The Washington times., 1921-10-19
SOVEREIGNTY DENOUNCED AS MPRACTICABLE BY HARDIN

that out OF varying conditions. con-
flicting ideas. and threatening Jeal-
ousies the victors were able 10 unite
In laying the foundations on which
we continue TO build with full con-
fidence today. Surely a God'siven
destiny must have inspired and an
Infinite hand assisted In directing.
Bitter Years Of Struggle.
1t is easy to become enthralled
In a retrospective and reverent rev.
erie. One may recall the bitter
years OF revolutionary struggle,
with varying hopes and fears and
the incalculable sacrifices involved,
and yet with that uncomfortable
resolution which must remain the
priceless heritage OF the republic.
II is difficult TO compare the glow
OF triumph, but In the retrospective
view we may bring ourselves TO a
new sense OF realization and appre-
ciation, and we may and do appraise
the exalted patriotism, the unfalter-
ing leadership, the unlimited Gevo-
ton, and the unfailing courage
which made Washington truly the
Father OF his country. More, we
get a new and more greatful esti-
mate of all the heroes who suffered
and sacrificed In the immortal strug-
gle, and we have a new reverence
for the lofty statesmanship which
began the temple OF an abiding re-
public.
IL is good to dwell In the at
mosphere OF historic Yorktown and
to recall the lessons of the immortal
It
ings OF devotion are thereby empha-
sized. We would not wish ours to
be other than forward-looking re-
public, but we will fail In coming
to the supreme fulfillment II we do
not recall the beginning. and the un.
alterable foundation on which we
have builded.
Washington's struggling and de-
crepit army OF a well-nigh exhaust
ed cause, had been operating before
New York, hundreds of miles away.
The enemy, controlling the seas, had
undertaken a campaign here in the
Old Dominion, to separate North
from South, to reconQuer Virginia,
and to break the back OF the Con-
federation. But there was never a
chance to separate Virginia from the
cause of freedom. Washington
knew 1t, and with the unerring eye
of his calm genius, saw his oppor-
tunity to end the long struggle. His
campaign of Yorktown testified a
military talent not second to any
which history has recorded. Almost
before the enemy suspected his plan,
Washington had achieved the SEEM
ingly impossible feat of transferring
his army 400 miles to this peninsula;
had invested Yorktown, and CON
solidated here the forces Of the col
onies North and South, and of their
great ally, France. both on land and
sea. So rapid was the operation that
almost before the enemy force had
sensed its danger the French and
American troops had stormed the
outer works of Yorktown and forced
a situation which left only surrender
to the British.
New Era In Freedom.
One seeks In vain for a parallel to
this campaign, and the Importance
of the victory to the contending col
onies long since has been surpassed
by it's importance to the world, be-
cause it's peaen of victory was the
morning song at the dawn OF new
era in freedom, made secure in pop
ular government.
We must not claim for the New
World. certainly not for our colonies
alone, all the liberal thought OF
century and a half ago. There were
liberal views and attending sym
pathy in England and a passionate
devotion to more liberal tendencies
in France. The triumph Of freedom
in the American colonies greatly
strengthened liberal views in the
Old World. Inevitably this liberal
public opinion, deliberate and grown
dominant, brought Great Britain
and America to a policy of accommo-
dation and pacific adjustment for all
our differences. There has been
honorable and unbroken peace for
more than a century, we came to
common sacrifice and ensanguined
association in the world war, and a
future breach of our peaceful and
friendly relations is unthinkable.
In the trusteeship of preserving civ
ilization we were naturally arrayed
together, and the convictions of a
civilization worthy of that costly
praservatioD will exalt DeaCe and