The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-12

Washington, November i1.-Fol-
lowing Is President Hardings address
at the burial of the unknown Ameri-
can soldier at Arlington today:
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 imperishabie
soul We know not whence he came.
but only that his death marks him
with the everlasting glory of an
American dying Tor 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
ono she bore to live and die, IL need
be, for the republic. If we give rein
to fancy, a score of sympathetic
chords are touched. for in this body
there once glowed the soul of an
American, with the aspirations and
ambitions 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 sac
rificed alike.
We do not know his station in life,
because from every station came the
patriotic response Of the five mlllons.
recall the days of creating armies,
and the departing of caravels which
braved the murderous seas TO reach
the battle lines for maintained nation
ality and preserved civilization. Inc
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 unquestionlng, un-
complaining, with faith IN MS heare
and hope on his lips, that MS eoph-
try should triumph and its ciVlllza-
ton survive. AS a typical soldier OF
this representative democracy no
fought and died. believing IN the IN
disputable justice of MS couh'i
cause. Conscious of the worio up
heaval. appraising the MAGNITUDE u
a war the like Of which had never
horrifed h Imanity before, perhaps he
believed his to be service oeseineu
10 change the tide of hums AFFAIRS
Patriotism Unsurpassed
In the death gloom OF gas, the
bursting Of shells and rain oil puilets,
men face more intimately the great
God over all, their souls are ailame'
and consciousness expands ana nearts
are searched With the DIN OF pdtlie'
the glow of conflict, and the supreme
trial of courage, come involuntariiy
the hurried appraisal of life and the
contemplation of deaths great nys-
terry. On the threshold OF eternity.
many soldier, | can wen peleVe.
wondered how his ebbing blood would
color the stream of human HE, row
ing on after his sacrifice. his patriot
ism was none less il he craveo more
than triumph of country; rather. II
was greater II he hoped for a VIC
torv for all human kind Indeed. ]
revere that citizen whose confidence
in the Righteousness of his country
inpsired belief that it's triumph is the
victory of humanity.
This American soldier went forth
to battle with no hatred for any peo-
pie in the world. but hating war and
hating the purpose of every war for
conquest. 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 hber-
alton of the captive conscience of
the world In advancing toward his
objective was somewhere a thought
of a world awakened. and we are
here to testify undyinx gratitude and
reverence for that thought Of wider
freedom.
On. such an occasion as this. amid
such scene. our thoughts alternate