Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-11
ArlniSticr LAY

HkEE years ago today the world
sheathed its sword, dripping red with
the blood OF l0.0OG,000 from tho flower of
its young men. and civilization hailed the
advent Of peace that was TO heal the scars
furrowed by that catastrophe war. To-
day--Armistice Day-America will stand
with uncovered head before the bier OF its
Unknown Soldier" and tenderly, lovingly
and respectfully bestow upon him the
honors which shall symbolic it's eternal
gratitude 20 him and his comrades VITO fell
ii France or in other fields OF battle to
which allegiance to their country's colors
led them
Today's visible outpouring OF the nations
gratitude will not be confined to its dead.
Every soldier in that conflict dared the samo
sacrifice which his unknown comradc, now
reposing III state under the dome OF tho
Capitol in Washington, dared. and to the
living heroes this outward manifestation of
tho nations heart applies in equal measure.
With the stiling OF wars voice, there have
been times in the last three years when we
have seemed TO be unmndful Of the living
while we paid unccasing reverence 10 our
dead. ii that be even family true, then
America today will lose the full signif-
canoe Of its tribute to its Unknown Hero"
if it does not. while it is reconsecrating it
self to the principles and ideals for which
he died. also rededicatc itself in gratitude
10 the living and pledge itself anew that
they shall be first care to It's heart Ii the
plumbers, the oversights and the apparent
carelessness which have marked our treat
ment OF the returned service mon be not
repaired. in so far as they may be reparablc,
and there be no freshened national deter
mination to do them justice as we'll as
honor, then today's solemn ceremonies be-
fore tho corse of that hero who has been
brought from the encarmined soil Of France
to rest forever beneath the Stars and Stripes
in the sacred soil OF Arlington, will have
been hut hollow mockery. beautiful in
form, but empty in practical expression OF
the national duty.
Americas honoring OF its unknown dead
OH the eve OF the assembling OF the confer
ence on tho limitation OF arnlamcnts is
freighted with significance. Three years
ago today we rejoiced that the war was
ended and, under the inspired leadership OF
Woodrow Wilson, we set about the making
of n peace that should be unbroken. III the
years that have passed since then how have
wo kept faith with our dead who fell while
holding high the torch OF liberty? Peace
is here in name. but it is a troubled peace.
Woodrow Wilson's work was undone by the
nOlltlClhnS OIL mat same nation which en-
tered the war only when liberty seemed on
the verge OF annihilation. and saved it for
civilization. Today we are without tho
league of nations which, as a result of our
abandonment, is functoning uncertainty,
and we are striving to regain that world
leadership which was wantonIy and blind
~ tossed away. Europe is troubled, the
Balkans are in flames, war clouds hang
low over nations still all but PROSTATE, and
the world senses the threat OF the sword
where the plowsharc was expected TO be tho
symbol OF universal accord. Even America
is not untouched, for its once magnificent
isolation is no longer possible or desirable.
TO ~hat extent the United States is re-
spoEsib!c for present world conditions. in
having rcpudialcd its own work at Yer
saiics. may he left unanswered That IL
for the historian Of the future TO determine,
proha1y century hence when u clear per-
spcctiye is possible. Now. only the lessons
o! these last three years arc OF value. Read
ing those lessons, we turn to the dsurma-
mcnt conference and there is prayer in
the heart Of the nation that ut last way
which leads to perpetual peace is about to
be opened and that through the interchange
o! views on the part OF the worlds leaders,
called together by Mr.. Harding. il may be
rendered unnecessary ever again to stand
WITH heavy hearts ana dimmcd eyes about
the sacred relics Of an unknown hero OF an.
other war.