River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-11-17
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
From James A. Frear, M. c.

Surrounded by a fleet of torpedo
boats on the water and flotilla of
aircraft the old Dewey flagship Olym-
Ipia slowly steamed up the Potomac
past MI. Vernon to the Capital City.
thus ending her long sea voyage.
From the day the casket containing
the body of an unknown American
soldier was taken from it's French
burial place many weeks ago, to the
time of its arrival here, homage never
before accorded the living or the dead
was offered at every temporary halt.
Rulers, statesmen and high officials
here and abroad stood in reverence
before. the flag covered casket. Sal
utes of great cannon and solemn
ceremonies attended by many thous-
ands marked an event that will ever
be memorable as a tribute to the I'M
known soldier Hundreds OF beautiful
floral pieces filled the great Capitol
rotunda. They came from the hum
blest and from far away South Al
RIGA to the most powerful and mlghty
on earth-from unknown contrlbut-
ors to a great wreath with message
written and signed by King George OF
England Rulers and ruled, joined IN
a common purpose. No human being
known or unknown ever received the
world wide reverence paid this silent
unknown soldier who slept beneath
an American flag in his casket.
The body lay in state in the Cap,tol
where Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley
once Law and on the following day
long procession of thousands was
headed in person by President Hard
ing, his cabinet, the Supreme Court
and Congress marching on foot. The
final services were held at Arlington
cemetery across the Potomac river
overlooking Washington. In the vast
open ampitheater several thousands
were assembled including the Presi-
dents official family, the Supreme
Court, headed by Chief Justice Taft,
the Senate and House members, For
eign diplomats and their families all
present to do last honors to man
whose name and station were un-
known. Fifty thousand more stood
in the great cemetery outside the
ampitheater during the exercises.
President Harding was expected to
deliver a historic address that would
live long after most If those present
had been forgotten. He met the high
est expectations. Surrounded by ora
tors and statesmen of our own and OF
other countries on an occasion unpre-
cedented in character the President in
a voice heard by aid of an amplifier
throughout the cemetery and by
hundreds of thousands all over the
land gave eloquent utterances to the
~ q xxyay
world. Every school boy and every
American citizen will be better Tor
having read the Presidents speech.
If could give the effect OF the unpre-
cedented surroundings, the presence
Of world famous soldiers and civilians
from every land. the great marble am
pitheater literally covered with flow
ers and the Presidents message to
the world-because he was speaking
to the world on the day before the
peace conference-if this picture could
be presented as it affected those prl-
vileged to be there, | am sure you
would understand the full significance
of the occasion as felt by the great
audience. After an eloquent tribute
to the unknown soldier and to the
cause in which he fell, the President
brought to mind the meaning of war
when he said:
IF American aclievment is cher
ished pride at home, if our unselfish-
ness among nations is all we wish it
to be and ours is a helpful example
to the world, then let us give of our
influence and strength, yea of our
aspiration and convictions to put man
kind on little higher plane, exulting
and exalting, with wars distressing
and depressing tragedies barred from
the righteous civilization and this
final message to the world he gave:
at is fitting today that his sacrifice
and that of the millions dead shall
not be in vain. There must be, there
shall be, the commanding voice of q
conscious civilization against armed
warfare" President Harding spoke
the hope of the world and left no
doubt with foreign delegates present
that this country would lead the way
if permitted to do so in a solution of
world differences by peaceful means
and not by war.
A President of the United States
and two Ex-Presidents were in the
unknown soldiers procession. Ex-
President Taft, now Chief Justice of
the Supreme CourtAwalked few feet
behind President Harding while FIX
President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson fol-
lowed back in the procession in an
automobile. This was the first pub
lie appearance of Mr.. Wilson since
the inauguration.
Two of the greatest events in the
worlds history made its initial bow
Saturday when delegates from all
countries of the earth met in confer
ence to seek a means of ending war.