The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-04
F. R. Challenges
u. S. To Fight
On For Peace
Gives Thanks for Processes
of Popular Gov.
eminent

| GE i I SBURG bA LEI lELD
July a.. (UP)-President Roose.
welt looked out across the ma.
tons grimest battlefield Sunday
and challenged America to fight
eternally for peace through de,
mocracy.
Here in our land we give
thanks that, avoiding war, we
seek our ends through the peace
full processes Of popular govern
ment under the constitution" the
president told a mammoth crowd
of probably 100000 gathered at
the close of a sweltering day on
the slopes Of Oak Hill.
1T is another conflict as fun
damental as Lincoln's, fought not
with CLINT of steel. but with ap-
peals to reason and justice. We
are near to winning this battle, u
he said.
Concentrating the 18th an,
niversary of the battle of Gettys,
burg, Mr.. Roosevelt spoke to
1900 Blue and Gray clad veter.
ans of the War Between the
States meeting for a final reunion
on field where the bitterness of
war has softened into friendly
peace.
As his voice died away, two
aged men - one in dark blue and
one in gray-trudged to the hill
top and grasped the edges of a
50-foot flag suspended there. The
fading sun glinted on their mill
tary braids as they pulled the
banner free and disclosed tow
ering memorial dedicated to
peace eternal in a nation unit
ed"
A cheer rippled across the
crowd that stretched far out
across the meadows and, a mo-
ment later, the voices mounted to
roaring salute as a thread Of
pale flame spurted from the
crown of the white stone tower,
rippled and spread = to burn for
ever-against the blue and white
of the summer sky.
The ceremony was set against
a shrine of Americas struggle for
unity. To the west was the sturdy
line of the Blue Ridge, hazy in
the bright July sun. Lying green
and quiet in the shimmering heat
was the ground over which the
armies of Meade and Lee fought
and died.
Immortal deeds and immortal
words" declared Mr.. Roosevelt,
"have created here a shrine Of
American patriotism. We are en-
comprised by the last full mea-
sure of devotion of many men
and by the words in which Abra-
ham Lincoln expressed the simple
faith for which they died."
The presidents words resound.
ed in the ageing ears of the Civil
war survivors. They sat as honor
guests on a platform erected
where sweating gunners loaded
and fired the priced Whitworth
guns of Hills corps that raked
Union positions on Big Round Top
a mile and a half distant three
quarters of a century ago today.
Before him crowded thousands
who motored over the smooth
highways that follow the routes
Travelled bv the warning armies in
their slow progress toward that
July climax of the War Between
the North and South.
Calvary clattered through the
streets Of Gettysburg and up the
winding road to Oak Hill
as they did on that battle day.
But they were the glittering
troops of the U. S. army Bird cav
airy, honor escort to Mr.. Roose-
welt. They led him past the brown
canvas tents of the reunion en-
campment of Union and Confed-
crate veterans. From wheelchairs
a few veterans, too feeble to sit
on the platform of honor at the
ceremonies, piped a thin cheer
and waved their canes in greet
ing to the chief executive.
Hardly a mile distant from the
scene of Sundays ceremony, Lin
coin addressed throng under cir
cumstances far different. It was
on this field, before a cemetery
lined with row upon row of
crosses, that Lincoln delivered his
address November 10, 1853:
Yesterday, Mr.. Roosevelt recall
ed that brief speech.
"The issue which he restated on
this spot rs years ago will be the
continuing issue before this nation
Continued on page tour)