Evening journal., 1896-12-09

night with all our hearts this greet
ing "The Sons of Delaware in Phila-
delphia assembled salute you, proud
of your Incompatible record"
Gentlemen, neither the time nor the
occasion would. justify me in piungine
you from the record of the present 10
the history of the past Though we
should never undervalue the honorable
traditions of a glorious ancestry.
though the student may find on every
page of the republics history a record
of the magnificent disparity between
the size and the services OF Delaware
In our national life. yet | find myself
much more wrapped In interest In the
present and the promise which II holds.
Gentlemen we are the inheritors of
the greatest legacy ever beQueathed to
man. The priceless boon of liberty and
government which our fathers
fought TO win and fought ID keep is
ours to enjoy To-day the world sees
In our great republic proof mat men
are ft to be free The influence of
American freedom Is felt wherever the
hearts of nations thrOb with hope. The
rulers of the Old World stand aehast
at the progress of our people The
empires. monarchies and kingdoms of
Europe see the sentiment of their sub
jects yearning for the broad rights and
privileges of our beloved republic. the
light OF the Western World. Every
royal house of Europe perceives with
alarm the aspirations of their people
TO emulate ourselves In the crowning
glory OF elf-government. Even further
has the spirit gone. A greater dynasty
tnan a Bourbon, a Hapsburg or a Ho-
henzollein has felt the mighty trend
OF modern thought, and to-day the
rights of the people have no champion
more devoted than the scholarly and
simple hammered successor Of st. Peter
Pope Leo XIII. The American liber-
ties stand approved of God and man.
Their base is as indestructible as Gi-
hraltar, and as enduring as time. We
have been tested and the world beholds
our worth. The council chambers of
this nation are the homes OF our peo-
pie, and the counsellors of state are the
freemen of our land. We have proved
that the gravest question OF state can
be submitted to the American elector-
ate with absolute safety and confident
security. Such is our possession. How
shall il be preserved? Shall we lose
what our fathers won? No Our way
is clear Posterity must have no plaint
against as for wasting riOtOusly our
birth-right We must guard our free
dom as watchfully as those Of old
guarded the ark Of Covenant. The
hope of the republic is the character of
Its citizens We would be unworthy of
our liberties. unworthy of our birth
right, unworthy of our privileges.
should we neglect these twin sources
OF character, religion and education.
In Delaware to-day is pending a mat
ter of supremest moment to every Son
of Delaware loyal to his state. A Con-
sututional Convention Is assembled
Let them proceed thoughtfuuy. Let
them consider the needs OF the hour
Is il Indifferent whether we have an
irreligious people? If not. then while
according special privileges TO no re-
ligion, let a generous support and ap-
proval be given to all. Let none in the
bosom of the state be assaulted bv
open force or covert guile. Let
public and private. be
fostered and encouraged. Welcome
the widest opportunities for the train
ing of the children of Delaware. Let
no teacher of the young be fettered in
MS glorious mission. Animated thus
by correct principles of civic conduct.
rejoicing in a citizenship religious and
in the grand concert Of our
nations progress, our hearts will he
,heered by the inspiring notes Of Della |
ware and her worthy sons.