Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-14
CROWDS CALL AT
STATEHOUSE TO
HONOR GRESHAM
CONTINUED From Page One.)

have ones faith called in question: it has
canism enough to be still willing to fight
for it, and If necessary die.
IT can imagine these old veterans
among us from the Civil War, looking
at our younger generations wondering
whether we possessed the hardihoOd of
old campaigners Of the sixties. Had
not luxury softened us? Were we not
700 pampered with wealth and comforts
to endure anything of the privations OF
the field? Would we younger men fight
as they fought at Lookout Mountain,
Missionary Ridge, Spottsylvania, in the
wilderness. before Petersburg. and Rich
mond. or at Gettysburg? And l CON
fess that I myself sometimes doubted
whether we possessed that moral fiber.
Yet this recent war gave us opportunity
to test ourselves. And as as observer,
may I say candidly that these men are
worthy of their siresl The virtue that
steeled the embattled farmers who hled
on the lawns of Lexington, who fought
with the butts Of their rifles when am
munition was expended a. Bunker HILL
and who left their bleeding tracks N
the SHOWS Of Valley Forge, that sane
virtue still resides in the breasts OF
Young America Here beneath the flag
horn in the first struggle, and since bap-
t,zed nv the blood Of several generations
lies the proof Of my assertion
HooEIER FIRED
FIRST SHOT.
"As citizens Of Indiana, we may be
particularly proud Of our contribution
TO the World War as we are Of that
10 the Civil War I think I am within
the bounds Of truth when I say that
Indiana furnished larger percentage
of voluntary enlistments in proportion
IN her population than any of her sis
ter states: that she furnished a greater
percentage Of total soldiery. And we
shall never forget that 1t was a citizen
Of our commonwealth who pulled the
LANYARD that fired the first American
shot into the German host, Sergeant Arch
Of South Bend. And above ALL that 1t
was a citizen from Indiana who honOred
this State by being the first under our
own flag to die under fire for his coun-
try-Corporal Gresham Who among us
would not covet today the homer he re-
fleets upon his commonwealth
"Of course, we shudder at the horrors
Of war. the sacrifices of young life. A
book which has been the repository of
consolation for countless generations Of
all branches Of Christendom says: 1t Is
appointed upon men once to die Why
not then die for something? Our Amer
lean Legion ritual says: Life at most is
a burning candle that sometimes comes
to end why not give that end to some
purpose or great cause? No one can
honestly say that the G0,000 American
dead in the World War accomplished
nothing who can measure their accom-
plishments1
"a further word from the Bible says:
He shall see Of the travail Of his soul
and be satisfied Dare we not believe
that our honored may be conscious Of
the course Of events upon the earth
What satisfaction must then be theirs in
the present trend Of international pol
tiles, For. frankly. I regard the com
ing international conference Of nations
In Washington as the most gnificant
event since No. II, 1918, and the most
promising.
There has been much disappointment
and cynicism among eI service men since
the armistice. due to the feeling that their
military victory has been politically lost
For theirs was not only a war for the de-
Tense Of America, but commonly ac-
claimed as a war to end war And I
believe that we are nearer that accom-
plishment now than ever God grant our
hope and theirs may be realized"
BY order of Governor Warren r Nc
Cray the flag Of the Statehouse was half
mast during the time the body was in
the building.