The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-11-17
President Harding.'s
Address at Burial of
Unknown Soldier

whose body lies before US took flight
with his iInperishable soul. We know
not whence lie came, but only that 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 cher
ished hopes. Hundreds of mothers
are wondering today, finding touch
Of solace in the possibility that the
nation bows in grief over the body Of
: one she bore to live and die, if need
be, for the Republic. If 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 it's opportunities. He may
have been a natice or an adopted son;
that matters little, because they glori-
fed 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 mil
liens. I recall the days of creating
armies, and the departing Of caravels
which brave dthe murderous seas to
reach the battle lines or maintained
nationality and preserved civilization.
The service flag marked mansion and
cottage alike, and riches were COM
mon to all homes in the consciousness
Of service to country.
We do not know the eninence of
his birth, but we know the glory of
his death. He died for his country,
and grather devotion hath no man
than this. He died unquestioning, un-
complaining, with faith in his heart
and hope on his lips, that his country
should triumph and civilization sur
vive. AS typical soldier Of this rep
rsentative 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 a war the like of
which had never Mortified humanity
before, perhaps he beiieevd 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,
J. men face more Intimately the great
God over ail, their souls are atfame,
anC. "nnsciousneSs expands and hearts
are searcaed.-~ With the din of battle,
CuS glow OI COfIiliNC3 c3I1d IAAO
trial of courage, come involuntarlly
the hurried appraisal Of life and con-
temptation Of deaths great mystery.
On the threshold Of eternity, many
soldier, I 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 II
he hoped for victory for all human
kind. Indeed, I revere that citizen
whose confidence in the Righteousness
of his country inspired belief that it's
triumph is Victory Of humanity.
This American soldier went forth to
battle with no hatred for any people
in the world, but hating war and hat
ing the purpose of eevry war for con-
suest. He cherished our national
rights, and abhoTred the threat of
armed domination; and in the naael-
strom Of destruction and suffering and
death he fired his shot for liberation
of the captive conscience of the world.
In advancing toward his objective
was somewhere a thought of world
awak I2ed; 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 defend
ors dead. A grateful Republic will be
worthy of them both. Our part is TO
atone for the losses of heroic dead by
making a better Republic for the liv-
vng.
Sleeping in these halIowed grounds
are thousands Of Americans who have
given their blood for the baptism OF
freedo mand it's maintenance, armed
exponents of the Nations conscience.
IT is better and nobler for their deeds.
Burial here is rather more than sign
of the Governments favor. 1t is a
suggestion Of a tomb in the heart of
the ANTON, sorrowing for it's noble
dead.
oTday's ceremonies proclaim that
the hero unknown is not unhonored.
We gather him to the Nations breast,
within the shadow of the Capitol, of
the towering shaft that honors Wash
ington, the great father, and of the
exquisite monument to Lincoln, the
raartyred savior Here the ;nspira-
tions Of yesterday and the conscience
Of today foreevr unite to make the
Renublic worthy of his death for flag
and country.
Ours are lofty resolutions today, as
with tribute to the dead we consecrat te
ourselves to q bette order for the
livin. With ali NV heart, [ wish we
might say II the defenders who sur
vive. to mothers who sorrow, TO wi
dows and children who mourn. thet no
er7(1e sacrifice cHoll be asked again.
It ives my fortune recently to see 2
demonstration of modern warfare. It
fs no longer conflict in chivaIry. no
move q test Of noilitant manhood. IT is
only cruel deliberate, scientific des-
t7'uction. There was no cnntending
enemy. nrlv the Theoretical defense Of
a hypothetic objective. But the attack
was made with all the relentless me-
thods of moder destruction. There
ho in of 1,11i,,