Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-12

SaAooA0 StSuiAy Ial more imam the mere
placing OF q memorial 10 those men
rom Maine who were In service by
land and sea and sky: they should
mean more than merited tribute to
those who gave their lives In that
service. Cold indeed are those. and
to be pitied. whose hearts are not
stirred within them as they recall the
achievements Of the soldiers and
sailors Aom Maine. Unfeeiing are
those whose eyes are not dimmed
with tears when they remember the
suffering and agony and death en-
dured by them.
By this enduring memorial which
Is to be erected we pay deserved and
well-won honor TO the memory Of
those who are gone and to those who
are still living and serving, but mere
~ to do this Is not enough: 1t Is not
enough that our hearts are tender
and that our emotions are stirred.
Unless we here dedicate and conse-
crate ourselves anew to carry on the
work which their unselfish efforts
have left unfinished. we viii have
failed to fully interpret the full SOL
emnity of the hour and the lesson OF
personal obligation resting on US as
individuals.
Well may our hearts echo the
prayer that never again may the
would be devastated by a great war.
Well may We here resolve that. in so
far as our influence can help to shape
the deStinies OF this nation, We shall
strive to bring about a spirit Of COM
mon brotherhood. tolerance and NUT
ual service. which lead to peace.
never to war. God grant that never
again may the people of this State
CIR of any state gather to dedicate q
memorial for service In a future war,
glorious as that service might be;
but II ever again in the course OF
events, 1t shall become necessary for
this nation 10 take its place on the
battle front as the champion of great
principles. may the same spirit of
self sacrifice, the same courage. the
same devotion and the same loyalty
be in those who may follow In their
footsteps as was in those in whose
memory we gather here today. This
nation does not desire war and all
can agree that every possible effort
should be made to lead the human
mind away from thoughts Of carnage
and bloodshed, but may the time
never come when the American peo-
pie shall fail to keep alive the same
sturdy. virile and unyielding courage
that their ancestors had before them.
Peace needs the same type OF cour-
age, the same spirit of self sacrifice,
the same devotion. the same loyalty
that Is demanded in the din and
smoke of battle.
But talk as men will wars will never
cease until In the hearts OF men the
world over thought and considcra-
ton of their fellows outweigh
thought and consideration of self. 1t
will never be possible to abolish or
prevent war until men are ready to
drive from their own hearts thoughts
of anger, bitterness, revenge, jeal-
cusy and selfish ambition. Men who
for any purpose, political. religious.
social or otherwise. consciously or
unconsciously array class against
class, sect against sect, or individ-
uals against established forces of law
and order. are helping to hasten the
coming Of a conflict before which all
wars heretofore known would pale
into insignif1cance. Men who for
any reason whatever seek to arouse
the prejudice and hostility of the
masses against any group or any In
dividual are casting n fire brand
flagration the results Of which could
with difficulty be calculated.
Armistice Day commentaries the
end Of the most terrible Of all wars
and. as the years pass, its observ-
ance should more and more empha-
size the thought of peace. But with
thoughts of peace always uppermost
in the minds of our people, may they
not forget the duty they owe to their
own national existence and to the
safety and perpetuity Of their own
institutions. Hope Of final and per-
manent world peace should not cause
them to forget that the world Is con-
fronted by facts, not by theories. The
real pacifist is the man who feels the
necessity of safety. even while he
longs for the day to come when peace
shall cover the earth as the waters
cover the sea.
ut is good to see that the trainers
Of this (the preamble to the constitu-
ton Of the American Legion) put
God first. For God and country, we
associate ourselves together for the
following purposes as long as it's
people can point to TINT Flag and
say my F'lag'--as long as they can
with one voice say Of the God of or.
fathers, my sSou, TINS nauon Heeo
have no fear for the future. It mat
tiers not what mems race may be.
what their religion, or their creed. as
long as they are loyal to the same
flag, the Stars and Stripes of Amer
ica, and as long as they worship the
God Of the Christian. They are all
good Americans. There Is no place
under the Flag or in the true spirit
of this day for hatred. bitterness or
intolerance. May the spirit of Armis-
tice Day and thought of the lads who
fought, and came back. and memory
Of those who fought but who sleep
today, cleanse our hearts from all
unworthy thoughts and motives.
1.-THE only dangers to be feared by
this nation are the dangers from
within and those dangers will largely
be the results of hatred, bitterness.
intolerance, greed and wilful disre-
gard of law by those who can not
claim lack OF education or ignorance
Of law as an excuse. Men can not be
good patriots who permit any one of
these things to influence or control
them. For the true and enduring So