The times., 1898-12-26
SPIRIT or XMAS PRESENT.
Sentiments Regarding
Amcrica's Greatness.

foremost in the minds of the world great
thinkers is apparent.
The Archbishop of Canterbury says: !
pray that the great Republic may be
guided in continuing to do its share in the
great task of promoting just government
throughout the world
The Rev Thomas Spurgeon congratu-
lates the American people on recent
events, and believes 1.-The righteousness
which exalteth nation will ever distin-
guish the policy of the great Republic
We still publicly pray, as Charles Spur
geon did, for those speaking the same.
tongue and serving the same God. across
the Atlantic
Henri Rechefort. the French editor,
sends this message from Paris: "A friend
of the great American Republic, | was the
first to greet its intervention and Its tax
ing Up arms for the independence of Cuba
1t will be the greatest event of the year
1855 and the eternal glory of the United
States Of America.
The Duke of Argyll thinks Americans
are able TO work out their own destiny.
He says: Il will not venture to advise
the American people. They have known
for many years that L always wish them
WELL
Cardinal Gibbons says:
"Ry the issue of war the United States
have come suddenly into the possession of
a vast domain including Cuba, Porto Rico
and probably the Philippine Islands. The
events which preceded the struggle and
the struggle itself suggest lessons worthy
of careful consideration.
Most conspicuous. perhaps. were the
I forbearance and self-restraint exhibited
/ by the authorities in the endeavor to
avoid a conflict. The terrible power which
characterized subsequent hostiities was
/ but the expression Of the national virtues
4 in action. 1t was possible only on the
I supposition that numerous and varied
/ functions found application and direction
l through the instrumentality of an intelli-
! gent chief That the case was even so is
! evidenced by the fact that even as the
| gage was thrown down. every member of
the body polite, no matter what his pre-
! vious preferences, responded to the COM
mand of the head and co-operated with
him in the furtherance of the common in
| terest
These lessons which lie upon the face
of recent events teach us and the nations
that the attempt to found system OF
government upon the largest personal lib
erty consistent with the maintenance of
| law and order. has proved a decided sue
cess They also indicate that virtue alone
is the source and guarantee of our
strength and in so far they indicate the
course which we should pursue in pres
ence of the new opportunities and proper
tionate responsibilities which an all-wise
Providence has imposed upon us Finally
they invite attention TO the predominant
ing influence which the Enslish-speakins
peoples have acquired during the last 1W
I m . heai q
century the English language was by nc
means first as regards diffusion. today il
is more generally and more widely spoken
than any other European tongue,
.If the facts enumerated have any sig
nificance they tell us Enthusiastically that
some great mission has been prepared fol-
the English-speaking peoples in these lat
ter days. Our sincere hope is that they
may prove worthy of their high calling.
Col. Robert q. Ingersoll, the noted ag-
nostic. thinks this has been good yeaI
or the English-speaking peoples, n very
bad one for the people who speak Span
ish and bad year for the people who
speak French. II has been bad yeai
also for the Italians, for the Austrians
for the Portuguese, and a very bad yeaI
for the Mahdists. He says:
1T has been q good year for English
speaking people because the United
| states ana Great nave btCuIit
better friends. We have concluded tina
we can settle all differences that arise
between us at the bar of reason-that i:
| to say, by arbitration: and the feeling
now is that the English-speaking nations
will stand together henceforth for th'
preservation not only of their own liber
ties. but of the civilization of the world
This, to me, is a very great and sranc
fact, and l hope that on Christmas, th'
great day of the Son it will be duly Gel
ebrated as another evidence of 'Peac,
and good will toward men
Above all, this country, for the frs
time, has taken her rightful position
among the nations of the earth. We n,
longer fear 'entangling alliances. w
have the courage of our convictions. tn
courage of our strength, and, in my judg
ment, we have entered upon a great high
way that leads to the utmost nationa
success.
Rudyard Kipling, the English novelist
says:
when America sets her hand to ad
minister without show of force race
helpless in themselves for good govern
ment. when she creates roads drains
schools, hospitals, and an elementar!
form of justice in countries where they
do not now exist, using her best mel
freely for the work, she will, L fancy
find herself even better understood ant
appreciated by Great Britain than she i.
today.
After a nation has pursued certain
paths alone in the face of some Sigh
Misrepresentation it is consoling TO fint
another nation (Which one can address
without a dictionary preparing to wall
along the same line to, / doubt not, th'
same ends"
Sir Wilfrid Laurier premier of Canada
has some ideas regarding America.
future. Reviewing the history of 1898 h
says:
For the American nation no one cal
fail to perceive how far-reaching are th
effects of this Spanish war. The grea
! Civil War, with its tremendous issues
cannot be compared with the inevitable
results of the late struggle with Spain
The union which the Civil War threaten
ed the Spanish war has perfected AM
cemented.
, ..It has also cemented, and I hope TO
all time, the perfect harmony of brother
hood between this country and mine
The union which was severed in 1716 cal
never be restored to its fullest extent
but it can be restored to the extent C
eternal friendship and confidence on bot
sides. / most feverently hope that TIL
! events of 1898 can never recur to tn
mind of any American without recalling
at the same time the sympathetic inter
est which England manifests in the sue
: cess of American arms. / trust tha
1898 is the date of the period from whicl
the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jacl
shall float together for the freedom O
the oppressed, for the advancement o
; civilization and for the defense of tn
sacred principle of liberty"
Max Ncrdau says of America: You ar
powerful. may you be generous. You ar