The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-23
FINE WORDS.
Senator PETERS Inspiring Con-
tributiOn to a Symposium
That Appeared in Sundays New
York world"
IN ELEVATED STYLE.
1t Has Merit of Literary
Character.
Besides Being Anything But
Calamity Howling.

From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 23.-In the New
York World of yesterday Senator PETER,
together with other prominent mon, con-
tributed to a symposium on the different
phases of civilization in the United
States. The article was collection from
public men of expressions of patriotic
sentiments. Senator PETER toasted the
United States in the following:
"Whatever may be or can be said con-
cerningt the things that took place on the
earth during what we call the pre- historic
period, certain it is that since recorded
and traditional history began, the con-
duct of men in all parts of the world
has tended toward a general forward
movement of the race, and here in the
United States of America we have the
best development of the long progress
sion. The nations of Europe. except
that they have benefited by in
ventions of genius, the discov-
cries of science, and expansions of
commerce, are now about where the
American colonies were one hundred and
twenty five years ago. And as the policy
of British statesmen has been to colombo
the world and we are able to trace their
footprints in blood through wreck and
ruin, yet higher civilization has follow
ed where their ships and armies led, and
the world is better from the operation of
forces managed at London.
"With our Goulds and Vanderbilts, the
Morgans and Sages, with bold specula-
tors by the hundred, whose progress has
been marked by losses innumerable,
with wrecks of private fortunes and
destruction of corporations aud munich
palities, these men through their avari-
cious ambition and their spoliation of
bar, have taught us what can be ac-
complished by the union of forces about
US, and the superiority of united hands
of many over the unaided arms of in
dividual men in great achievements.
Were the eleven thousand employees of
Mr.. Armour's great packing estab-
lishment joint proprietors of that
wonderful institution, each performing
his own part of the work and each re-
ceiving his proper share of the profits,
they would all be that much better off
than they are now and the world would
be better for the lesson of their union.
ut is not so long ago but that it ap-
pears fresh III history, when certain
towns and cities in Europe, in order to
protect themselves against marauders by
land and pirates by sea, formed the Han
seattle league for mutual protection. And
today the people there are enormously
taxed to support standing armies kept to
preserve the peace of the nations, while
the states of the American union, now
forty five in number. are joined together
by cords that we ourselves cannot
sever and that none of the people would
be willing to weaken in the slightest de-
gree. Our development is the marvel of
the ages. During the life of three gene
rations-indeed, since the birthdays of
men who died but few years ago, we
have conquered a continent. Not by the
arts of war were our victories won, but
by the force of irresistible advances of
the highest and best form of civilization
yet anywhere attained. Here we have
the widest field for am bition's work, the
freest play of the best faculties of men
in every avenue of industry, and of in
vention, religion, education and art.
sour railway system, if put in one con-
tinuous line, would encircle the earth
seven times. 1t forms a net work of
trade arteries through which the life
blood of the nation flows, carrying hither
and thither a tonnage and a value greater
than that of the combined foreign COM
merce of all the great nations of Europe
We have twelve million children in
the public schools. And our great news
papers circulate among the people as
autumn leaves fly over the farmers fields.
We have churches with d seating capac-
ity sufficient to accommodate ne-third
the people. Every state, excep: only
those quite young, has its colleges and
universities of learning; and when we
come to select a candidate for the presi-
dency of the union, we have thirteen
million votes to divide among mon VIII
themselves are products of our popular
Institutions.
"Considering all of that which is evil
in our midst, operating as impediments
in the pathway of the republic, yet there
is so much among US better and nobler
than the things we have passed, and the
impelling forces of human growth are so
strong, that reasonable faith in
spires US to believe the way will be
opened for escape from every menacing
wrong. There is room abundant for
strong men in every department of life
to rise TO commanding eminence. In our
country we have room for all who
come ia us. The future is inviting if we
only rise high enough TO see the signal.
The industry and enterprise of the peo-
pie, their loyalty. their Americanism,
are legitimate Inheritance from their
Anglo Saxon parentage. and sure guar
anty of continued progress toward uni
versal peace, safety and happiness.
"As we advance toward higher planes,
our brethren in Europe will be slowly
but surely led into an international union
among themselves. in forming a great
republic of nations and people whose
energiziug influences will move east
ward as ours go westward, meeting in a
final victory of peace. when the Masters
kingdom will be established.
W. A. PETER"
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