Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-02

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q Voice speals. From the crave
II lie hereof the many, one &#.
Who for the sworld's life gave a life.
Somewhere alone Is ne X
Tonight a sorrowing mother mouns her scr,
Somewhere a father or mayhap a wife
Regardless? Meath Ills heavy stone
slept in peace until q voice today .##
Rang through the earth toFevery soldiers grave,
Whether in far off France or here at home,
Shriling: Awake! Awake! "A moment crave IT.
This dull earthIs ear to listen. Pray!
To the most high God-to men. There must be
some s &
To heed you yet! Your prisons cannot ope.
Beyond mans pardon and beyond his hope
Ye lie. Yet he who dared not fight,
Who tried to aid our foe, starve out our brood
Lo! he today walks out into the light!
From his base wrists fall off the prison bands;
For him the sunlight and the sweet airs good.
And, unrePentant, he is pardoned! Oh, arise!a%
Brush the black dust; forget the pain
Ye suffered once! Be men again.
And march to meet this bastard foe
"Ah, me! I may not rise nor go
To take my vengeance! Yesterday my bier
Was borne midst silent crowds, and tears were shed,
And music walled and strong men laid me here.
Today my worst detractor lifts his head
And spurns me with his foot, a free man midst the
Why bring me here except in mockery?".
The Father Of Three Soldier Sons.
Commenting editorially o n this poem, the New York Times says:
NO COMBINATION OF SENTENCE FOR THE DEAD
Members of the small but vocferous group whose iteratons and
concealments have brought aboat the liberation of Debs and a score
more of less notorious sedidonsts ought to read the verses. printed on
this page today under the title. "Ey the Unknown Soldiers Grave at
Arlington" At least it will inform them a to- what has boon the
reaction to their achievement by another and much larger class than
81; :? Is y: :s:. - . Rely 81! rs ! e sss ss, ! 'sit Is Is s:;; ss'z ss s ;ss'i rom sss' ;ss
less fortunate convtcts there. sEs 49,.
Readers OF a different sort will find their own emotion admirably
f Ds: ss IN lad II III. 7s ss;sp ss' s snsS Ss s sssf l e;ssss'i III 'sss 5 ssss3,
to his home, 10 such clcmency has been r car be extended to the
Unknown Soldier at Arlington r. to any Of the thousands and thous-
II S$ss : E s f. ;.d IN IS : s. S s ss4s s Is . : s ne sse: :ss shs ss :
S se9ss o1 saa ,esssn he war i. t sete S sss%fn ss su ss1s se%s.! assi q sSs sss
which has been waged for the men who MOI only refused to fight,
but did their little best to help the national enemy.
The strong emotion that marks these verses is not without a
special reason. The author of them Is the father of three all
OF whom followed the flag tt France. One of them. a First Ldcuten-
ant of infantry, was twice wounded and gased in the Argonne; the
second, of the same rank in the artillery. Is not yet recovered from a
violent attack of pneumonia contracted in the service, while the
bird risked his life daily over the German lines a a Second Lienten-
ant in the aviation service, Z ~
In the letter accompanying the poem this father writes:
I cannot repress a feeling Of indignation and horror n learning
II the pardon of Dcbs. Had he shown any signs Of repentance. I
would not have said a word. hut he is released an unrepentant crimin-
H. n viii probably returnt o the same propaganda for the dcstruc-
ton Of the Government that he has always attempted.
Editors Note: The above poem and the editorial which accom-
pames it recently appeared in the New York Times. The poem was
written by the father Of three American Soldiers and was inspired by
the release of Eugene v. Debs from the federal prison.