The Commoner
NOVEMBER, 1921'
5
Harding's Tribute to Unknown Dead
Text of President H&rdins's address irf mem
ory of America's unknown dead hero, delivered
It Washington, Not. 11, 1321.)
Mr, Secretary of "War na Ladies -and -Gentlo-en.'
we are met today to "pay the impersonal
tribute. The -name of hhn whose "body lies bo
fore us toolc flight with his imperishable soul.
We know not whence lie came, "but only that his
death marks Mm -with the -everlasting lory of
an American dying for -his country.v '
He might have come from any one of mil
lions of American liomes. Some mother gave
him in her love and tenderness, and with him
her most cherished Slopes. Hundred of mothers ,
are wondering today, Ending a touch, of solace
in the possibility that the n&ttOn hows in grief
oyer the body of one she bore to live and die,
if need be, for the republic. II wo give rein to
fancy, a score of sympathetic chords are touched,
for in this body there once glowed the soul
of an American, "with the aspirations nnd am
bitions of a citizen who cherished life and its
opportunities. He may.Tiave bqen a native or
an adopted son; .that 'matters little, "because
tliey glorified the same loyalty, theysacrificed
alike. - ,
GLORIOUS DEATH TOR COUNTRY
We do not know his station .in life, because
from every station come t&e patriotic response
of the five millions., 'recall the days of creat
ing armies and the departing of 'caravels which
braved the murderous seas to reach the battle
lines for maintained nationality and preserved
civilization. The service flag marked mansion
and cottage alike, and. riqhes were common to
all homes in the consciousness of service to
country.
We do not -know the .eminence of his birth,
but we do knowithelory of his, death. He died
for this country, and" greater devotion hath no
man than this. He died unquestioning, uncom
plaining, with faith in-his heart' and hope on his
lips, that his country should triumph and its
civilization survive. As typical soldier cf this
representative democracy, he fought and died,
believing in the indisputable justice tff-hls counr
try's cause. Conscious of. the world3 upheaval,
appraising the magnitude of a war the like of
which had never horrified humanity before, per
haps he believed his to be a service destined to
change the tide of human affairs.
In the death, gloom of gas, the bursting of
shells and Tain of bullets, men face more inti
mately the great God over all, their souls are
aflame, and consciousness expands and hearts
are searched. With the -din of "battle, the glow
of conflict, and, the supreme trial of courage,
come involuntarily the hurried appraisal of life
and the contemplation of death's gTeat mystery.
On the threshold of eternity, many a soldier, I
can -well believe, wondered how his ebbing brood
would color the stream of human life, flowing
on after his sacrifice. His patriotism was none
lesB if he craved more h9.u triumph ef country;
rather, it was greater if he hoped for a victory
for all human kind. Indeed, I revere that citi
zen whose confidence in the righteousness of hia
country Inspired belief that -its triumph is the
victory of humanity.
FOUGHT FOR WORLD FREEDOM
This American soldier wept forth to battle
with no hatred for aiiy people In the world, hut
hating war and hating the purppse of every war
tor conquest He cherished our national rights,
and abhorred the threat of armed domination;
and in the maelstrom of destruction and suffer
ing and death he fired his shot for liberation,
of the captive conscience of the world. In ad
vancing toward his objective was sojnewhere
a thought of a world awakened; and we are
here to testify undying gratitude and reverence
for that thought of a wider treedom.
On such an occasion as this, amid such a
pene, our thoughts alternate "between defenders
hving and defenders dead. A grateful republic
will bo worthy of them both. Our part is to
atone for the losses of "heroic dead by making
a bettor republic for the Jiving.
Sleeping in these hallowed grounds are thou
sands of Americans who have given their blood
for the baptism of freedom and its maintenance,
armed exponents of the nation's 'conscience. It
is better and nobler for their deeds. Burial
here is rather moTe than a sign of the govern
ment's f avor-rit 1s a suggestion of a tomb in the
heart of the nation, sorrowing for its noble dead.
