The Washington herald., 1921-05-31


union indissoluble and the nation
supreme we left our people one nag
one purpose, one pride and one
destiny.
In such a view we must see that
our opportunity to be useful to
mankind at large depends first on
being loyal to ourselves. No ideal
of generosity TO all men can justify
neglect first 10 make ourselves
strong, firm. secure, in behalf OF
our own people. We cannot hope
to discharge the wider responsible
ties IL we have not first proved our
capacity to meet the narrower ones.
First Duty to America.
1t is our wish to be useful in the
greater realms. but IL We are to do
SO We must have no question OF
our devotion to the great princi-
pies for which these gave their
lives in the struggle which saved
the union and rededicated IL forever
to liberty. / counsel no selhshness,
no little Americanism. no mere
parochialism. when ] 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.
II is a good thing TO come to
this consecrated place and renew
the pledges of our loyalty to those
whose patriotism gave US our
strength and opportunity. They
did not know. they could not know.
for what greater things they were
laying the foundations. Yet their
instinct rightly led them TO the
judgment that their first duty was
to preserve the institution of pop
ular rule, of national solidarity.
They did not enter upon the war
among the states with primary pur-
pose to end the institution of hu-
man slavery. Worthy as that
might have been, their inspiration
was higher. They sought first to
maintain the union, to keep IL a
power for the advancement or
America and humanity. confident
that IL they won all other rightful
things in due time would be
achieved. They were right then:
cree of banishment from this con-
tinent and at last from the world.
Their Effort Ended slavery.
But let me repeat that grea;
achievement for humanity was not
the aim with which they entered
upon our internecine struggle
They were called to prevent seces-
sion to save the national unity
They believed that the institutions
OF this country were good: that
they deserved to be preserved:
that they were worth supreme ef-
fort, even all of life itself. In max
ing that effort and that sacrifice
they did far more than save what
had already been gained; they made
possible for slavery to be ended
forever.
1t was the same in the more re-
cent war of the free peoples
against the autocracies Of the
world. In its beginning men
fought TO protect that which they
already had. Their countries lives
were at stake: their rights as free
| men were menaced: and for these
tney went forth to battle. There
was no thought of crusading for
'ne freedom of a world, of eman-
cipating distant peoples, OF render
ing a noble service to the enemy
VINO had attacked them. They had
indulge altruisms.
Yet, as in the case of our civil
war they won far more than they
had sought in the beginning. They
won for themselves. their homes
their countries; and in doing SC
they destroyed well-nigh the las,
intrenchments of the mistaken doc.
trine of divine right to rule.
Won Opportunity for Foes.
They gained the victory for their
own grateful countries. and with II
they won, for those whom they de.
1eated, the opportunity of estab.
iishing free institutions, Of plant.
ing democracies where absolutisn
mad held sway. OF making the peo.
pie supreme. True. they were NSl.
/ only to AFFORD oportunity for thi,
great advance. They could moi
force free Institutions upon tn,
crushed and broken enemy: the,
could not insure that those institu.
tions would be permanent even q
experimentally adopted.
freedom Is not to be crowded
upon those who will not have IL
but the privilege of adopting. anc
having and enjoying it-that priv,
hegs was opened wide to the van.
dulsneo communities which hs,
sought to take II from others. W,
do not yet know certainly whether
the defeated and unwilling bene
hciaries viii be able to grasp thii
booh' We can not tell whethei
they VIII pay She price required I.
maintain the freedom 20 which tn,
door has been opened. We d,
hs'ow.t ana we take pride. that ou
sons and brothers afforded them tn,
opportunity.
Thus We see that. whether An an,