Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-01

problem that is to confront the second century
| of our national existence.
But. if the problems that had. been thrust
| upon the nation by slavery were in some meas
| ure foreseen by the fathers, there were others
| only second in importance, that were not re
vealed TO their vision. A part of these have
that could not be foreseen. So far as they are
| the product of the inventions and dis
eoveries of the century they are not, of course.
to be charged to any lack OF acumen or OF
learning on the part of the father. OF this
class is the so-called struggle between capital
and labor. But there are certain others OF
consummate importance-of such an import
ance indeed as to awaken the grave appre-
tensions of the most thoughtful persons every
where
The first of these is what may as well be
called the ignorant vote. The fathers did not
advocate universal suffrage. On the contrary,
their traditions and their customs were con-
trary to such a practice. But the consequences
are upon us. 1t we're folly to shut our eyes to
the fact that at the opening of tbe second
century of our national existence, the most
difficult political problem confronting the
country is the question whether the ignorant
and corruptible vote can be either so elevated
or purified as to make 1t reasonably certain
that the results of our elections will not be de-
termined by ignorance and vice under the
leadership of unscrupulous ambition.
PROBLEMS ARE OVERCOME.
The problems OF to-day, then, are very differ
ent from the problems presented to the fathers
49,
great lesson, of the first hundred years OF our
national life, as it seems to me, is the unques-
tionable fact that the moral and political judg-
ment of the people has been equal to the de-
mand of the great emergencies that have been
pressed upon it We have met the evils pointed
out by our fathers, ana all of them. and may
fairly say in no spirit of boasting, out IN the
soberness of an impartial historical judgment,
that we have overcome them.
And if, as we stand on the threshold OF the
second century, we have new and other causes
of solicitude, it is our joyful privilege TO re-
member that history thus far justifies the be-
lief that these evils may safely be intrusted TO
the exibility of our institutions, and to the in
teIligence and morality of our people. Mani
festy our highest duty is to see that the intell-
gence and morality of the people are kept equal
to this great task, If we and our successors
worthily discharge the duties laid upon us,
when their glad eyes shall open upon the next
centennial celebration of our national exist
ence, will behold, not simply the wealth and the
splendor of an unexampled material pros
perity but a land covered over with benencent
institutions, land throbblng with all the
vitality of an invlgorated and enlightened CIVIL
ization, land under the benign influence
whose spirit all jarring discords shall be re
duced into harmony, land where righteous
ness shall abound, and where the aim of gov
ernment shall be the protection, and the eleVa
tion and the happiness of all classes OF man
kind.
THEPoEM AND THE REGRETS.
After another song by the quartet-''Song
of a Thnusand Years''-ByrOn w. King A.