un to put down imperial aggression upon the
political liberties, of certain peoples, has evolved into a profound
social upheaval, touching the most remote countries. We cannot yet see
definitely what the results of its later developments will be, but
already there lies before forward looking men the bright prospect of
peace and justice and liberty throughout the world such as we recently
dared hope for only within the narrow confines of particular countries.
To the soldiers of the great war--inspired from the outset by a dim
foresight of this stupendous result--we now pay honor; and in
particular, to the dead whose graves are before us.

"'These men, like their comrades elsewhere in the most endless line of
battle, have struck their blow against the common enemy. They have had
the added privilege of assisting in the most tragic, and at the same
time the most hopeful, upheaval for which the war has been the occasion.
Autocracy in Russia is gone. A new democracy is in the struggle of its
birth. The graves before us are tangible evidence of the deep and
sympathetic concern of the older democracies. These men have given their
lives to help Russia. They have labored in an enterprise which is a
forecast of a new order in the world's affairs and have made of it a
prophecy of success. Here within this restricted northern area there has
been an acid test of the practicability of co-operation among nations
for the attainment of common ends. Nowhere could material and moral
conditions have been more difficult than we have seen them these past
months; under no circumstances could differences in national temperament
or the frailties and shortcomings of individuals be brought into
stronger relief. Yet the winter of our initial difficulties is given way
to a summer of maturing success. Co-operation begun in the most
haphazard fashion has developed after a few months of mutual adjustment
into concerted and harmonious action. It seems to me that herein lies
striking proof of the generous spirit of modern international
intercourse and proof of the most practical kind that, as nations
succeed to doing away with war, they will be able to apply the energies
thus released to common action in the beneficent field of world wide
social and political betterment. If this ideal is to be measurably
attained, as I believe it is, these men have indeed made their sacrifice
to a great cause. They have given their lives to the progress of
civilization