The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-20

in the blood and bred in the bone, for US.
ran IN the line Of the higher duties OF cit
izenship-ran in the line of His eternal pur-
poses. For this large-yisioned lover OF his
land and people feels something more than
the personal touch of local attachment,
however endeared by association, however
consecrated by tradition. Not TO soil, rich
though it be in memories sacred to his soul,
IS ms nigh allegiance due. His loyalty IS 70
lofty ideal of citizenship, and TO what Re
believes to be the manifest destiny of his
country.
So far as regards motive in the heart of
the American people, our civil war was
fought neither to maintain nor to destroy
of events. moral evolution-call ii what you
will-brought this issue to the war that the
canlSer of modern civilization cut out.
That issue belongs to the higher realm OF
morals. 1t concerns not merely states; IL
is step in the progress of humanity. There
were certain results appealing more lmme-
diately to us. The civil war revealed to the
American patriot a broader, a higher,
fuller conception of citizenship. II taught
him that this land was not simply loosely
connected aggregation of petty states, but
that We are a Nation, one in heart, one IN
in union. He saw peace and prosperity In
all our broadly extended borders. He saw
the cream come true tnat ameriea sno tha
be the strong refuge of the oppressed, the
sure home of the free. The years that have
elapsed since Appomattox have finally and
forever justified the faith OF our Iore-
fathers They believed in self-goverament.
They trusted to mans conscience that right
and reason should prevail.
OUR HEACEt Z Il AlOIOfNIs
Ours has been a peaceful history; and we
have reaped to the full the fruits of peace.
We have subdued the forces of nature and
peopled our continent with teemins mil
lions We have grown rich in material re-
sources. Luxury abounds. The amenities
of fair civilization are ours In this col
lective prosperity and wealth and greatness
of our whole Nation, the American citizen
of whatever section may well indulge his
patriotic pride; but let it not blind him to
the higher mission to which our institutions
stand pledged.
Men nor nations fulfill the higher ends of
being in isolation. Grander things than the
material rewards of peace has God for such
as worthy to work His purposes. Amer
lea belongs to the world and to the process
sion of human history. This is what Amer
lea means: it means another, a further,
higher, final effort in humanltyS struS-
gle for the assertion of individual rights ana
equality of opportunity for all men,. 1t
means the continuation, and on yet higner
grounds, of that struggle that from the pc
ginning humanity has Waged against So
ciety, the irrepressible protest OF the indi-
vidual against the tyranny of ORGANIZED
that it is the destiny of these United States
ITO build the road for the hammered march
OF crowned humanity,
and humanity means not society nor gov
eminent; it means 9 no class mag A nor
Furthermore, the triumph of American
ism means the contamination of that
toward which humanity has struggled
ever since Socrates began to teach the in
nate dignity and worth of the individual
man. 1t means equality, freedom, develop
ment; it means justice and mercy. 1t means
that vast and intricate systems, social or
governmental or what not, are things or the
past. And this not for America. only, put
for the whole world. Mr.. Bryce says that
ours is a type of institutions toward which
as by a law of fate the rest of civilized
mankind are forced to move, some with
cNuiff 9th xxith
resting feet.
In the years of peace and prosperity fol-
understood this. This Nation has been iso-
lated and content with its isolation AS II
the unifcation of our continental domain.
had been the end of history for US! FALSE
were then to the traditions of our race,
the race that for a thousand years has done
the worlds strenuous work. Let us not for
get that We are the vanguard of that race.
The men of the sixties in their day and
generation did their part-they made US one
A third of a century has cemented our union
and enriched us in material resources. God,
from the beginning, did the rest for US, for
He made us people quick to hight, strong
IN battle and of profound ethical convlc-
tons. He has further work for us. Yester-
day we were content within ourSelveS to-
day we are face to face with world prob
lems
For some of us who are here to-day youth
began to drun-beat and tramp of armed
men. Since then the peaceful years have
heightened out till now again our times are
fallen on war. What does it mean?seTo my
ear the guns that from Manila bay sent
their echoes around the world We're Gods
own trumpet tones summoning His people
out of it's isloation into the broad arena OF
the worlds great nfe-and that not Tor
but for humanity's cause-for the world
extension of that principle of justice which
our governmental theory emDodies. The
summons has come to us unSought. We be-
gan a fight to drive the dechristianized CIV
ilization of the sixteenth century out of the
western hemisphere; we find our standard
planted on the other side the globe-ft has
to stay there. Does that mean larger ma
vies; increased armament; an isthmian ca
nal; chain of possessions reaching round
the world? Does it mean imperialism?
HIS CAUSE FOR GRIEF.
Whatever it means it is not our doing;
it is destiny; it is God. Young men,, want
to say for myself-and now while / shall
speak in the first person, please to under
stand me as speaking for the generation
representa- want to say that while as
trust 1 appreciate this greater glory of my
country and my people, yet have to con-
TESS it, amid these preparations for war
that we have been Witnessing, my heart
has been filled with sadness-not for pre-
cious treasure what must be spent--not for
brave men that must suffer and must die
not for heart of womankind that must be
anguish-torn-none of these; but when |
look on the generation of my countrymen.
born and brought to manhood since time
when we that were boys in the sixties made
our fight for country and for God; when
see their serried ranks of stalWart forms,
and under the SLOUGH of brown hats catch
the CLEAN of bright eyes; when / look along
the level lines OF glistening steel and in the
distance catch the undimmed glory of the
banner that they bear-God help me, how
could l but feel sad-to think that my life
lies behind me-to think that while these,
the men of the twentieth century, march on,
proud vanguard of their cOuntry'S greater
glory l can only dream my seniIe dreams
and feel the heartaches that women feel
that wait.
Our country's greater glory! In the light
of ii my text is easy read. For, rendering to
Caesar the things that are Caesars, you
are Gods. You go forth from here, as l
believe, normal healthy men. of good in
tent, of unspoiled life, and you will be glad
to make part of the world knowing that
thereby you shall fulfill your natures fun
damental law. Knowing that that way lies
for your happiness and growth. You will
be true therefore to the social conditions en-
Vironing you. You will be good citizens.
You will obey the laws. You will gain your
living by honest means. Among your neigh
bors you will stand for peace and fair deal
ing always.
Something more / ask OF you. This: That
your civic virtue be warmed vitalized, spir-
itualized by ardent love. Love the land
that gave you birth Is that our own sec
ton here of these United States Nowhere
shines the sun on fairer. God made IL from
lake to river. from mountain to Father of
Waters made il, broad plain, sloping hill
side forest and field and clear water-course
Ito be the home of prosperous civilization,
That people you may well be proud Of Do
Won know who were our HOOsier forphears2