The Washington herald., 1921-05-31
Text of President Harding's Memorial Day
Address Given at Arlington Cemetery

civil struggle or in the world war,
the triumph OF the right inevitably
implies gains that sweep far be-
yond the immediate issue Those
heroes OF the civil war who sleep
about us here wrote that lesson in
symbols of blood and IRE, where
all men might read. And they did
yet more: They taught the lesson
OF a great community making It's
night for freedom an exclusive busi-
ness of the whole people. Never
before had there been an example.
on such a scale, Of the entire hu-
man and industrial power Of a peo-
pie being cast into the common
cause. Wars had largely been pro-
fessional AFFAIRS, In the hands Of a
trained people. waged by conscripts
whose knowledge or concern for the
cause they served was Of necessity
limited and doubtful Here was
found a nation which for four years
gave its very all Of human resource,
Of Industrial power. OF faith in its
mission and its future, in order that
IL might maintain an ideal. 1t ac-
cemplished that which experts and
economists decried as the impos-
sible. 1t dehed the edlct that
economic exhaustion and financial
disabilities must prevent a decisive
victory. II demonstrated that the
wealth and resources of a natien
lie not in acres and bushels. in bank
balances and tonnsges. in taxable
wealth and going business. but
rather in the sinews and souls of
its inspired people. And therein
the example OF our frsternal strug-
gle taught the lesson which later
moved agonized civilization TO re-
ject an indecisive peace.
Cannot Evsde World Duty.
So much, and vastly more, we
owe of debt TO those who won the
peace of union and liberty. II is a
debt that has not yet been dis
charged in full: a debt on which
every succeeding generation can
hope only to pay its instsIlment:
for IL obligates us and those after
us to maintain for this people the
high estate which they established.
We never will yield aught Of what
they won for us. Forbidden by the
Law OF life and institutions, we can
not stand still. We must ALWAYS
move forward. along the upward
paths they marked for US. No less
is possible unless we would re-
pudiate the debt they laid upon US.
whose covenant they sealed in their
blood.
Thus apprsising and thus ac-
knowledging our responsibility, we
Will do well to consider the par
ticular burdens il lays upon us
We look about US on a world
troubled and torn, cropping for a
way back to light and opportunity.
We md ourselves, as a people, oc-
cupying a place of vast RESPONSE
bility in that world. We stand
among the leaders to whom IL looks
for guidance and direction. We are
blessed with wealth. with the in
stitutions of freedom, with the
magnificent tradition that comes to
us from those whom today we
honor. We can not evade, IL we
would; for mankind is fallen on
times when there is no hope for
il IL some communities seek isola-
tion while others indulge unre-
strained ambition for empire. Civil
lizstion must face disaster IL there
shall be denial either Of common
responsibility, or of essential
equality among sovereign states
and persons. .-s..s. ...
Must subnerge seihsh Ends.
We have heard much about the
danger of winning the war and
losing the peace. But is there not,
in the example OF those who made
the ultimate sacrifice. a lofty in
spiration to the same singleness of
purpose, the same readiness to sink
individual for the sake of general
good, that moved them? Though
they were not trained to military
forms and evolutions. yet they
learned to stand together in un-
broken line. to move as unitIes. &c
forget the individual for the sake
of the mass. Surely there is nc
reason why peace may not achieve
discipline, unincstion, directness OF
purpose, as war does. 1t requires tho
same submergence of selfish ends
the same reimbursement OF the
merely personal qualifications, the
same regard for the common inter.
est. / am not counseling surren.
dered independence. Our maintained
| freedom is the source of our
might. Only the American con
science may command this repub.
lie.
1t is. indeed, very different
matter to achieve the discipline
that peace demands There IL not
the urge Of instant danger. tn,
rigor of authority to overcoms
that danger. II is needful to brins
into subjugation the thouEhtiesi
mind, the induleent disposition. ths
easy quest OF pleasure, the lust OF