Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-06-01
President Speaks Amid 5000
War Dead at Hoboken.
ASKS FOR POWERFUL NATION
Lays Wreath on Coffin Of First U. S.
Soldier to Die on German Soil.
Private Joseph Guyton Of
Michigan.

harding laid a wreath on the collin
Of the first American soldier to die
on German soil, at a funeral ceremony
for 5000 war dead at the army piers
I'm HobOken. following his arrival here
on the yacht Mayflower.
His voice husky and his eyes
brimmed with tears; the President
gazed at the rows upon rows of collins.
Then he said:
zone hundred thousand sorrows are
touching my heart. IL must not be
again. God grant that Il viii not be.
Il do not pretend that the millen-
NAL days have come and that there
will be no more war. l would wish
nation so powerful that none win dare
TO provoke its wrath"
Draws Mrs. Harding's Tears.
Then in the great army shed on the
shores Of the Hudson, with its stark.
whitewashed walls. there fell a silence
profound and deep. Mrs. Harding
could be seen weeping softly as she
looked upon the flag-draped collins of
those who had given their all for their
country.
The President continued:
There grows on me the realization
of the unusual character OF this Oc-
casion. Our republic has been ut war
before; II has asked and received the
supreme sacrifices Of its sons and
daughters. and faith In America has
been justified. Many sons and daugh-
tiers made the sublime Offering and
went TO hallowed graves as the ma
TONS defenders. But we never be-
fore sent so many TO battle under the
flag in foreign lands. never before was
there the impressive spectacle of thou
sands of dead returned 10 find eternal
resting place in the beloved homeland.
The incident is without any parallel
In history that ! know.
'These dead know nothing of our
ceremony today. They sense nothing
of the sentiment or the tenderness
which brings their wasted bodies TO
the homeland for burial, close TO kin
and friends and cherished associa-
lions. These poor bodies are but the
clay tenements once possessed Of
souls which famed In patriotic devo-
ton. lighted new hopes on the battle
grounds of civilization and in their
sacrifices sped on to accuse autocracy
before the court Of eternal justice.
Heroic Achievements Speak.
"We are not met for them, though
we love and honor and speak a crate
full tribute. IL would be futile 10
speak 10 those who do not hear, or
10 sorrow for those who cannot sense
II, or TO exalt those who cannot know.
But we can speak for country, we can
reach those who sorrowed and sacri-
feed through their service, who suf-
fered through their giving. who glory
with the republic through their heroic
achievements, who rejoice in the civ
ilization their herOism preserved.
Every funeral. every memorial.
every tribute Is for the living ones, an
Offering in compensation Of sorrows.
When the light of life goes out there
is a rew radiance IN eternity, and
somehow the glow Of II relieves the
darkness which is left behind.
Never death hut somewhere n
new lie. never n sacrifice but some
where 6r atOnement, never a service
hut somewhere and somehow an
achievement"
Michigan Soldier Is Named.
In placing the wreath on the casket.
the President said:
an the name OF the republic I be-
stow this tribute on the casket Of the
first soldier who perished on the soil
Of the enemy. THIS opportunity Is
not chosen TO express the suggestion
of hatred IN the American heart, for
there IL no hatred in the American
heart, but hive chosen II because I
am Offering the tribute to one re-
turned whose death on enemy soil
marked he Day when our civilization
went fnce forward and when assault
on our proseat-s.ay civilization knew
n had failed. May 81. 1918, is the
date OF which this soldier was killed
and the name Is that OF Joseph W.
/ Guyfon.- Company I. Of the One Hun
dred and Tventy-slxth Infantry. i.
resident patriot md hero Of the State
OF Michigan. Of the United States OF
/ America"
After the ceremony President Hard
ing. accompanied by Mrs. Harding
several senator's and their wives and
army officials OF high rank. returned 10
Manhattan 10 address the Academy OF
Political Science M its luncheon In the
Hotel Aston before reviewing the old
One Hundred and Sixth United States
Infantry in Brooklyn.