The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-07-02
Plain Truths for Patriots.
BY COL. ALEX. DUKE BAILIE.

reverence for the benefits and glories OF
the past by sinking for once all spread
sagleism," and seriously considering,
with the solemnity becoming men who
would do their full duty AZ citizens of the
United States, those perils which con-
front our future prosperity and grandeur,
wise toward the lead OF all nations OF the
earth.
1t may have been fitting that noise and
general Jollihcat:on, abandonment TO
Abrag" were the prominent features of
che Fourth of July of the boyhood of our
nation, but we have reached our manhood
days now and must put away the rattles
and romps OF children, and consider and
act as becomes those who have reached
maturity and from whom the world right
fully expects and demands mans per-
Torrance and resulting good for hu-
nanity.
There are clouds overhead and convul-
sions threatening under our feet. aud
while we reverently return thanks to Al
mighty God for the past, we should care
fully survey and consider the dangers
that exist on the ground we must march
over In the future.
1t is not well to look backward; the
marvellous past of the years since noise
and universal jubilee celebrated our first
Independence Day, if we contemplate
this alone, paralyzes the imagination, aud
ss We gaze upon the vast accommodations
of the century gone awe aud pride daz lie
cur eyes and we are unable to look for
ward to the pitfalls open In our pathway.
II We neglect to look forward with the
keen eyes of men, and TO properly esti-
mate and provide to avert the destructive
influences undermining our national ex-
tstence for the results which must inev-
itahly follow we will alone be to blame
and our punishment will be correspond
tngy severe.
Since the Fourth of July became recog-
nized as the natal day o our nation, our
population has grown from four to sixty
hve millions. Its center moving west
ward one thousand miles since 1870, is
eloquent with the found ng of cities and
the birth of States. New settlements,
clearing the forests and subduing the
prairies, and adding four millions to the
Few thousand farms which were the
support of the early Republic, cre-
alto one Of the great granaries of the
world, and open exhaustless reservoirs of
national wealth. The Industries which
the first act of our first administration
sought TO encourage now give remuner-
ative employment TO more people than
inhabited the Republic when first estab-
iished. The grand total of their annual
output of seven thousand millions of dol
lars IN value places the United sta es
6rst among the manufacturing countries
OF the earth. One. half the total mileage
of all the railroads and oue-quarter of all
che telegr phi lines of the world within
our borders testify to the volume, variety
end value of an internal commerce which
snakes these States, if need be, and If
wisely used, indeI endent and self-sup-
porting. The hundred yesrs of develop
ment under favorable and unfavorable
pol teal conditions have brought the sum
Of our national wealth to figure which
has passed the results of thousand
years for the motherland herself, other
wise the richest OF all modern empires.
During this generation civil war of
Snequale magnitude caused the expendi-
turo and loss of eight billions of dollars,
end killed over six hundred thousand
an permanently disabled over a million
gallant men, and yet the impetuous prog
ress OF the North aud the marvellous de-
velopment of the new and free South
hsve oblterated the evidences of des rue
sion, and in all save political questions,
made the wnr memory only, have slim
nlaied produc ion until our annual sur
plus nearly equals that of England.
France, and Germany combined. The
tesming millions of Asia till the patient
had done for ages; modern Europe has
felt the influence aud received the benefit
of the incalculabe multiplication of
force 10y inventive genius since the Ma
Roleonic wars; and yet only 270 years
after the little band OF pilgrims landed
on Plymouth Rock our people. number
Ing less than one-ffteenth of the inhab-
itsnts of the globe, do one-thIrd of its
uining. one fourth of it's manufacl uring,
one-hftn of its agriculture, and own one
sixth of it's wealth.
This realism OF material prosperity.
SURPRISING the widest creations of the
eomsncers who have astonished and de-
sighted mnnkind, only serves to more
plsinly ONT the dangers OF the present
and menace for tho future IL the virtue,
lnte llgence and independence of our
peo, le IRE not eqral TO the wise regula-
lion Of ts uses and sac stem prevention
sf ,ts abuses.