The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-11-17

mothers who sorrow, to widows and
children who morn, that no such sac
rifce shall be asked again.
1t was my fortune recently to see
a demonstration of modern warfare.
1t is no longer a conflict in chivalry,
no more test of militant manhood.
1t is only cruel, deliberate, scientific
destruction. There was no contending
enemy, only the theoretical defense of
hypothetic objective. But the attack
was made with all the re-
lentless methods of modern destruc-
ton. There was the rain of ruin from
the aircraft, the thunder of artillery,
followed by the unspeakable devasta-
ton wrought by bursting shells; there
were mortars belching their bombs of
desolation; machine guns concentrat-
ing their leaden storms; there was the
infantry, advancing, firing, and fall
ing-like men with souls sacrificing
for the decision. The flying missiles
were revealed by illuminating trancers
so that we could note their flight and
appraise their deadliness. The air
was streaked with tiny flames marking
the flight of massed destruction; while
the effectiveness of the theoretical de-
tense was impressed by the stimulation
of dead and wounded among those 60
ing forward, undaunted and unheed-
ing. AS this panorama of utterable
destruction visualized the horrors of
modern conflict, there grew on me the
sense of the failure of civilization
which can leave it's problems to such
cruel arbitrament. Surely no one in
authority, with human attributes and
full appraisal of the patriotic loyalty
of his countrymen, could ask the man.
hood of kingdom, empire, or republic
to make such sacrifice until all reason
had failed, until appeal to justice
through understanding had been de-
MED, until every effort of love and con-
sideration for fellow men had been
exhausted, until freedom itself and in
violate honor had been brutally threat
ened.
speak not as pacifst fearing
war, but as one who loves justice and
hates war. l speak as one who be-
lieves the highest function of govern
ment is to give its citizens the Sc
curity of peace, the opportunity to a.
chieve and the pursuit of happiness.
The logtiest tribute we can bestow
today-the heroically earned tribute
fashioned in deliberate conviction, out
of unclouded thoughts, neither shad-
| owed by remourse nor made vain by
fancies, is the commitment of this
Republic to an advancement never
made before. If American achieve
ment is cherished pride at home. if
our unselfishness among nations is all
we wish it to be, and ours is a help
full example in the world, then let us
give of our influence and strength,
yea, of our aspirations and convictions
to put mankind on little higher plane
eXulting and eXalting, with the wars
distressing and depressing tragedies
barred from the stage of righteous
civilization.
There have been a thousand de-
lenses justly and periodically made;
a thousand offenses which reason and
righteousness ought to have stayed.
Let US beseech all men to join us in
seeking the rule under which reason
and righteousness will prevail.
Standing today on halIowed ground,
conscious that all America has halted
to share in the tribute of heart and
mind and soul to this fellow American
and knowing that the world is noting
this expression of the Republics
mindfulness, it is fitting to say that
his sacrifice, and that of the millions
dead, shall not be in vain. There must
be, there shall be, the commanding
voice of conscious civilization again
st armed warfare.
AS we return this poor clay to its
mother soil, garlanded by love and
covered with the decorations that only
nations can bestow, l can sense the
prayers of our people, of all peoples,
that this Armistice day shall mark
the beginning of new and lasting
era of peace on earth, good will among
men. Let me join in that prayer.
Our Father, who are in heaven,hal-
lowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth. as
it is in heaven. Give US this day our
daily bread, and forgive US our tres.
passes as we forgive those who tres
pass against US. And lead US not into
temptation, but deliver US from evil,
for Thine in the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Do you know that you can have per