The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1923-06-06


dead within the city walls his body was carried
to the gate of the city, and the inhabitants OF
the town filed by the corpse, each one laying ms
hand mon it and swearing to the great Jehovah
that he was innocent of the blood Of the dead
man Would to God that on this day every
American citizen had to pass by the grave OF an
American hero and swear the same oath as testl-
mony of his citizenship. Would to God that we
had to swear we were not guilty OF their deaths
by our personal negligence in the past and that
since their deaths we have not proven ourselves
disloval to them and the causes for which they
died.
"Then, indeed, traitorous men and women, VINO
call themselves American citizens, would not dare
to deny publicly the motives that inspired them
in their great sacrifice. Then, indeed, so-called
American citizens, who under their SKIN are
twentieth century Judas Iscariots, would not dare
sell their country day after day for thirty pieces
of the silver of graft, foreign favour, and social
honor Then, indeed, would the puppets OF schem-
ing foreign nations thoroughly understand that
they cannot de-Americanize our school histories;
or powerful moneyed interests camoufage their
own selfish desire under the garb of patriotism
and send our young men to the supreme sacrifice
for an ignoble cause
"And right here / wish to state, with all the
strength of my being that the Wall Street fin
anciers the political profteers, and the Followers
to high-brow social life, may have been afraid
not to fight in the late war but that 100000
American men and women who trained and en-
tered the conflict, did so because they we're told
and believed that our Democracy was threatened,
and the 10000 who gave up their lives on the
battle fields, are the peoples witness to this
effect. And so long as God permits my heart to
throb and my lips to speak, ! will fight to the
finish any attempt that half baked American citi-
zens, or foreign propogandists may make to the
discredit of our American heroes whom are
honoring today.
Fellow American citizens, we are assembled
here today to honor the memory of our dead
heroes. How in Gods name can our hearts thrill
with patriotic pride over their sacrifice when we
know deep down in our hearts that we have
neglected to. hold high the torch of democracy
which they threw to US when their valiant arms
failed They fought to establish portect preserve
and extend the fruits of democracy. They willingly
gave up their lives to make the world safe for
democracy. And yet, today that very democracy
is not safe for the world.
"How can we feel that we are doing anything
less than desecrating their memories when we per-
NIT foreign made histories to be taught that dis
credit the records of our heroes and misinterpret
the causes for which they fought?
"How can we celebrate this sacred occasion
when we know that through our criminal neg
ligence the very things that brought about the
formation of Democracy, tyranical legislation
and hoard of governmental agents are man.
handling ninety percent of the people by useless
taxation to satisfy the greed and fanaticism of
a small but powerful minority.
"How can we properly celebrate this day of
days when we know that through our care
lessness and Indifferent attitude towards the public
we have permitted the very soul of our democracy,
the Constitution, to become document of con-
Trajectory terms, "a mere scrap of paper"