New-York tribune., 1921-05-31

in protesting war, theirs was the
supreme appeal for wars avoidance.
! The way to preserve honor without
material waste and the costlier hu-
! man sacrifice would be the surpass-
ing memorial tribute. We may not
bestow it to-day, but we may fit
tingly resolve that the influence and
example Of our America shall point
the way to such lofty achievement.
"ln the inspirations that we may
gain through to-day's contemplation
| OF the deeds of these our heroes
of all our wars We are called to look
toward to-morrows obligations. Our
country has never failed to measure
up to the demands presented to it in
behalf of humanity, and it never
Will: When it ceases to meet these
drafts it will no longer be our coun-
try; it will be, if that time ever
comes, The wretched and decaying
memorial of another civilization
which has crumbled. of another
ideal which has failed, of an
other ambition for mems happiness
which somehow has gone awry. We
feel, aye, in our hearts we know,
that ours is not to be that fate.
We believe that the torch will fame
more brightly in our hands, that we
will hold it safe and high aloft,
and that its light will help, at least,
to point the way for humanity on
the path of safety and in the task
Of building for all time"
1t was an inspiring sight which
greeted the President at Arlington
The automobile in which he rode
graves, each one graced with flag
and a-bloom with red poppies and other
flowers. Thousands. unable to enter
the amphitheater greeted the Presi-
dent as he went by.
The amphitheater itself was deco
rated only by scores of large American
flags. In boxes were members OF the
Cabinet, the diplomatic corps. the
leaders of the army, navy and Marine
Corps, and the foreign army and naval
attaches.
To the Presidents right as he stood
up to speak. was solid block of men
clad in khaki. Here and there white
bandaged arms in sings were to be
seen, and further on little "crutch
dumps" where the boys piled their
crutches until the "show" was over
Directly in front of the President were
the Civil War veterans The Chief
Executive. spoke in a slow, sonorous
voice which carried distinctly to all
parts of the ampitheater.
Memorial Day observances in which
the President took part commenced at
10 o'clock this morning, when he and
Mrs. Harding reviewed parade of vet
Grams from the steps at the west en-
, trance to the White House grounds
Secretary of War Weeks also witnessed
| the review. Under threatening skies
the little group of boys in blue strag-
gled by. For them was the heartiest
and most spontaneous applause. Vet
erans of the Spanish-American Wa1
J and the World War were warmly
greeted, but the sight of the pitifully
small handful remaining Of the men
IN Union blue brought catch to the
throat. The President greeted them
affectionately. They faltered bit as
the old campaign hats came off with a
sweep and "eyes right" was executed
olt too long for precision. but thew
stiffened as they went by the Com,
mander in Chief, and it was not diff.
cult to visualize the kind Of fightino
men they were in the days of '61. They
We're led by a contemporary of Lincolr
end Grant, Lieutenant General Nelson
A. Miles, U. S. A, retired.