Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-11-15
OUR SOLDIER dead
Presidents Speech in Honor Of
American Heroes.
We FOUGHT TO UPHOLD The RIGHT

!
Iivered on Armistiee Day at the
Funeral of the Unidentified .Ameri-
can Soldier, Who Laid Down His
Life for His Country.
The text of President Harding's
address at the burial of the unknown
American soldier at Arlington ceme-
terry last Friday follows:
Mr.. Secretary of War and Ladies and
Gentlemen: We are met today to pay
the impersonal tribute. The name Of
him whose body lies before US took
flight with his imperishable soul. We
know not whence he came, but only
this his death marks him with the
everlasting glory of an American dying
for his country.
He might have come from any one
of millions of American homes. Some
mother gave him in her love and ten
derness, and with him her most
cherished hopes. Hundreds Of mothers
are wondering today, finding a touch
of solace in the possibility that the ma
ton bows in grief over the body Of one
she bore to live, and die, if need be, for
the republic. II We give rein to fancy,
a score of sympathetic chords, are
touched, for in this body there once
glowed the soul of an American, with
the aspirations and ambitions of
citizen who cherished life and its op-
portunities. He may have been a ma
tive or an adopted son; that matters
little, because they glorified the same
loyalty, they sacrificed alike.
We do not know his station in life,
because from every station came the
patriotic response of the five millions.
1 recall the days of creating armies,
and the depaftin gof caravels, which
braved the murderous seas to reach the
battle lines for maintained nationality
and preserved civilization. The SER
vice flag marked mansion and cottage
alike, and riches were common TO all
homes in the consciousness. Of service
to country.
We do not know the eminence Of his
birth, but we do know the story OF his
death. He died for his country, and
greater devotion hath no man than
this. He died unquestioning, uncom-
planning, with faith in his heart and
hope on. hisxlips, that his coWtry
should tridfrniph and its civilization sur
vive. AS a typical soldier of this rep
rcsentative democracy, he fought and
died, believing in the indisputable JUS
tice of his country's cause. Conscious
of the worlds upheaval, appraising the
magnitude of war the like of which
had never Mortified humanity before,
perhaps he believed his to be service
destined to change the tide Of human
affairs.
In the death gloom Of gas, the
bursting of shells and rain of bullets,
men face more intimately the great
God over all, their souls are afiame and
consciousness expands and hearts are
searched. With the din Of battle, the
glow Of conflict and the supreme trial
Of courage, come involuntarily the hur-
ried appraisal of life and the contem-
plation of deaths great mystery. on
the threshold of eternity, many a SOL
dier, 1 can well believe, wondered how
his ebbing blood would color the
stream of human life, flowing on after
his sacrifice. His patriotism was none
less if he craved more than triumph OF
country; rather, it was greater If ne
hoped for victory for all human kind.
Indeed, l revere that citizen whose
confidence in the righteousness or his
country inspired belief that its triumph
is the victory of humanity.
This American soldier went forth to
battle with no hatred for any people
in the world, but hating war and the
purpose of every war for conquest. He
cherished our national rights and abb
Rorred the threat of armed domina-
ton: and in the maelstrom of destruc-
ton and suffering and death he fired
his shot for liberation of the captive
conscience of the world In advancing
toward his objective was somewhere
thought of Il world awakened; and we
are here to testify undying gratitude
and reverence for that thought of
wider freedom.
on such an occasion as this, amid
such a scene, our thoughts alternate
between defenders living and defenders
dead. 4 grateful republic will be
worthy of them both. Our part is to
atone for the losses Of heroic dead by
making better republic for the liv-
ing.
Sleeping in these hallowed grounds
are thousands of Americans who have
given their blood for the baptism of
freedom and it's maintenance, armed
cXponents of the nations conscience.
1t is better and noblcr for their deeds.
Burial here is rather more than a sign
of the governments favor, it is sug-
gestiUn of a tomb in the heart of the
nation, sorrowing for its noble dead.
Today's ceremonies proclaim that the
hero unknown is not unhonorcd. We
gather him to the nations breast,