South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-24
Samuel PettingiH
Speaks at Legion
Patriotic Meeting
Post 80 Enjoys Program at
Chamber of Commerce G.
A. r. Members Guests.

With members OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic as their guests. Post
so, American Legion. last night en-
joyed a patriotic program at the
Chamber Of Commerce Samue.
PettingiT. publicist and lawyer. de
llvered the principal address OF the
evening. Oliver Williams, com
mander Of Auten Post No. 8. G.. A.
r. spoke in behalf OF the veterans
of 81 TO SIS.
Mr.. Pettingill directed the atten-
ton OF his hearers 10 the stirring
times preceding and including the
formation OF the union after the
war OF the revolution. He spoke
[ particularly OF the fortitude OF
/ George Washington. who. he said,
had led the ragged Colonials n the
/ bitter struggle for independence and
/ whose courage in shaping the des-
TIMES Of the 81 sovereign states had
/ indelibly stamped itself upoL the
minds OF those who followed the in
domitable energy and capability OF
the first president
There are many kinds OF cour-
/ age. There Is the courage Of the
moment. the courage OF the crisis
and when driven by the exigency Of
| A grave decision, the individual rises
20 great heights. Washington had
I these qualities. We know Of his de-
termination at Valley Forge. OF his
courage in facing the enemy.
! But his courage in the days OF
reconstruction. his bravery in facing
! problems just as such problems
/ must be met today. are the factors
upon which I wish to dwell. His
I tOrians tell US Washington faced the
same perilous and troublesome stu
\ atoms. when unrest and the feeling
/ of despair was manifest.
/ "A standard history says. Many
/ felt that the war Revolutionary
had been fought in vain After the
! Revolutionary war. there were the
same psychological reactions as
there are today, the same cold ashes
, after the hot fires of conflict, the
same slackening OF moral standards
And Washington lived through these
troublesome times, and we can not
but picture him as calmly and dis
passionately bringing his utmost
skill in deciding perplexing situa-
! lions.
Washington was confronted with
rebellions within states, for then the
sovereignty Of a state as compared
with the union was undisputed
I There was a great cutlery against
courts which we're enforcing con-
tracts. There was a clamor from
a. II Int -
remembered that Washington was
our only president ever elected from
a non-partisan basis, and he exer-
/ cised his prerogative without politi-
cal prejudice despite pleas Of petty
politicians
! Opposed Poular Moves.
Washington showed supreme
| courage IN opposing popular move
ments. which he saw. and which it
later developed. might have been
fatal to the stability Of the young
republic. Just as Liberty bonds.
bought at par and sold at a sacrifice.
have found their way into the hands
OF moneyed interests. so then did the
government securities fall into such
hands in those days AND there was
I a nue. anu cry set up against pay
ment OF these obligations. yet they
were paid. because the government
had promised 20 pay 20 holder at par
the full face value.
We must have faith in a free
7 government, in a democracy. \
democracy must have strength for
all Its needs. II is a question and
sometimes raised now. whether a
democracy can survive its own trou-
blesome internal disSensions. a
profound faith in its ability to sur
mount these obstacles is necessary
today just as il was In the time OF
him who was first in the hearts OF
our COuntrymen."
The Cohen sisters. Rae and LIl-
liam, entertained with popular songs
while Waiter Garrett and Dean Man
uel pleased with Hawaiian selec-
tious. Luncheon was served under
the direction of Miss Pauline Enter
line.
The Legion Auxiliary formulated
plans for entertainment Of new
members at its next meeting.