The New York herald., 1921-05-31


say that, had they failed, their fail
ure would have SO weakened the
forces Of liberty and enlightenment
that these would have been doomed.
In the more recent world trial. to
failure and defeat 4 divided
America would have been incapable
OF the effort that was demanded to
hold our present day civilization
secure. The heroic dead, for whom
the day was originated. preserved
the ark OF the covenant of union
and nationality, and in that service
they made possible the exalted
place so recently won for our coun-
try. Our own generation viii not
perform part worthy of its heri-
tage il we do less than our very ut
most TO preserve that which they
made possible for us to possess.
Nay, more. we shall not be our
most and best at home If we do not
resolve for all time that the differ
ences which brought us 70 civil
conflict We're due 10 antiquities in
our union and the disputes between
two schools of political thought,
and when we made union indissol-
uble and the Nation supreme, We
loft our people one flag. one pur-
pose, one pride and one destiny.
In such a view. we must see that
our opportunity to be useful 10
mankind at large depends first on
being loyal 10 ourselves. No ideal
of generosity TO all men can JUS
tify neglect first TO make ourselves
strong, firm, secure. in behalf OF
our own people. We can not hope
to discharge the wider responsibili-
ties if we have not first proved our
capacity to meet the narrower ones.
IT Is our wish to be useful in the
greater realms; but If 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 lib
crty. | counsel no selfishness, no
little Americanism, no mere pa
rochialism, when l urge that our
first duty is to our own, and that
in the measure OF it's performance
We will find the true gauge of our
capacity 10 be helpful to others.
First Duty Is Solidarity.
1t 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 could not know,
FOR what greater things they were
laying the foundations. Yet their
instinct rightly led them to the
Judgment that their first duty was
TO preserve the institution of popu-
lar rule, Of national solidarity
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 main
tain the Union, to keep it a power
Tor the advancement Of America
niid huAidlIlNs tDnllutlll llldL II
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 continent, 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 were called to prevent seces-
sioS. to save the national unity.
They believed that the institutions
OF this country were good; that they
deserved to be preserved; that they
were worth supreme effort. even
all of life itself. In making that eff
fort and that sacrifice, they did far
more than save what had already
been gained; they made possible
for slavery to be ended forever.
1t was the same in the more re-
cent war of the free peoples against
the autocrac cies of the world. In
its beginnings, men fought to pro-
tect that which they already had.
Their countries lives were at stake;
their rights as free men were men
accd: and for these they went
forth to battle. There was no
thought Of crusading for the free
dom OF world, of emancipating dis
tant peoples. OF rendering a noble
service to the enemy who had at
tackled them. They had no tire
and small disposition to indulge
altruisms.
KILLED Divine Right to Rule.
Yet, as in the case of our Civil
War. they won far more than they
had sought in the beginning. They
won for themselves. their homes.
their countries; and in doing so
they destroyed well nigh the last
intrenchments of the mistaken doc
trine of divine right to rule. They
gained the victory for their own
grateful countries, and with ii they
won, for those whom they defeated.
the opportunity OF establishing
free institutions, of planting democ-
racies where absolutism had held
sway, of making the people su-
preme. True. they were able only to
afford opportunity for this great
advance. They could not force
free institutions upon the crushed
and broken enemy: they could not
insure that those institutions would
be permanent even II expert
mentally adopted. Freedom Is not
to be crowded upon those who
viii not have it; but the privilege
OF adopting. and having. and
enjoying it-that privilege was