Today's ceremonies proclaim that the hero
unknown 1b not,mhonored. We gather him" to
the nation's breast, within the shadow of tho
Capitol, of the towering shaft that honors
Washington, the great father, and of the ex
quisite mbnument to Lincoln, the martyred
savior. Hero tho inspirations of yesterday and
the conscience of today forever unite to make
the republic worthy of his death for flag and
country.
SACRIFICE SHALL' NOT BE- AGAIN.
. Ours are lofty resolutions today, ns with trib
ute to the lead wo cpnsecrate ourselves to a .
better order for the living. With all my heart,
I wish we might saF to the defenders who surw .
vive,;!to mothers who sorrow, to widows and
-children who mourn, that no such .sacrifice shall
be asked again, t r : t
It was any fortune recently to see a demon
stration of modern warfare. It is no longer -&
conflict in chivalry,, no more a test of militant
manhood. It is only cruel, deliberate, scientific
destruction There was no contending enemy,
only the theoretical defense of a hypothetic ob
jective. But tho attack was made with all the:
relentless methods of modern destruction. Thcrel
was the rain of ruin, from 'the aircraft,! the-,
thunder of artillery, followed by the unspeak
able - devastation wrought by bursting aholls;
there .were mortars belching their -hombs of .
desolation; machine guns concentratingi their
leaden storms; there was the-'infantry, .advanc- ,
ing, firing, and fallingrlike men ' with toula ,
sacrificing for the decision. The flying missiles
were revealed by illuminating tracers, so that
we couid note their fight and appraise their dead1
liness, The air was streaked with tiny flameB,
marking the flight of massed destruction; whilei
tho effectiveness of the theoretical defense was
impressed by the simulation of dead and
wounded among those going forward, -undauntod
and, unheeding. As. this panorama of unutter-'
able destruction visualized the horrors of mod
ern conflict there grew on me the sense of the
failure of a civilization which can leave its
problems to such cruel arbitrament t Surely no
one in authority, with human attributes and a
lull appraisal of the patriotic loyalty of his
countrymen, could ask the manhood of Hngdom,
empire or republic to .make such sacrifice until
all reason had failed, nntll appeal to justice
through -understanding had been denied, until
every effort of love and consideration for fel
low men had been exhausted, until freedom it
self and -inviolate horror ,had been brutally
threatened.
PLEA 'FOR" EVERLASTING PEACE
I .speak not as a pacifist fearing war, but as
one who loves justice and hates war, I speak
as one who believes the highest function of gov
ernment is .to give its citizens the security of
peace, the opportunity to achieve and the pursuit
of happiness.
The lofiest tribute we can bestojModay the
heroically earned tribute fashioned in delib
erate conviction, out of unclouded thought,
neither shadowed by remorse not made -ain by
fancies, is the commitment of this republic 'o an
advancement never made before. If American
achievement is a cherished pride at home, if
ur unselfishness among nations is all wo wish
it to be, and ours is a helpful example in the
world, then let us give of our influence and
strength, yea, of our aspiration and convlctiona,
to put mankind on a little higher plane, exulting
and exalting, with war's distressing, and depress
ing tragedies barred from the stage of righteous
civilization.
There have been a thousand defenses justly
and patriotically made; a thousand offenses
which Teabon and righteousness ought to have
stayed. Let us beseech all men to join us tn
seeking that rule under which reason and right
eousness shall prevail.
Standing today on hallowed .ground, con
scious that alf America has halted to stare to
the tribute of reart and mind and soul o th s
fellow American, and knowing that tho world is
noting this cxpressiou .of the republic's mind
ful ness, it is fitting to suy that his sacrifice, and
that of the millions dead, shall not be In vain
Thaw Tniust be, there shall be, the commanding
voice of a conscious civilization against armed
warfare
"OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"
As we return this poor clay to Its mother
nii irarlanded by love and covered with the dec-
fl2?J that only nations can bestow. I can
orations that omy nai pe0ple, of all peo-
lt7TLym the ber
.glnnlnl of anew and lasting era of peace on
earth, good will among' "men. Let tmq join "frr
that prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, kftllowcd be
Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will -be
done on earth, as it is in heaven. Givo us this
day our daily bread, and torgivo s cur tres
passes as wo foigivo those who trespass against
us. Load us not into temptation, but deliver
us from cvli, for Thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and Jho glory, forever. Amen.
