Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-10-21

has yet been attained; in short ,re are
proud Of il. But let us stop moment to
analyze our pride; for pride goeth be-
fore a fall" unless it he a csrefulIyse
lected and weIl-grounded pride. that has
no stiff neckedness about it.
What Is there about the United States
to make us proud?
Territory! Yes, that is someth hing ex-
traordinariiy vast and compact, but the
Roman empire bad that and yet went to
pieces. The character OF people has
something to do with the retention OF
territory.
Population That indeed increases by
leaps and bounds Each census piles up
further millions, but the Chinese empire
has that fact to meet in even greater
measure, and IA nation 1t is tottering to
disruption. In population. quality is
more important than quantity
Wealth. the total wealth OF the ma
ton climbs up into figures that are be-
yond comprehension. But Spain and In
dia were. during their prime. richer than
your most golden dream; the former is
among the powers, and the latter has for
generations been trodden hy the foot OF
the conqueror. The true wealt h ofa nat ion
il manhood and the lack OF that ruined
the two ment Toned.
Products grant the remarkable range
from tropical fruits to arctic pines, and
from pottery -cays to virgin gold, but
net hV 1 bp Qri Of
ture. We may be wise and take or eat, or
we may dispense OF our plenty to OF hers
need; but the sun shines on other nations
beside ours, and il We may be proud,
much more such n nation as England " no
makes up Tor tnsular lack by getting quo
tas from every habitahle portion OF the
globe.
Political institutional. Then the pride
must be largely s~cribed 10 those broad
plans OF our fathers, rather than to any
certainty in relation to the future; unless
we come to realize that institutions and
rights are not per pet usl motion machines.
They do not run themselves. For exam
pie, IL progressive plans and broad culture
could go on without great men TO carry
them forward, we should have been
spared the sight Of Greece, decadent
from grand historical traditions as to be
an easy conquest by the polygsmous
Turk.
No. Territory, population, wealth,
products formal decIsrat ions are not the
things that Hi us most " 18th pride. This
nation thrown together haphszard is
nevert heess so permeated by the ideas
OF the eternal right and justice OF things
that In moments OF grave national test
ing the pu-ations Of the mighty heart
OF the great common people have always
beaten steadily. That is our pride. After
all a moral idea is greater and longer
lived than material things or forms OF
words; the church in your neig b borhood
will point my meaning as its splre- finger
Is raised upward to the sky. 1t stands
for an idea that goes after its apostles
have persisted, after its builders have slept
for generations, after the materials OF
which it was made have crumbled at the
touch OF time. Moral and not material
it survives the lapse OF years, the death
of supporters, the shatterlug OF dynas-
ties. Even so with all right ideas, OF
WnICn surely our nation IL an emit OuI-
ment. Vaguely yet desperately the
masses have held To the conviction that
this widespread country Is to be a su-
preme testing plHcc Of the trustwort hi
ness OF the common people; solemnlY
have they grown to sense OF unity and
its absolute necessity TO national life.
Glance back and see!
Who held in cingiug Z perat!on along
the fringe OF the continent, despite wild
savagery before anu cultured savascry be-
hind? The common people.
When lapsing time showed the posi-
bilities OF this country aud men began to
dream OF rights hased upon conditions
here, uniniueuced ty he dictn Of n re-
mote and hgif-cfazy monarch, the COM