Evening star., 1921-05-31

when We made union indissoluhlc
and the nation supreme We left our
people one flag, one purpose. one
pride and one destiny.
In such a view we must see that
our opportunity to be useful to man
kind at large depends first on being
loyal to ourselves. No ideal OF gen
erosity to all men can justify neglect
first to make ourselves strong. firm
secure, in behalf OF our own people.
We cannot hope to discharge tn"
wider responsibilities IL We have not
first proved our capacity to meet tn"
narrower ones. 1t is our wish to be
useful in the greater realms: but i
we are to do so. We must have no
question of our devotion to the great
principles for which these gave their
lives in the struggle which saved
the Union and rededicated it forever
to liberty. l counsel no seliishness.
no little AmcricaniSm. no mere pare
chialism. when / urge that our first
duty is to our own. and that in TN"
find the true gauge of our capacity
to be helpful to others.
at 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
ruld not know. for what greater
things they were laying the founda-
tions Yet their instinct led them
to the Judgment that their first duty
was 70 preserve the institution Of
popular rule. of national solidarity.
States the Civil War Issue.
"They did not enter upon the war
among the states with primary pur-
pose to end the institution of human
slavery Worthy as that might have
been. their inspiration was higher.
They sought first to maintain the
Union. to keep it a power for the
advancement of America and human
ity, confident that if they won all
other rightful things: in due time
would be achieved. They were right
| then. in the end slavery received its
decree of banishment from this CONT
nent. and at last from the world.
But let me repeat. that great
achievement for humanity was not
the aim with which they entered
upon our internecine struggle. They
we're called to prevent secession, to
save the national unity. They be
lieyed that the institutions of this
country were good: that they De
served to be preserved; that thcH
were worth supreme effort. even al
of life itself In making that effort
and that sacrifice. they did far more
than save what had already beer
gained; they made possible for siaV'
ery to be ended forever.
'Tt was the same in the more re.
[ cent war of the free peoples agalnS'
| the autocracies of the world. In lts
beginnings. men fought to protec'
| that which they already had Iheil
| countries lives were at stake: theli
rights as free men were menaceo
, and for these they went forth TO pat
tale. There was no thought OF cru
| sadins for the freedom of a World
| of emancipating distant peoples' OF
rendering a noble service 10 the
enemy who had attack ed them. me!
had no time and small disposition &c
| indulge altruismS.
Won Far More Than They Sought
"Yet, as in the case of our civil war
] they won far more than they nae
sought in the beginning. They woi
, for themselves, their homes. then
/ countries; and in doing so they de
stroyed well-nigh the last intrench
ments of the mistaken doctrine o
divine right to rule. They gained th'
victory for their own grateful coun
tries and with it they won. for thos'
whom they defeated. the opportunity
Of establishing free institutions o.
planting democracies where absolut
ism had held sway. of making the
neople supreme. True, they were