, 1921-11-11

merlcan dying Tor MS country.
He might have come from any one
Of millions Of American homes. Some
mother gave him in her love and ten
derness and her most cherished hopes
Hundreds OF mothers are wondering
today. finding a touch OF solace in the
possibility hat the nation bows In
grief .over tho body OF n shc bore
TO live and die. n need be. for the re-
public. II we give rein to fancy. a
score Of sympathetic chords are
touched for in this body there cnce
glowed the soul OF an American with
the aspirations and ambitions OF 4 cit
izen who cherished life and its oppor-
tunities. He may have been a native
or adopted son; hat matters little. be-
cause they giorified the same loyalty.
they sacrificed alike.
We do not know his station in life.
because from every station came the
patriotic response OF the five millions
1 recall the days OF creating armies
and the departing of which
braved the murderous seas to reach
the battle lines for maintained ma
tionality and preserved civilization.
The service flag marked mansion
and cottage alike and riches were
In all homes In the corr sious
ness or service TO country.
We do not know the eminence OF
his birth. but we do know the glorS
Of his daath.- He died for his coun
try and greater devotion hath nc
man than this. He died unquestion
ing. accompanying with faith In his
-. l@-- -. lf- H. 49,. It
country should triumph and its civil.
ization survive. As n typical soldier
of this representative democracy he
fought and died. believing in the in.
dlsputable Justice of his country's
cause. Conscious of the worlds up
heaval. appraising the magnitude Of u
war the like OF which had never hor.
rified humanity before. perhaps he
believed his to be a service destined
to change the tide of human affairs.
In the death gloom of gas the burst.
Ing shells and the rain OF bullets men
faced moro intimately the great God
over all: their souls nflame and con
sciousness expands and hearts are
searched.
With tho din. of battle, the glow OF
conflict INT the supreme trial OF cour-
age. come involuntarily the hurried
appraisal of life and tho contempia.
ton of deaths great mystery. On the
threshold of eternity many n soldier
I car well believe, wondered how his
ebbing blood would color tho stream
OF human life, flowing on after his
sacrifice. , His patriotism was none
less II he craved more than triumph
of country; rather, It was greater II
no hoped for a victory for all human
kind. Indeed I revere hat citizen
whose confidence in the Righteousness
of his country inspired belief that its
triumph is the victory of humanity.
This American soldier went forth to
battle with no hatred for any people
in h world. hut hating war and hat
ing tho purpose OF every war for con-
quest. He cherished our national
rights and abhorred the threat of arm.
ed domination; and in the maelstrom
OF destruction and suffering and
death he fired his shot for liberation
of the captive conscience of the world.
In advancing toward his objective
was some where a thought OF a world
awakened; and we are here to testify
undying gratitude and reverence for
that thought of a wider freedom.
On such an occasion as this. amid
such a scene. our thoughts alternated
between defenders. living and defen-
ders dead. A grateful republic will
be worthy of them both. Our part
is to atone for the losses OF heroic
dead by making a better republic for
the living.
Sleeping in these hallowed grounds
are thousands of Americans who have
given their blood for the baptism of
freedom and its maintenance. armed
opponents OF tho nations conscience.
1t is better and nobler for their deeds.
Burial here is rather more than a sign
of the governments favor. 1t is a sug-
gestion of q tomb in the heart of the
nation Borrowing for its noble dead.
Today's ceremonies proclaim that
the hero unknown IS not un-honored.
We gather him to the nations breast.
within the shadow of tho capital. of
the towering shaft hat honors Wash
ington. the great father. and OF the
exquisite monument to Lincoln. the
martyred savior. Here the inspira-
tiens of yesterday and the conscience
of today forever unite to make the re-
public worthy of his death for flag
and country.
Ours are lofty resolutions today. as
with tribute to the dead we consecrate
ourselves to a better order for the liv-
Ing. With all my heart I wish we
might say to the defenders who sur
vive. to mothers who sorrow. to wild,
ows and children who mourn, that no
such sacrifice shall be asked again.
1t was my fortune recently 10 see a
Continued on Page ~