Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-11-11


This American soldier wen
forth to battle with no hatred fol
any people in the world, but hat
ing war and hating the purpose o.
every war for conquest. HI
cherished our national rights ant
abhorred the threat OF armed
domination; and in the maelstron
Of destruction and suffering and
death he fired his shot for liber.
alton of the captive conscience Of
the world. In advancing toward
his objective was somewhere q
thought OF world awakened; and
We are here to testify undyine
gratitude and reverence for that
thought of a wider freedom.
On such an occasion as this
amid such a scene, our thoughts
alternate between defenders living
and defenders dead A grateful
republic will be worthy Of them
both. Our part is to atone for
the losses Of heroic dead by max
Ing better republic for the
living.
More Than Mere Honor.
Sleeping in these hallowed
grounds are thousands of Amer
leans who have given their blood
for the baptism OF freedom and
Its maintenance, armed exponents
or the nations conscience. It Is
better and nobler for their deeds.
Burial here is RATHER more than a
sign Of the governments favor, 1t
Is suggestion of a tomb in the
heart or the nation sorrowing for
its noble dead.
Today's ceremonies proclaim
that the hero unknown is not un-
honored, We gather him to the
nations breast, within the shadow
of the capitol, of the towering
shaft that honors Washington, the
great father, and of the exquisite
monument to Lincoln, the martyr
ed savior. Here the inspirations
OF yesterday and the conscience of
today forever unite to make the
republic worthy OF his death for
flag and country.
Ours are lofty resolutions today.
as with tribute to the dead we
consecrate ourselves to a better
order for the living. With all my
heart I wish we might say to the
defenders who survive, to mothers
who sorrow, 10 widows and chill
dren who mourn, that no such sac
sifice shall be asked again.
Wars Terrors Told.
II was my fortune recently 20
see demonstration of modern war
fare. II is no longer a conflict In
ehivalry, no more test OF mill
tant manhood. II is only cruel,
deliberate. scientific destruction.
There was no contendlng enemy.
only the theoretic defense OF
hypothetic objection. But the at
tack was made with all the re-
lentless methods OF modern de-
struction. There was the rain of
ruin from the aircraft, the thun-
der Of artillery followed by the un-
speakable devastation wrought by
bursting shells; there were NOR
tars belching their bombs OF DESC
lation; machine guns concentrat-
ing their leadsn storms; there was
the infantry advancing. firing and
faliing-like men with souls sacri-
ficing for the decision. The fly
ing missiles were revealed by H.
Eliminating tracers so that we
could note their flight and ap-
praise their dead lines.
The air was streaked with tiny
flames marking the flight OF
massed destruction; while the ef-
fectiveness OF the theoretical de-
fense was impressed by the simula-
tion Of dead and wounded among
those going forward undaunted
and unheeding. AS this panorama
OF unutterable destruction visual
lied the horrors OF modern conflict
there grew on me the sense OF the
failure Of civilization which can
leave its problems to such cruel
arbitrament. Surely no one in au-
thority with human attributes
and fun appraisal Of the patriotic
loyalty Of his countrymen. could
ask the manhood Of kingdom, EN-
pire or republic 10 make such sac
rffice until all reason had failed,
until appeal 20 justice through In-
dcrstandng had been denied. untfl
every effort OF love and consldera-
lion for fellow men had been ex-
Aausted. until freedom itself aud
|nviolate honor had been brutaily
threatened.
Peace Nations Function.
! speak not a. a pacifist fearing
var. but IS one who loves justice
nd hates war. ] speak as one who
relieves the highest function of
'overnment g. 10 give its citizens
he security Of peace. the oppor-
unity 10 achieve and the pursuit
Z happiness.
The ioftiesr tribute We can be-
lew today--the heroicaIiy earn.
! tribute-fsshioned In deiiber-
= conviction. out Of unclouded
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