The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-22

our modern FehlcleR or mIorm6tlon throw
upon truth. to discuss public questions for
truths sake; when it becomes the plain
interest OF public men, as it ia their plain
duty to do this. and when, above all,
friends and %neighbors cease to love one
another less because Of individual differ
ences of opinion about publia affairs. the
struggle for unfair advantage Will be rele-
gated TO those who have no character 10
lose or none to seek.
1t is admitted on all sides that the
current presidential campaign 10 freer
from excitement and tumult than ever
known before, and it is argued from this
circumstance that we are traversing an
epoch of the commonplace. Ii this beiao,
thank God for it. We have had full enough
of the ramatio and sensational and need
a season OF mediocrlty and repose. But
may We not asoribe the rational way in
which people are going about their BUSH
ness to a larger knowledge and experience,
md a fairer spirit than has hitherto marked
our party contentious?
We have in our time seen the republic
survive an irrepressible conflict. sown in
the blood and marrow of social order. We
have seen the federal union. not too
strongly put togethec in the first place.
come out OF a great war Of sections stronger
than when it went into ii. its faith renewed.
its credit rehabilitatsd, and its flag saluted
with love and homage by Ga, 900. 900 Of God
fearing men and women, thoroughly re-
conciied and homogeneous. We have seen
the federal constitution outlast the strain.
not merely of the reconsttuctory ordeal and
presidential impeachment. but q disputed
count of electoral college. q congressional
deadlock and an extra-constitutlonal tri-
bunal, vet standing firm against the assaults
of its enemies, while yielding itself with
admirable fexibility to the needs of the
country and time. And finally. we saw the
gigantic fabric of the federal government
transferred from che hands that held it a
quarter of a century, to other hands with
out protest, although SO close was the poll
in final count that a single blanket might
have covered both contestants for the chief
magisteriRl Office. With such a record be-
hind us who shall be afraid of the future?
There is no geography in American
manhood. The south claims Lincoln. the
immortal, for Its own; the north has no
right to reject Stonewall Jackson, one of
the typical puritan soldier of the war, for
almost here, when hanging above many q
mantle board in fair New England. glori-
firing many a cottage in the sunny south,
shall be seen bound together in everlasting
love and honor two cross-swords, carried to
battle respe ctively by the grandfather who
wore the blue and the grandfather who
wore the gray. l cannot trust myself to
proceed. We have como here not SO much
to recall bygone sorrows and RlorleS as to
bask in the sunshine of present prosperity
and happiness, to interchange patriotic
greetings and indulge good augurieg, and
above all, to meet upon the threshhold the
stranger within our gate, not as q foreigner,
but as a guest and friend, for whom moth
ing we have is too good. M III
At this moment in every part of the
American union children are taking up she
wondrous tale of the discovery, n from
Boston to Galveston, from the little log
school house in the wilderness to the over
ing academy in city and town. may BIO wit
messed the unprecedented spectacle of q
powerful nation captured by a n army of
lillipusians, of embryo men and women, of
toddling boys and girls and tiny elves
scarce big enough to lisp the numbers of
the national anthem, scarce strong enough
to lift the miniature flags that make of the
arid street and autumn wood an emblem
attic garden to gladden. the sight and to
glorify the red, white and blue. Sec "our
young barbarians all at play" for better
than these we have nothing to exhibit.
They, indeed, are our crown jewels, the
truest, though the inevitable otfsprings of
our civilization and development. repre-
sentatives of a manhood realized and invig-
GRATED by the toll and care OF ~womanhood
elevated and inspired by liberty and eduoa-
ton.
God bless the children and their moth
els! God bless our oountry's flag, and God
be with us now and ever; God in the roof
trees shade and Goo on the highway; God
in the winds and waves, and God in all our
hearts.