The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-20

versity of Minnesota.
Al 10 O'Clock the preliminary portion of
the banquet having been disposed, a rap
from the gayel of Chairman MacVeagh
called the attention of the guests Mr.
MacVeagh, who is always happy In his
Introductory remarks, introduced the Pres
| ldent, announcing that he would reply to
! the toast "Our Country"
1t was several minutes before the cheer
ing had subsided sufficiently to allow the
| Presidents voice TO be heard. His utter
ances were frequently greeted with vocif-
| erous applause.
He said, in part: "On the suspension
| of hostlities of a foreign war, the first
in our history for over half a century, we
nave met in spirit of peace, profoundly
grateful for the glorious advancement al
ready made, and earnestly wishing, in the
final termination TO realize an equally glo-
rious fuldllment
with no feeling of exultation, but with
! profound thankfulness, we contemplate the
events of the past five months. They have
| been too serious TO admit of boasting or
| Vain-gl -glorifcation. They have been so fun
of responsibilities, immediate and prospec-
| tive, as to admonish the soberest Judgment
and council the most conservative action.
! This as not the time to fire the magma
ton, but rather to discover in calm rea-
son the way to truth, and justice and
| right, and when discovered to follow 1t
! with fidelity and courage, without fear,
! hesitation or weakness.
The war has put upon the nation grave
| responsibilities. Their extent was not an
ticipated, and could not have been well
foreseen. We cannot escape the obliga-
! tiOns of victory We cannot avoid the Sc
rious questions which have been brought
home 10 us by the achievements of our
arms on land and sea We are bound in
| conscience to keep and perform the cove
nants which the war has sacredly sealed
with mankind. Accepting war for hui
| manitys sake we must accept all obli-
! cations which the war in duty and honor
| imposed upon us. The splendid victories
| We have achieved would be our eternal
! shame and not our everlasting glory If
! they were led to the weakening of our
! original lofty purpose or to the desertion
! of the immortal principles on which the
! government was founded and in accord
ance with this ennobling spirit it has ever
! since been faithfully administered.
! The war with Spain was undertaken
not that the United States should in
! crease its territory, but that oppression
| at our very doors should be stopped
! This noble sentiment must continue to
! animate us. and we must give to the
world the full demonstration of our pur-
/ pose.
DUTY determines destiny. Destiny
| which results from duty performed may
! bring anxiety and peris, but never failure
ways lead to smooth paths. Another course
! may look easier and more attractive, but
pursuing duty for -dutys sake Is always
safe and honorable.
1T is not within the power of man to
foretell the future and to solve unerring-
| ly its mighty problems. Almighty God
has His plans and methods for human
/ progress and not infTequently are they
| shrouded for the time being in impene-
trable mystery. Looking backward we
! can see how the hand of destiny builded
for us and assigned us tasks whose full
meaning was not apprehended even by
| the wish of the statesmen of their times
Our colonial ancestors did not enter upon
! their war originally for independence.
/ Abraham Lincoln did not start out to
| free the slaves, but 20 save the Union.
| The war with Spain was not Of our seek
ing and some of its consequences may not
| be to our liking. Our vision is often de-
! fective. ort-sightedness is a common
| malady, but the closer we get to things
| or they get to US, the clearer our view
| and the less obscure our duty. Patriotism
/ must be faithful as well as fervent;
/ craftsmanship must be wise as well as
fearess-not the craftsmanship which
| will command the applause of the hour,
but the judgment of posterity.
1.-THE progress of a nation can alone
| prevent degeneration. There must be new
| life and purpose or there will be weak
ness and decay. There must be broaden
| ing of thought as well as broadening of
trade Territorial expansion is not alone
! always necessary to national advance
ment There must be a constant move
| ment toward higher and nober civili-
zation, a civilization that shall make its
conquests without resort to war. and
! achieve it's greatest victories pursuing the
arts of peace In our present situation,
duty and duty alone should prescribe the
boundary of our responsibilities, the scope
of our undertakings.
'eThe final determination of our purposes
awaits the action of the eminent men who
are charged by the executive with the
making the treaty of peace and that of
the Senate Of the United States, which, by
our constitution, must ratify and confirm
It, We all hope and pray that the con-
frmaton of peace viii be as just and as
humane as the conduct and consummauon
of the war. When the work of the treaty
makers is done the work of the lawmak
ers viii begin The one will settle the ex-
tent of our responsibilities; the other must
Droyide the egisla ton to meet them. The
army and navy have nobly and heroically
performed their part. May God give the
executive and Congress wisdom to perform
theirs
The men of the South who have deliver
ed addresses during the jubilee have won
golden opinions. The speech of Judge
Sneer of Georgia at the opening meeting
Yesterday was revelation to those who
had never heard him and the address Of
Clark Howell Of Atlanta who responded
10 the sentiment-"Our Reunited Coun-
trv-North and South" was in all respects
equal to that of the eloquent speaker from
his own state who had preceded him. II
caught his audience and caught Them hard.
+ Mr.. Howell spoke, in part, as follows:
"Mr Toastmaster and My Fellow Coun-
trvmen: In the mountains of my state, in
rarY,ofp from the QuiCkenfng
tourh of commerce, and railroads. and tel
earaphs-so far removed that the SINGER
nv Of It's rugged people flows unpolluted
from the spring of nature-two vine-cov-
cred mounds. nestled in the solemn silence
of a country churchyard, suggest the text
of INV response TO the sentiment TO which
am TO speak tonight serious text
Mr.. Toastmaster., for an occasion like
tbis and vet out of it there is life and
neace and hope and prosperity, for in the
eoiemn sacrifice of the volceless grave can
Inc chiefest lesson of the republic be
Of rool r,at-