Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-16
Morton {, Stout ( Co.,
TAILORS,
S26 EAST MAIN STREET.

| go EAS MAIN - XII
lar to the one which marked the Presi-
| dents reference yesterday to the Con-
federate dead The President said;
PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
~ cannot withhold from these people
| my profound thanks for their hearty re-
ception and the good VIII which they have
shown me everywhere and in every way
since / have been their guest. l thank
them for the opportunity which this occa-
sion gives me of meeting and greeting
| them, and for the pleasure Ii affords me
| to participate with them in honoring the
army ana the navy. to whose achieve
ments we are indebted for one Of the most
brilliant chapters of American history
"Other parts of the country have had
their public thanksgiving and jubilees in
| honor of the historic events of the past
| year, but nowhere has there been greater
rejoicing than among the people here, the
gathered representatives of the South.
| congratulate them upon their accurate
| observation of events, which enabled them
to fix a date which insured them the
privilege of being the first to celebrate
the signing of the treaty of peace by the
American and Spanish commissioners.
| OLD DISAGREEMENTS FORGOTTEN.
Under hostile fire on a foreign soil,
! fighting in a common cause, the memory
of old Disbursements has faded into his
tory. From camp and campaign there
| came the magic healing which has closed
ancient wounds and effaced their scars.
For this result every American patriot
| will forever rejoice. 1t is no small In
| demaity for the cost Of war
"Ths government has proved itself in
vincible in the recent war, and out Of 1t
has come nation which will remain in
| diyisible forevermore. No worthier con-
! tributions have been made in patriotism
and in men than by the people Of these
| Southern States. When at last the war
came, they were eager to meet 1t, and
promptly responded to the call. They
entrusted to the government men who
| were dear to them, and they have glori-
ously helped to defend our flag. and added
new lustre to its shining stars The flag
has been planted in two hemispheres, and
| there it remains the symbol of liberty
and law. of peace and progress. Who
will withdraw from the people over whom
| it floats its protecting folds? Who Will
| haul it down?
WAR NOT ONE OF CONQUEST.
1.-THE victory we celebrate is not that
Of a ruler, a President, but of the people,
| Of an army whose valor We admire, and
| of a navy whose achievements we APP
| plduu, HOL dSSSInDlSu ny uTdIl vi SOH-
scription, but from voluntary enlistment.
| The heroes came from civil as well as
| military life. Trained and unframed SOL
| ders wrought our triumphs. The peace
we have won is not Il selfish truce OF
arms. but one whose conditions presage
good to humanity. The domains secured
under the treaty yet TO be acted upon by
the Senate came TO us, not as the result
of a crusade of conquest. but as the Ie-
| - f,st col cd ar1n
| response TO the call of conscience, which
could not be disregarded by liberty
loving and Christian people
! I'VE have borne ourselves in the con-
fct and in our intercourse with the
| Powers Of the world as to escape COM
| plant OF complications and give universal
confidence in our high purpose and unset
fish sacrifices for struggling people.
1.-THE task is not fulfilled. Indeed, IT is
only just begun. The most serious work
is still before us, and every energy Of
heart and mind must be bent, and the
impulses Of partisanship suoordinated, TO
| its faithful execution. This is the time
for earnest, not faint, hearts.
| NEW OCCASIONS; NEW DUTIES.
"'New occasions teach new duties To
] this nation and every nation there some
/ formative periods in its life and history.
| New conditions can be met only by new
methods. Meeting these conditions hope
| fully, and facing them bravely and wise
| ly, is TO be the mghtest test Of American
virtue and capacity. Without abandoning
past limitations, traditions, and princi-
pies, but by meeting present opportuni-
| ties and obligations, we shall show our
selves worthy of the great trust which
civilization has imposed on us
at Bunker Hill. liberty was at stake;
at Gettysburg, the Union was the issue;
H. mia
fought, not for gain or revenge, but for
| human rights They contended for the
| freedom Of the oppressed, for whose well
fare the United States has never failed
| TO lend a helping hand, to establish and
uphold. and 1 believe, never will. The
glories' Of the war cannot be dimmed,
but the result will be incomplete and I'M
worthy of us unless supplemented by
civil victories, harder, possibly, 10 win in
their way, but no less Indispensable.
PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED.
1--WE will have our difficulties and our
embarrassments. They follow all victo-
ries. and accompany all great response
biities. They are inseparable from every
great movement or reform, but American
capacity has triumphed over all In the
past Doubts have in the end vanished
Apparent dangers have been averted or
avoided and our own history shows mat
progress has come so naturally ana Stedu-
ily on the heels of new and grave respon-
siblities. that as we look back upon the
acquisition of territory by our fathers,
we are filled with wonder that any doubt
could have existed or any apprehension
could have been felt of the wisdom OF
their action, or their capacity 10 grapple
with the then untried and mighty prob
| lens.
THE republic is to-day larger. strong
er. and better prepared than ever before
for wise and profitable developments in
new directions and along new lines. Even
II the minds OF some OF our own people
are still disturbed by perplexing and anx-
| ious doubts, which all Of us have shared
| and still share, the genius OF American
civilization will, / believe, be found both
original and creative, and capable OF sub
serving all the great interests which shan
| be conhded to our keeping.
Forever in the right, following the
| best impulses, and clinging TO high pur-
pose: using properly and within rignl
| limits our power and opportunities. honor
able reward must inevitably follow, the
outcome cannot be doubted. ..
| IF WE HAD IGNORED CUBAS APP
PEAL.
1--we could have averted all the DIM
| culties which lie across the pathway OF
| the nation II few months ago we had
| coldly ignored the piteous appeals OF
the starving and oppressed inhabitants OF