Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-29
rAnMkns AZ sanLLror rANK.
Annual Picnic OF the Tiilers of the Soil
Address by Ehen N. Baldwin.


One of the features offthe festivities
was an address by Eben N. Baldwin OF
Claymont, who spoke as follows:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentle |
men BY invitation of your committee |
/ am with you today to address you.
1t seems right and fitting that we
should be reminded Off Gods goodness |
to us all, in sending the early and the
latter rain to mature the harvests of
the earth for am sure we recognize
the fact that every good and perfect
gift cometh from our y Beneficent
Creator. Truly, He openeth His hand
and we are fed.n
"Of our crops in general it may be
said they are fairly good. The wheat
crop in some sections has been short,
but the average condition, taking the
country over, has been about SO per
cent. This is u little higher than an
average, taking 10 years as a basis.
Oats reached about 70 to 80 per cent of
an average crop; barley about the
same, while rye is up to 80 or over, and
buckwheat S8. While the corn crop in
our county will be very good, the
average for the whole country is esti
mated at 81 per cent, showing that in
some corn producing States the crop is
short. This is particularly true of
Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. The
potato crop is at low average in
almost every State, and in, Delaware
the crop is away below our usual
average
"Of our fruits, peaches have been
less than half, and in some instances
less than a tenth of the usual crop,
and apples are also very low in the
average scale. Grapes are usually
plentiful, and the crop in the main is
very satisfactory.
'fSince we held our last annual
meeting, at which time you honored
me by inviting me to address you. there
has been great war. This has affected
the farmer, rs it has affected every
! other interest, and may be pardoned
| for reviewing it. Perhaps in all the
history Of the world there has never.
| been Just such war as the one be-
| tween our own loved country and Spain
| this year. Most Americans believed
that the time had come when nations
should settle their differences in peace
full arbitration, and with weapons of
wisdom and reason, but If ever the
infinite God willed an armed conflict,
it was the one just ended. Ex-Presi-
dent Grover Cleveland and President
William Mckinley, both wise men and
schooled in the affairs Of nations, were
actuated by the same conviction. No
more could fond mother resist de-
Tending her weak, helpless child than
could America stand still and see the
Cubans starved, outraged and bounded
to death. President Mckinley did
every thing which was in his power to
settle the matter peacefully.
'As bad as had been the state of
affairs in Cuba for centuries, the worst
had not been reached until Weyler
came and entered upon his work of ex-
termination, established his inhuman
DEGREES, tore more than 200, 600 peace
full, hard working peasants from their
fields of labor and concentrated them
in cities, literally starving nearly one
seventh of the islands population.
Weyler's brutality aroused the indig-
nation of the whole civilized world,
and the cry of the dying reached the
American heart, and rang in pity to
every cline.
About this time the whole world
was startled by the most diabolical
crime known to modern times. 1t was
the blowing up in Havana harbor Of
our battleship Maine. This disaster,
in which $50 of our noble sailors were
killed, proved to be the last straw
which broke the eamel's back. Flags
! were at half-mast, and the whole
nation mourned for the loss of life, and
for $50 stricken homes. But this was
not the only feeling which swept ovel
, the country. The suspicion Of treachery
J grew from spark into flame. And
yet, while this thought was uppermost,
| tho nann1a worn nm Inn aud Golf ractr, IN
prevailed everywhere. The noble Sigs
bee counselled the Withholding ant
postponement of decision until in
vestigation had been made. We canno
be too thankful for the calmness ant
{ quiet firmness Of the men in who's,
{ hands lay the responsibility of dealing
| in this matter. Too hasty word or &C
at this iuncture, on the part of ou
: government, might have precipitated
1 war Of horrors incalculable.
' son the night of February 18th
. Immediately after the martyrdom O
the Maine, the matter was settled b,
the Infinite One, and the history O
n what followed is too we'll known Il
g every American man, woman, boy o
o girl, to be repeated now. That tn
4 God of battles fought for US we hav
y no doubt, and the victories in man
cases were marvellous and miraculous
/! Commodore Dewey's battle at Manil
+ is the nineteenth century miracle.
!, "The name of Schley and Of Sampso
t and many other of our heroes arc no,
!. household words. and shall live in tn
h history of our great country for al
Q time. With new territorial possessio
n came new responsibilities, and we trus
y in the providence of God that we, a
!, "A nation, may measure up TO them i
|, every particular, and maintain ou
10 glorious flag wherever it has bee
g planted, the emblem Of liberty civil
d religious and political. Our prayer
d go with the honored member OF tn
IS Peace Commission from Delaware, tn
Vt Hon. George Gray, and we sincerel
1t trust that this commission may hay
+; the wisdom Of Almighty God in solvin
golden rule may have its proper r.
N cognition in all that shall be done.
ID perhaps one OF the greatest bless
lie ings coming to the American poop
st through the war is the uniting of a
is the sections of our country so that t,
day the people are a unit. No Nortl
no South, no East, no West, but
common people with common interes
that of making the world better, an
es bringing the whole world into touc
with God and right. 81
s. sour public school system, whic
le means the education Of the masses,
Of one of our cardinal institutions, an
Is it is one which should be cherished |
or all means. The war with Spain hi
ne taught us many lessons, one OF whic
is that she keeps her people in igno
I'd ance, and that over So per cent of h
ne people cannot read or write. Had h
he masses been educated, it seems to n