DEMOCRAT8 SEE IN ELECTION RESULTS
ItEBUKE TO REPUBLICANS
A Washington apodal to Tho New York
'World, dated Nov. 5, saVa; Democratic lead
ers are elated over the election returns in New
York, Kentucky, Maryland and, other state.
They believe tho trend is away from tho Repub
licans and strongly toward the Democrats.'
' Chairman Cordell Hull of tho Democratic Na
tional Committee made "this statement iodayr
"Fighting Democrats who captured numerous
Republican outpo&Js in Tuesday's oloctions, havo
given evidence that the spirit of the party is
still militant. Although this was not a ;eneral
election, a conservative interpretation" of tho
elections held indicates that the people are far
enough away from tho confusion of vor con- .
ditions -and Influences Ao . see , the merits of
Democratic administration.
"The people now see and aro convinced oX
the increasing demerits of tho prosent Republi
can administration and realize that the com
prehensive program of reconstruction proposed
.by the Democratic administration" following tho
'armistice was obstructed and in chlof measure
defeated by a Republican congress during 1919
-nnd 1520, with tho disastrous results lb busl
sneBS which have inevitably followed
"Apart from the gratifying outcome in Vir
ginia, Kentucky, Maryland and other localities
and tho tremendous victory in Groator' Now
York, the results upstate, in Bridgeport, Conn.,
following recent Democratic victories 'n other
Connecticut towns, are particularly .gratifying
because they have been strongholds of roac-.
tionary Republicanism.
"Democratic victories of Tuesday will in
spire Democrats everywhere to renewed effort
with increasing expectations of success."
Members of congress believe that tho .sweep
ing victories won by candidates of their party
in some sections of tho country indicate th
election of a Democratic congress in 1.922.
Representative Montague of Virginia, ;said;,
"Tho election returns indicate a decided reac-'
tion against the Republican administration by
which. I mean to Include the legislative depart
ment' "The trend is toward democracy," said Rep
resentative Weaver of North Carolina. "That
is what the gains in New York, Maryland, Ken
tucky and Connecticut mean."
Republican leaders in congress, wir.le nofc
willing to be quoted, blame Gov. "Miller for tho
Democratic victories in New York. They assort
that he is endangering the party in the nation,
THE IMPORTANT IDEA FOR PUBLIC
SPEAKERS
Villa Serena, "Miami, Florida, .October W,
1321. Mrs. Emma G. Wallace, 25 Grover St.,
Auburn, N. Y. My dear Madam: Replying to
your question: 2 beg to say that one remark
made by a visltorlpour college made a deep im
pression upon mm "His words were to this ef
fect: "When Cicero spoke people said, How well
Cicero speaks;' when Demosthenes spake they
said, 'Let us go against Philip.' w
The distinction may not be fair to Cicero but
it brought)ut an important idea, namely, that
a public speaker should endeavor to Impress his
SUBJECT, rather than HIMSELF, upon hia
audience. W. J- BRYAN.
BE THE BEST OP "WHATEVER YOS ARE
"If you can't be a pine on the top of tho hiXL .
Be a scrub in thB valley ybut be
The best little scrub at tho side of the rill - m
Be a bush it you' can't ho a tree.
"If you can't be a bush be a bit of tho grass
Some highway to happier make.
If you can't be a muskio then juBt be a bass
. But the liveliest bass in the lake! '
"We can't all be captains, we've got to. he crew, ,
There's something for all of us here; '"
There's big work to do and there's lesser to do, ' -And
the task we must do 4s the near. - "" T -
"If you can't bo ti highway then just "be a trait,
If you can't, be the sun be a star; ' v
XL lan i oy ur&v mill uu wm ui yyu. laii xyj,
Be thejbest of whatever you are." - - x$
. P. H. C, LcsvilbyKSr;' - .
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