The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-11

american Civilization.
Gathered on a picturesque little knoll
of Capitol hill, the citizens Of Merriam
Park, to the number of several hun
dred, yesterday afternoon observed the
day as set apart by President McKin-
ley for general thanksgiving, as fit
ting expression of sentiment on the
providential success of the American
forces by land and sea.
Inc address of the afternoon was de-
hvered by Congressman Fred c. Stew
ems The audience sang my Country
It's of Thee" and everywhere a pa
tr1otic spirit pefVaded the air.
KEY w. G. Covart, Of the Merriam
Park church, introduced the speaker.
In opening, Me. Stevens said he con-
sldered. 1t high privilege to be able
to return to ST. Paul and view once
more the familiar scenes Of everyday
life, and meet with old associates and
friends. He considered it a blessed
privilege to be able to discuss the SUBJ
Ject which was occupying the attention
of the American people.
The victories Of Dewey and Samp-
son and the heroic conduct of Hobson
and others had stirred the hearts Of
the people to q spirit Of intense pa
tr1otism, and recognition of the Tri-
une God, the source Of the nations life
and success. An Ohio statesman, who
was one of the most esteemed members
of congress. had told him, Mr.. Stevens
said, that he had never recognized the
religion of any man, yet he had given
much reflection to the present condi-
ton of affairs in the United States, and
he had become fully convinced that,
through all our victories, the unseen
hand of an overriding providence had
perched the insignia of victory on the
American fleets. L The tyrannical rule of
Spain in Cuba had come to a close
1t was the same agency which sought
to overthrow our forefathers In the
great armada decades ago, identical
the lowlands Of Holland three centu-
ries ago, that which had 'blighted the
fair island Of Cuba. ~ ess 1.F
The nation had not been without its
sins. For three years the governmental
policy of Spain had been to kill, slay
and starve the Inhabitants Of Cuba, so
near to our shores. We were not ready
to meet the exigencies at the time.
On that peaceful night in February, 241
brave American seamen had persisted
in Havana harbor. That was the bea-
con light which aroused the people to
the conditions Of our brothers in Cuba,
and it was then that the nation was
fully aroused to the actual brotherhood
Of man. The nation then became in
volved in war. Mr.. Stevens asserted
that nothing short of the providence
Of God could have been responsible
for the wonderful success cf the Ameri-
can fleets. With so small loss of life,
the great navies of Spain had been
swept from the face of the deep. Kind
Providence had vouchsafed many bless
ings during the growth of the nation.
| 1t had not realized it's strength, and
certainly not it's shortcomings. It had
become rich powerful, and ever cher
! ished the civil rights of it's citizens
| Whatever came, the nation had learned
| one lesson and that Of the grandeur
| Of American citizenship, and our YES
| sells would ever be ready to protect
| those rights as symbolical Of the ma
TONS life.
1t would be the duty Of the nation
| to send the light Of American civiliza-
| ton across the seas to other nations.
| 1--WE cannot give back the Philip
| pines to Spain," said Mr.. Stevens, 1--WE
| have befriended friendless people
| both in Cuba and the Philippines, and
we all hope that they will be stable
enough to establish an Independent
| government and take their places
among the nations of the earth"
Free press, free thinking and free
| speech were the 1oundatlon or Amerl-
| can citizenship. No scheme to further
| power and no ambition to acquire
should ever shut from the face of the
| nations leaders those fundamental
truths which underlied the nations
greatness They had come to US from
| our ancestors of hundreds Of years
| ago, and millions of lives had been
lost in making republic such as this
| possible, and not one Of those rights
should ever be subverted or injured.