The Washington times., 1925-05-30

mlonaOFiA1 exorctsee at Arttng'
For those who are thes In
heritors Of noble estate and
hiEh place In the world, 1t Is q
Rood thing to pause at intervals
and consider by what favor OF.
fortune and OF ancestry their
tines have fallen IN such pleasant
biaees. Thus to meAitateE upon
that coslrse Of events. which has
gaven them what they have and
made them what they are, VIII
tend to remind them how great
- their debt and how little Is
their share OF merit.
This u the day on which the
American people each year oc-
knowledge that they have such
debt. II has been set aside that
4 grateful nation. may do fitting
honor to the memory OF those
who have made the greatest and
most voluntary contribution to
h Here about Het In this place
of beauty and revenences lies. the
mortal dust Of & noble host, to
whom we have come 20 pay our
tribute, as thousands Of other
IKE gatherings win DO through
out our land. In their youth and
strength, their love and loyalty,
those who rest here gave to their
country ali that mortality cail
live. For what they sacrificed
we must give back the pledge. OF
faith to ali that they held dear,
constantly renewed. constantly
justified. Doing less would be
tray them and dishonOr ns.
Humility and Gratitude.
To such Q memorial as exists
here we can only come In . spirit
of humility and Of gratitude, We
cannot hops to repay those whom
wa are assembled to honor. They
v.are moved by noble concep-.
ffon OF human possibilities and
human destiny But we can un-
aArtake to find what was their
ingpiratton and seek to make It
cur guide. BY that they WIN be
rocompen6ed,
Theao who are represented here
Were men IN whom courage hsd
raacheds high moral quality.
They had been brave enough not
ana institutions. They had been
honest enough to admit that they
aaw there much that was not
Taod. They = -glosS6d oven no
Wrones. they hid away. noF-skele-
tons. They did not pretend that
wrong was right or ever could
b right. They had put mucn
thought to the lessons OF hard ex-
periencs. and had frankly ae-
knowledged that they must deal
with crisis In the nations iife.
They were sure that union was
blessing, that slavery was
Wr6ng. and that domestic war
was the suprene human tragedy.
This settled, they saw that one OF
three COURSES must be taken.
They could have had peace with
disunion, or they could have had
peace and union. with slavery.
Freedom with union, they. saw
ak last, meant war. We know
how they decided. We know at
what fearful cost they supported
their decision.
Assurance Was IN Unity.
We live. far enough away from
KuO89
know that sincerity and honesty
did not all lie on either side. We
know the conflicts Of loyalties.
traditions, ancestry, and interest
which drew men to one side and
the other. / doubt II there ever
was another 50 great and ele-
mental ( conflict from which men.
emerged with 50 much Of mutual
respect, with. 20 little Of bitter
ness and lingering hostility. The
etfukgIe brought the whole nation
a4 last to see that its only assur-
ance was In unity, United, 1t
could 70 its way In all security;
divided, both sections, becoming
the prey Of jealousy and intrigue,
would have dissfpated all the
power they now have for good IN
the world.
Our kenSration has recently
lived through times still 80 vivid
a. to seem but al yesterday,
which have taught US deeply to
appreciate the value Of union In
purpose and effort. We have
come TO see az through a crystal
that In the national variety of
talents and resources, Of cultures
end capacities. OF climates and
Of soils, Of occupations and Of in
terests, lies the guaranty of both
our power and our authority.
More than that they have taught
uS how heavy and. Important is
eur responsibility in the world.
Prosperity OF Neighbors.
Conscious of a strength which
removes US from either fear or
truculence, satisfied with domin-
ions and resources which free US
from lust Of territory or empire,
We see that our highest interest
VIII be promoted by the pros
perity ana progress OF our neigh.
bors. We recognize that what
has been Accomplished here has
largely been due 70 the capacity
Of our people 4 for efficient CO.
operation. We shall continue
prosperous at home and helpful
abroad, about an we shall main
tain and continually adapt to
changing conditions the system
under which we have come thus
far. / mean our Federal system.
distributing powers and responsi.
bilitiea between the States and
the National Government. For
that IL the greatest American con-
tribution to the organization OF
government over great popula.
fions and wide areas. It IL the
essence OF practical administration
Tor a nation placed as ours 10. It
has become so commonplace to
us, and q pattern by 30 many
ether peoples, that we do not al
ways realize how great an inno-
walton II was when first formu-
lated, or how great the practical
problems which its operation In
wolves. Because Of my convic-
ton that some Of these problems