The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-23
The Nobility
OF AMERICA.
From the Recent Address of Senate
Hoar at WcrCe ster, Mass.


Hoar at Worcester, Mass.
HERE was never a time when we
had a right to feel prouder of our
country as the American people
show of what metal they are made
undc. the supreme test OF war.
We take every ten years census OF our
material advai cement. We are always
astonlshed at the result. | wish we might
take once in q while a census of brave
deeds and brave thoughts, a census which
would show the progress of our people
In heroism, in patriotism, In the instinct
OF honor, and in the sense of duty. l
think mankind would be astonished at
the result. We need not fear to compare
the youth who go out from our simple
and humble American homes like the
eight youths-four of them MassdchI-
setts boys-wh no went, as they supposed.
the other day, to a sure death with Hob
son. to any Chcvalier Bayard or Philip
sydney They were eight only among
thousands who were eagerly seeking the
same opportunity.
The poet of chivalry. Edmund Spenser,
has drawn for all mankind his portrait
of the Red Cross knight. But his imag-
ination has drawn no loftier stroke than
the real character of Clara Barton, an
american woman, who, on her errand OF
mercy, has penetrated the harharism of
Turkey and carried her gentle ministra-
tions past the cruel and bloody knives OF
the Spanish soldiery-
And on her breast bloody cross she
bore,
The dear remembrance of her dying
Lord,
Tor whose sweet sake that glorious
badge she wore,
And dead as living, ever Him adored.
You can find no surer test Of the spirit
that animates the youth of a country in
giving up its life in great war than in
the battle hymns of ations. The inspira-
tiou of France has been found. and is
still found in the stirring strains of the
"Marseillase" of France, Av AXE
to Glory" But an American woman
has struck for the American youth a
loftier strain in the Battle Hymn of the
Republic
In the beauty of lilies, Christ was born
across the sea,
AS He died to make men holy, let us die
to make men free.
l thank God that i know that, day by
day, and year by year, my country IS
growing better. / thank God that my
eyes, in the old age. look out on a faire
| land; that my ears, as they grow deaf
will hear the tones of braver voices.
know whereof l affirm.
o
We are told in some quarters that thi:
| is a base and wicked war: that it is en-
tered upon from bad motives, and thai
| the men who enlist in 1t are actuated by 6
| vulgar desir, of fame, of glory, of office
| But | see personally, or | receive letters
| from the youth who are eager to an
| swer the call of their country, from
| fathers and mothers and i find very lit
| tie desire of glory in them. and much o
| a sense of duty. This war was entered
| into because half million people wer'
| being starved to death at our doors. GU
| soldiers are enlisting in it that they ma.
do their duty to their country. From tn
| brave major general, one of the most ia
| nous heroes of our last war. who, whei
| | wrote him, that ! could only find 10
him lower place than that he had ono
filled, and to which he was entitled b,
previous service, returned the answer
| considerations of rank have no place
| when duty is in question:" to the youtl
| who write to me by the scores letters lik
| this. my great-grandfather was in tn
| Revolution, my grandfather was in III
| war of 1872, my father was killed In tn
| rebellion and I want to do what / can 70
my country today" there is little though
of glory. The letters that come to me ar
almost all of one kind This quality o
the American people. this especial quail
|
ing its way, ds never before. TO the recos
milton and respect of mankind. Thi
seems to be the season, for the first time
of the fullest and completest reconcilia
ton between north and south.
I have lust seen a mother who ha
given her first-born son to this war. H
died before Santiago. The boy went I
West Point from under the roof wher
l dwell. The dwelling and the grov
| which shadows it will be even more sa
cred and holier for the presence of tha
beautiful and pure shade. The memor
of young Berchley, with that of Grou
and Spur and Haven, is evermore to b
one of the priceless possessions of Wor
cester They will seem forever to b
walking our streets in their beautitu
and immortal youth. The passing q
their beautiful feet gladdens the pave
ment of the street. What right has an
man TO tell that mother that her so
died in a base cause, or gave up his lif
for an unworthy motive? There can b
no worse lesson than to tell the yout
of a country that their country is bast
The feeling of dislike and contempt fo
us in England, which the utterances G
Professor Norton and men ike him haV
done so much to foster. Is giving way I
better knowledge. l do not believe
can be revived again by such utterance
as these. The best instruction whic
the youth of country like ours can hay
is its own history, and the best result c
that instruction is a good hope. If an
man attempt to tarnish or destroy ethc
If II be due to ignorance. 1t is pitia blC
If It be due to arrogance or conceit, 1t
criminal. If these utterances came froi
an enthusiasm for a letter IDEAL from
desire TO raise the country to a noble
or loftier plane, we might forgive then
But the men who utter them have ,neithe
enthusiasm nor ideals. 1t is the doctrIr