Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-28
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

| patriotism, the New York American
Legionnaires threatened a great indis-
erection; they consulted with each other
on attending the meeting In order to
register indignant disapproval, but
cooler, wiser councils prevailed. Not
single egionnaire-and probably not
veteran of any war-was present.
Some legalists might construe that
sitting absence as directly violating
the Constitution, which expressly for
| bids cruel and unusual punishment
even to seeker for pulpit notoriety
Maybe the Presidents Crime Commits
sion should study that.
| II X X X
In thrilling contrast to the spirit OF
| the preachers above referred to were
the words of the Bishop Of Washington
Right Rev. Freeman, speaking on the
| same day to q present audience OF
| $4,000 and radio audience of hundreds
Thousands. Said the bishop:
1T would be of little worth that we
remember those who heroically gave
their all, unless we remember those
ideals for which they stood. To praise
their deeds is one thing; to emulate
their virtues Is another. We must not
forget In this period of prosperity those
fundamental things which have made
and preserved us q nation. More i'm
portant than decorating the graves OF
our heroes is respect and obedience fol-
those things for which they gave their
last full measure of devotion"
There were many scores of patriotic
organizations at that open-air meeting
with "Old Glory" and their organiza.
ton colorS. As the occasional of the
flags wound up the aisle and lost Itself
among the green foliage of the Cathe.
dral Close it seemed impossible to sep.
arate the spirit Of true religion from
that of true patriotism. What holy
| inspiration!
To demonstrate the vast distance the
decryers of "cruel war" have wandered
from the spirit of the American in the
World War, nothing could be finer mol
stronger than the "Of1icial Order" OF
the commander Of the A. e. F., Gen
Pershing:
"You are now In France to expel an
| enemy that has invaded this beautiful
land. Your first duty Is to fight against
this foe and protect your ally. You are
| here also to lift a shield above the poor
and weak. You will be kind, therefore
to the aged and invalid. You will be
| courteous to all women, and never have
minds. You will be very tender and
gentle to little children. You will dc
well, therefore, to forswear the use OF
all liquors.. You will do your duty like
brave men. Fear God. Honor your
country: Defend liberty. God have you
| in His keeping"
, In the history Of all literature, in the
appeals Of all humanity to the noble
| In character, where is there a passage
that Is more beautiful than that above
quoted? The calls to duty which have
| lived in fame, the cries for peace by
the greatest of soldiers, ring true and
| glorious, but none are greater or more
exalting than Pershing'S command
courteous to women, tender to chill
dren, a shield to the weak" There
| was no note of the Stacker or the cow
! ard. It was the mandate of civiliza-
| ton.
Admiral Nelson, In 1905, fighting a
would-be world conqueror, signaled
from his flagship, England expects
| every officer and man to do his duty"
It proved an expectation well fulfilled
In 1917 Gen. Pershing, in language
/ even more direct and confident, an
| nounced: "You will do your duty like
brave men," Was he right? Shall the
Flanders Field be dishonored now and
its peoples return to blood futilely shed?
The answer will come in President
Hoover's address at Arlington Cemetery
next Thursday-Memoria1 day-and at
hundreds Of other gatherings Of patri-
otto Americans.
(Copyright. 1899, BY Paul v. Collins.)