Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-06-02
FIRST j. s. DUTY
TO SELF--H HARDING
Memorial Address Declares Ma
ton Must Meet Its Duties.
IN SPEECH AT ARLINGTON
President Lauds War Dead-Patriot-
ism During Peace, His PIea-Brit-
ish Ambassador Places Flow
ers on the American FLAG.

Washington, May 31-Standing on
the edge of the great national burial
ground at Arlington, where lie the hon
ored dead of all the wars in which
America has engaged, President Hard
ing paid full measure of tribute to
those who died that the republic might
live and made a plea that the ma
ton reconsecrate itself to the ideals
for which they died-the preservation
of the Union and the advancement
of humanity.
The President spoke in the great
white marble amphitheater on the
outskirts of the cemetery overlooking
the capital.
In his audience, which numbered
thousands, were the blue and gray
uniformed veterans of the Civil strife
and khaki-clad veterans of the World
war.
Troth to Civilization.
The President said, in part:
To-day the sons and daughters Of
other lands are placing laurels on
American graves, and our Memorial
day has become an international occa-
sion, it calls up opportunity for many
lands and countries to help in it's OBJ
servance; equally to them and to us,
it is a reminder of our common troth
to civilization, humanity and everlast-
ing justice.
Il counsel no selfishness, no little
Americanism, no mere parochialism,
when l urge that our first duty is to
our own, and that in the measure of
its performance we will find the true
gauge of our capacity to be helpful to
others.
Freedom is not to be crowded upon
those who will not have it, but the
privilege was opened wide to the van
pushed communities which sought
to take it from others. We do not
yet know whether the defeated and
unwilling beneficiaries will be able to
grasp this boon. We cannot tell
whether they will pay the price re-
quired to maintain the freedom to
which the door has been opened. We
do know that our sons and brothers
afforded them the opportunity.
eve found ourselves as a people,
occupying a place OF vast responsible
ity to the world. 1t required sub
mergence of selfish ends. But / am
not cOunseling surrendered independ-
ence. Our maintained freedom is the
only source of our might. Only the
American conscience. may command
this republic.
with the return of peace, indus
trial discipline was thrown aside not
only in this country, but in every
country that was in the war A break
down Of morale accompanied it and
we find ourselves hating when we
ought to move forward. We need a
patriotism resOlute in peace as well
as patriotism afiame in war.
"Only a few days ago l saw more
than 5000 flag-draped collins, tenanted
with their heroic dead. Theirs was
mute elOquence in protesting wars,
theirs was the supreme appeal for
wars avoidance. The way to pre-
serve honor without material wants
and the cOStlier human sacrifice would
be the surprising memorial tribute.
We may not bestow it today, but we
may fittingly resolve that the influence
and example of our America shall
point the way to such lofty achieve
ment."
Britain's Tribute.
Sir Auckland Geddes, the British
ambassador, accentuated the impress
sive ~solemnity of the memorial cere-
monies with high tribute for the part
of the United States in the great con
flict. Unannounced, and accompanied
only by a British naval officer, bearing
huge wreath of red roses, the Brit
ish envoy appeared on the rOstrum at
the conclusion of the Presidents adj
dress Turning to the President he
said:
"In the name of my king, George Y,
in the name of the people Of the Uni
ted Kingdom, of India, and of the
bElllSD anu
throughout the world-in token of
their admiration of the gallantry and
devotion of American sons and daugh-
tiers in the great war; in evidence of
their sympathy with America, who to-
day mourns and glorifies her dead
in undimmed memory of the sacrifices
that America has made for individual
liberty, and with your permission, Mr..
President, lay this wreath on the flag
of America"
Receiving the bower Of flowers from
his naval aide, Sir Auckland placed it
over the Stars and Stripes that
draped the marble altar.