We are reputed to be somewhat careless in our discrimination between words in the use of the English language, and yet it is interesting to note that there are some words about which we are very careful.  We bestow the adjective “great” somewhat indiscriminately.  A man who has made conquest of his fellow-men for his own gain may display such genius in war, such uncommon qualities of organization and leadership that we may call him “great,” but there is a word which we reserve for men of another kind and about which we are very careful; that is the word “noble.”  We never call a man “noble” who serves only himself; and if you will look about through all the nations of the world upon the statues that men have erected—­upon the inscribed tablets where they have wished to keep alive the memory of the citizens whom they desire most to honor—­you will find that almost without exception they have erected the statue to those who had a splendid surplus of energy and devotion to spend upon their fellow-men.  Nobility exists in America without patent.  We have no House of Lords, but we have a house of fame to which we elevate those who are the noble men of our race, who, forgetful of themselves, study and serve the public interest, who have the courage to face any number and any kind of adversary, to speak what in their hearts they believe to be the truth.

We admire physical courage, but we admire above all things else moral courage.  I believe that soldiers will bear me out in saying that both come in time of battle.  I take it that the moral courage comes in going into the battle, and the physical courage in staying in.  There are battles which are just as hard to go into and just as hard to stay in as the battles of arms, and if the man will but stay and think never of himself there will come a time of grateful recollection when men will speak of him not only with admiration but with that which goes deeper, with affection and with reverence.

So that this flag calls upon us daily for service, and the more quiet and self-denying the service the greater the glory of the flag.  We are dedicated to freedom, and that freedom means the freedom of the human spirit.  All free spirits ought to congregate on an occasion like this to do homage to the greatness of America as illustrated by the greatness of her sons.

It has been a privilege, ladies and gentlemen, to come and say these simple words, which I am sure are merely putting your thought into language.  I thank you for the opportunity to lay this little wreath of mine upon these consecrated graves.

CLOSING A CHAPTER

[Address in which President Wilson accepted the Monument in Memory of the Confederate Dead, at Arlington National Cemetery, June 4, 1914.].

MR. CHAIRMAN, MRS. MCLAURIN STEVENS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: