Evening star., 1933-01-06
Forward!

The grief of nation is not a sterile
thing. On the contrary it brings iron
into the human soul; it strengthens
the will and kindles the flame OF
brotherly love and sympathy in the
heart. By suffering the spirit grows
and men never attain maturity until
they have learned the lessons of pain
and sorrow.
There are many still living who can
remember the night Of April IA, 1855,
when the long roll was beaten in the
streets of Washington and whispered
word went around that the Emancipator
was no more. They can recall, too, the
solemn hush which fell over the Capital
on the evening of September 10, 1881,
when the telegraph brought the news
that second good and gentle captain
of the people had paid for his fame
with his life. And they have not for
gotten how again, on September IA,
1901, yet another justly honored leader
unseasonably breathed his last in a
distant city, while the masses wept.
Even unripened youth holds remem-
brance of fourth occasion ins the re-
cent annals of the country when, on
August 2, 1928, chosen chieftain, well
beloved, journeying far from the Fed
eral seat of government, quietly moved
out into the infinite to the sound OF
the populace mourning.
Six other statesmen upon whom the
electorate had bestowed the proudest
laurels within their gift have passed from
the earthly. scene since the century
began. Each had served in the presi-
DENTAL Office and retired possessed of
the gratitude of his fellow citizens.
Each has been granted the homage Of
universal eulogy.
But praise and sorrow are not enough.
Lincoln visioned the truth when, at
Gettysburg, he said:
1t Is for us, the living, rather to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work
which they who fought here have thus
far SO nobly advanced. 1t is rather
for us to be here dedicated to the
great task remaining before us, that
from these honored dead we take In
creased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last full measure
OF devotion; that we here highly re-
solve that these dead shall not have
died in vain.
He had particular reference, of
course, to soldiers, fallen on the field
OF battle, but his words have even
greater significance, applying, as they
surely do, to all who, in peace as in war,
have served their country and man
kind.
Today America mourns. But the
national grief is not an empty emotion
extravagantly expressed, soon exhausted
and spent. 1t is deeper, more sincere
than that. Yesterdays event has STIR
red the people to the core Men draw
their lips a little tighter and, thinking
OF the work that is yet to be done, &c
with a new determination, a new in
tegr1ty OF purpose, about the perform
ance Of their duty. Women, no less
conscious Of the needs of the hour
bravely translate their sympathy for
their widowed sister into devotion to
the institutions to which she has given
SO generously and with such inspir-
ing grace Of her time and strength,
the institutions which are the bedrock
OF Western civilization.
There Is no pause. The command
ever is: Forward! America accepts the
challenge and, gratefully conscious of
the high example Of its splendid
pioneers, marches on, fights on toward
the glorious victory which it knows to
be its natural destiny.