The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-03

national spirit. and gives him share in ma
fional victories and in a national vocation
which in widening purpose from the fathers
to the sons joins and brings to one end the
unaumbered deeds of unnumbered men?
For the nation is not constituted by her
present citizens but by all who are, have
been, shall be, hers. In her at every mo-
ment there are blended in the matchless
fullness of her life. the experience of age,
the strength Of p.anbood and the fervor Of
youth.
DR.. Elishe Milford, who first among US
rose to tits conception of nationality, and
from whom I have quoted, points out that
every PEOPLE in time of stress, it may be in
peace or war. has come thus to know her
self, aud to md in herself spirit as pecul-
iarly her own 4s her name.
Upon Us * America has dawned the day
in which iris consciousness of national be-
ing mugt fully come, If ever it is to do So.
Events stranger than the widest OF dreams
could have proIhesied. beyond conception
marvellous a-la in consequence colossal.
have followed each ether with a rapidity
and a certainty that throws upon our
hearts the sense sc an Irresistible fate at
work, of a distinct interposition of God.
There has been thrust upon us-though,
thank Cod we did not long hesitate to as
sumo 1.-THE duty of relieving human dis
tress beyond our borders. and of being
Gods instrument for the chastisement of
another people upon whom his wrath has
justly fallen.
NEW RESPONSIBILITIES.
Having scarcely entered upon this duty,
there have come to us responsibilities than
which none could be more serious, and
-;e r1F
stupendous import for all the future. It
seems likely that the entire policy of the
Nation will be altered; that our safe, quiet
isolation from international politics may
have to be abandoned for the fullflment of
an imperial destiny.
This call to a new and vaster work can
not be answered by references to the con-
stitution or the writings of the fathers
Political traditions and academic definitions
can have little weight in the face of a
divine summons-if such it prove to be-
The response must be made by the voice
of living nation-by the people in her
unity. She must know herself; she must
consider her powers and her limitations,
and she must rise and make answer in her
own person.
Whether she has fulfilled her former
duties; whether her problems at home would
be complicated by colonial affairs; whether
she is clear that she is not mistaking terri
torial lust for a providential call; what
shall be her attitude toward other nations.
and especially toward that great one to
whom so many ties already bind US; wheth-
er a republic may be an empire?
Can you not perceive that these questions
cannot get their answer in the halls of Con-
gress, in university lecture rooms, in the
ambitions of soldiers nor the snap judgment
of men upon the street corner? There must
speak a calm, convincing word out of the
deeper spirit, out of the truer being, of the
Nation, wiser than any, than all, of US her
children.
That word will come when we have been
silent a little while to hear it; it will whis-
per itself in the hearts of our captains and
then Of the people, like an instinct. Obey
ing it. whatever 1t be, God will lead to
a career whose fruits shall be welcomed in
the heavenly country into which they bring
'the glory and honor of the nations"