Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-05-26
DECORATION DAY.

->SNl May ouiil Will III
the annual memorial or decoration
day. 1. is day held sacred in
many parts of the country in keep
ing green the memory of departed
friends, relatives and heroes. This
is Il beautiful, fitting and sacred
custom. When the nation assem-
blcS by communities. as ii will next
Tuesday, and dccoratcS the graves
of the dead. whether that dead died
in civil life or on the field of honor
may the people get a glimpse of The
responsibility of the living. We
are given To lose sight of the per-
Sonal responsibility of the living
when We look back to the noble
deeds and lives Of the dead We
forget To ask ourselves with any
degree of seriousness whether or
no We are maintaining and pushing
forward the high principles for
which they fought and maybe died.
We forget the long centuries which
have elapsed since our present civ
ilzation began to shape itself in its
present form. | was in the year
12l5-soon will be 707 years
that the first great charter Of libcr-
ty for the English speaking people
was formed. This is known as he
Magma Charta. This document
contains siNty-tllrcc separate pro-
visions. Forty is us follows: 1--we
will sell ito no man, we will not
deny or delay to any man, either
Justice or right" We quote the
above that we may see how far we
have failed to reach the declaration
made by our fore-fathers more than
seven hundred years ago in Eng
land. But even this is not the first
Henry is coronation oath in 100 is
OF Importance.
These documents are numerous
until we reach our own Declare
ton of independence. 1t is not
Of these ancient things We desire
to comment. They are of import
ance to thc student of history but
10 get the average politician, bust
ness man or even street loafer to
give these ancient documents a
moments thought to- day would be
u Supcr-human task which we have
no desire to undertake When our
government was formed and there
were only thirteen States from one
1hird to one-half the male inhab-
itants above the age of twcnty-onc
years had vote. This one-third
or onc-half had the responsibility
OF government on their shoulders.
They were responsible. To-day
all men and women who arc natur-
alized have vote. The govern
mcnt is run by politicins. These
men and women fall in line and per
init the government 10 be so run.
From one election 10 another thew
rarely ever give the matter of gov
crnment thought. All government
was at one age of tho world in the
home. There were no officers save
the elderly people in the home.
These "elderS" gave way to tribe
leaders. Tribe leaders to Kings
and now Kings have about COM
pictel y given way to the people.
The test, therefore, to-day is are
the people of the world capable
OF governing themselves. This
is the testing time. This period OF
testing may continue Il century or
two yet. 1t may assert itself much
sooner. The course it takes de-
ponds solely on the people. 1t de-
ponds on their interest, their de-
votion and their intelligence. II
rests upon the men and women of
many nations. This is especially
true Of our nation. Governments
having sprung from the home, they
are or should be as sacred as the
nome They should be considered
part Of the home for indeed gov
crDmcnt is the Home Writ Large. "
Men and women have just as great
a responsibility, just as noble and
honorable duty to perform i'm time
OF peace as in time Of war. I'm arnth
II they do their duty to this "Homc
VIII Large" universally. there
"Ouiu De 10 more wars.
May we get Il vision of our duties
on next Tuesday and resolve
10 i've up to cur Responsibilities. The
responsibility is ours. 1T is that Of
nobody else. II can not be gotten
from under. Remember The man
Nr woman who docs not live truc
10 nome can never be Il good citi-
zen. Our government must be as
sacred as our home. 1t came from
II and is Yet part Of it whether we
think so or not.