The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-24

the pulpit, of every true man and woman,
however. to work with might and main
that the whole force of the nations sentl-
ment and the whole force of the organized
effort of a nation shall be put squarely
back OF the true national opportunity
shall touch them at every point ana avolu
them at none. and push them, without
wavering, straight OF fulfillment.
II know OF no literature in which the
effort TO closs mp the breach between the
actual attainment, the existing senti-
ment, and the manifest destiny, the noble
hope of nation, is so passionately and
strenuously expressed as in the books OF
Hebrew prophecy. The prophets had
learned little by little that the nation
which would lead In Gods name
must lead, not by means OF conquest,
but by the power of attraction and as
similation and that the only true patriot
ism was that honest pride in the
possession and the increase of those quail
lies in national life which should attract
and assimilaie the best that the
world had to give - of knowledge
Of skill, OF thought, OF integrity, ,esrdSi, Gi
under God, was right and noble. This
should be lsrael's glory mot that she
should 'trample the nations under her
feet, but that she should draw all ma
tions unto her."
"We have not yet escaped from the sin
anu luS tndb tTOuDlcu the Souio ~
the prophets. The real weakness OF IDOL
worship lies in those words, Idols which
they made, each one for himself 10 wor-
ship There were really as many gois
as there were human desires and ambl-
tions, and men lived into aud out OF
this narrow world OF clashing warfare be-
tween petty gods. And is this habit less
dangerous today because the shrine is
lit up in the secret heart, and the idol Is
the subtle desire, the cray ing ambition,
the mean selfishness itself?
"But surely, the nobler, greater patri-
otism is not without witness among us
the patriotism that is exalted, inspired
by the vision of possibilities in the ma
tion's present life which may make II
leader among those nations that stand be-
fore the world as fulfilling the true ends
of spirit of honor, righteousness and
justice
"America has one great advantage; we
come not from one stock but from many.
We touch the traditions of many nation
alities and races. We are born into the
inheritance of distinct types of wisdom
and of heroism. So we should not be
content with following back single
line alone. Moreover, the breadth of that
vision of the past should keep our out
look toward the present and the future
trary prejudice and Jealousy.
"Here is our greatest opportunity, the
maintenance the development of institu-
tions which demand that they shall be
kept open to whatever increase in strength
and honor may come from the lessons OF
manly wisdom, achievement, anywhere in
the wide world. This, IL seems to me, is
the distinct ideal duty of America.
81 was much struck by the words OF
certain wise Englishman concerning
the Italians. They have all a certain re-
fnement which we call civilization he
Gays, but nation is really civilized by
acquiring the qualities IL by nature Is
wanting in. And the Italians are no more
civilized by virtue'of.t eir.refinement.alone
than we English are civilized by virtue
of our energy alone. That is a lesson
that we Americans are just beginning to
learn, that a country has escaped its worst
perils when its citizens can see the
limitations OF its most striking virtues,
can see how they need the addition of
other virtues to make even these count
for their full worth.
"We must constantly bear in mind how
to keep the health of the body polite
dominant, how to ensue growth instead
OF decay. Measures, legal enactments,
have something to do with making men,
but men have much more to do with
making measures. The character OF the
men behind the measure, not the words
in which the measure is formed, fix the
character of its action upon the commun-
ity.
1--WE should see to it that our children
are impressed with the idea that the chief
element in the making of great nation
is integrity and the passion for integrity
and justice in its citZens-that nation
has great past only in so far as this Is
what the nation has represented through
its leaders to the world and to itself
through the choice and support OF these
leaders. / would set this teaching Of his
4 thrnnUh 10
over again-t that teaching of history
which makes n nations greatness take
its tone and direction from mere military
prowess, which Is at best a reserve,
sword in the scabbard, leaving the hands
free to work. i would teach. also, that
all the grea triumphs of legislation have
been due to the moral greatness of the
courageous, self-sacrificing leaders, who
took uch legislation in hand, and to
the moral support of the mass of men and
women who stood behind those leaders.
81 wish that our students who know
great deal about the battles OF the Revo-
luton and the Rebellion might know
more about the noble motives, the unset
fish ambition, the up boastful dignity of
Washington. i wish that they might
know more of how the character of Lin
coin was moulded and made ready TO
meet the awful responsibilities laid upon
it. These, and the like of these, ii is
that makes a nation great.
sis IL not clear that work OF true patriot
ism is to hold the nations life steadily
true TO the likeness of such greatness The
means OF that active patriotism, so far Ps
YOU and are concerned. is in the fact
that our best and highest convictions
alone shall have way through the oppor-
tunities to express our viii in public
affairs; and the result of this active patri-
otism shall be that those who represent
us and our country shall be of such in
tegrity and force and wisdom Of character
we shall be proud of them because tney
have been attracted to public life always
by the highest motives.
"Ffeedom Is better than serfdom, only
as II bears the fruits Of freedom. The
old despotisms gave men no chance to
live out their best manhood. Now we
have the chance--whnt are we doing
with il? Let us strive TO answer that ques-
tion as il should be answered, and then
the day OF the Lord shall be fastened on
through us.
Preached His Farewell.
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