The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-06
Eloquent Portrayal of Recent Events
and Strong Appeal to Americans
to Reap the Fruits Of Victory.
CHANCE TO EXPAND COMMERCE
AND TAKE FRONT RANK AMONG THE
NATIONS OF THE WORLD.
The War Providential in Giving OPP
pOrtunity to Open New Avenues of
Trade In Foreign Markets.

OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 5.-This afternoon
President Wattles of the Transmississppi
Exposition, called the audience of Pennsyl-
vanians to order at the Auditorium for the
Pennsylvania day exercises at the EXPOSE
ton. Gen. Charles f. Henderson welcomed
the visitors and was responded to by John
w. Woodside, of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the state commission. He introduced
Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith,
who said, in part:
I'VE have moved during the past six
months in the swift current of stupendous
events which have recast the maps and
spanned the wide horizon. We have just
emerged triumphant from a short, but
crucial and momentous war. which has car
ried forward history and unveiled destiny.
The halo il has she'd on American arms
and the glory with which it has exalted the
American name fill it with just pride and
exultation. Reluctantly accepted by the
President. only under the supreme man.
dates of humanity and justice, once under
taken, the unerring sureness of it's aim, the
unfaltering vigor of it's direction and the
unbroken sweep of its success stand I'M
matched on the pages of war. The renown
of the American navy always brilliant and
never equaled, man for man and gun for
gum was sustained and enhanced in every
clash of the struggle. An army of quarter
of million men was summoned from the
ranks Of citizenship, organized, equipped
and made ready for action. Every soldier
who fought was transported beyond the
deep. The whole scene of war was on for
eign soil and in a tropical cline, under
burning skies and drenching torrents, with
the blight of fever and the danger of pesti-
lence. In the face of such difficulties, what
swift and wonderful triumph.
NEW EPOCH IN OUR HISTORY.
with our monumental victory. we face
a new epoch in the history OF the Republic.
We come to broader outlook whose deep
import it is we'll for us to consider. The
world knows our ampler reach and our
larger destiny, and we feel it.. No true
American can be insensible to the increased
respect for country and to the higher
conception Of its mission. which the mar
velous revelations of this war have in
spired in all lands The embattled farmers
at Lexington fired the shot heard round the
world, and not less distinctly and signfi-
cantly did the opening shot of this war, I'M
der the glittering consultations of the ORR
emit, sound in every capital of the globe and
awaken anew understanding of Americas
onward movement. 1t is recognized that the
United States advances to it's place as one
Of the great world powers. and whatever
may be our wise policy, whatever may be
the measure of our just restraint or our
legitimate ambition, no American can fail
tinction and the new consideration, never
before approached, which American hero
ism and American craftsmanship have
brought to our Republic.
THE worlds acknowledged tribute is the
measure of its estimate of the potency Of
our new position. Our use of that position
wisdom an
rulership. Equal to every crisis in the past,
We shall meet with this new emergency in
BILE for Cuba 1t gives us Porto Rico 1t
plants outposts on the further side of the
more or less, will be held, not for terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. but solely in accept
ance Of responsibilities which Providence
has laid upon US. Men lightly talk of i'm
peralism.' Our imperialism is not terri
torial lust, but benignant trade expansion
and civilizing influence, and our flag is at
In either the greed or the glory of conquest,
but, let it be reverently said, under the con-
at the ripe hour in the development and re-
quirements of our national growth. 1t is
treated In many quarters simply as ques-
ton OF territorial acquisition but that is a
secondary and incidental consideration.
The great and overshadowing question is
one OF commercial openings. The heart of
sites and facilities. Beyond. behind and be-
meath this departure leads the broad prob
len OF americans IN the commerce and
civilization of the world
OUR OPPORTUNITY.
If we are TO fulfill that destiny we must
have commercial expansion, and it is a
profoundly significant fact which shows a
guiding hand that overrules the will of
man, that this war should have come as
this great necessity begins to be realized.
The opportunity matches the need The
elevation of the United States TO a new
rank among the nations. the universal ac-
ceptance Of its obligation to stretch forth
its civilizing hand where the fate of war
has carried it, the fortunate possession Of
an established emporium on the very the
ater OF the worlds seeking, have brought
the occasion and the duty together Is II
not for enlightened American statesman
ship, watchful Of American interests. to use
the opportunity, not In territorial avarice
but f0r commercial extension and civilizing
lnuuence IN tie Orient, with the base and
the bulWark which are needed for its sup
portE The Pacific is rightfully within our
commercial sphere. We hold one shore and
we are nearest the other Europe must cross
two oceans TO the Orient and we but one
WAY should we not peacefully and provi-