnne, attend race. With a hun
dred other days in every year equally
suitable for such events from every view
point except the commercial one. such
dissertation of this holy day should stop.
rs il any wonder the American people
have been slow to~demSnd and provide
necessary hospital facilities for the men
who have returned from France, invalids
and worse, when public sentiment per
mits such cOmmercialism Of the day.
When their service Were needed We made
promises without Limitation and pledges
without reservation. The least We can
now do is to see that those who, by
reason Of their service, have lost health
and more, are given adequate hospital
facilities and the best medical attention
obtainable-"
STORY OF UNION
SOLDIER Is RETOLD-
The story of the Union soldier and the
cause for which he fought should be told
and retOld on every proper occasion, said
Mr.. FesIer Every chapter is an inspira-
ton. He recalled two and a quarter mil
lions Of men went into the Union Army
Of which number 10000 were killed on
the battlefield and $4,000 more died in
hospitals from wounds received IN bat
tie. In addition, $1,000 more starved in
prisons and 100000 were manned and
wounded.
Greater suffering. truer heroism, more
exalted patriotism is not to be found in
the history of any people" the speaker
said
No State had a more glorious record in
the Civil War than Indiana. said Mr..
Fesler. Hoosier soldiers and soiIors
were in every important engagement
from Phillip in June, 81, where the first
soldier killed was from this State, TO the
last battle Of the war on the banks Of
the Rio Grande in May. IS.
+, Three hundred battlefelds have been
made more sacred by their blood and
126 regiments Of infantry. thirteen regi-
ments Of cavalry, one regiment Of artil-
lery, twenty-six companies of artillery,
2,150 enlistments in the Navy. making in
ali a total OF 210,4 97 men. viii ever speak
for the patriotism OF Indiana in the war
for the Union as nothing else can"
The life OF the Union soldier has been
as exemplary since rs during the Civil
War, Mr.. Fesler said. because he has
-'stood fearlessly and always for the su-
premacy Of law in every community"
Since Memorial day has grown to in
clude the rendering Of homage to the
mep Of al American wars, it is fitting
that the record Of the State in other con-
ficts be told, the speaker held. In the
war with Spain, he pointed out, Indiana
furnished FIVE regiments Of infantry, two
batteries Of artillery, two colored com
panies Of infantry, one company of engi-
neers and one signal company. 7.241 men
in all. In the World War rs, 900 men
went from Indiana.
Not all Of the World war service men
were able to reach the front lines, he
said, but every man who could not
was enviOus Of the man who did. and
our State has now made a creditable be-
ginning toward memorislizing the serv-
ices OF those who upheld the patriotic
traditions of our State. The expendi-
ture necessary for this purpose, large
though 1t may be, will be - good in
vestment for the State of Indiana"
He said laylessness and disorder are