The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-16

conditions hopefully and facing them
bravely and wisely ls to be the mlght-
ieSe test Of American virtue and capac-
ity. without abandoning past llmita-
lions, traditions and principles, but BY
meeting present opportunities and ooli-
cations, we shall show ourselves worthy
OF the great trust which civilization has
imposed upon us.
lat Bunker Hill liberty was at stake;
at Gettysburg the union was the issue;
before Manila and Santiago our armies
fought not for gain or revenge. but for
human rights. They contended for the
freedom OF the oppressed. for whose
welfare the United States has never
failed to lend a helping hand TO estab-
llBh and uphold and, I believe, never
will. The glOrias OF the war cannot be
dImmed, but the result will be incom-
plete and unworthy Of us unless sup
plemented by civil victories, harder
possibly to win, In their way no less
Indispensable.
eve win have our difficulties and our
embarrassulents They follow all VIC
tories and accompany all great respon-
slbilltles. They are lnseparable from
every great movement or reform. But
American capacity has trlumphed over
all In the past. Doubts have IN the end
vanished. Apparent dangers have been
averted or avoided, and our own his
tory shows that progress has come SO
naturally and steadily on the heels OF
new and grave responsibilities 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 to grapple with the
then untrled and mighty problems.
"The republic is to-day larger, strQ1-
ger and better prepared than ever be-
fore for wise and Acknowledgement
In new directions and along new lines.
Even the minds Of some of our own
people are still disturbed by perplexing
and anxious doubts, in which all OF US
have shared and still share, the genius
OF American civilization Will, I believe,
be found both original and creative and
capable OF subscribing all the great In
terests which shall be confided to our
keeping.
Following Best Impulses.
Forever in the right, following the
best impulses and clinglng to high pur-
poses, using properly and within right
limits our power and opportunities, hon.
orable reward must inevitably follow.
The outcome cannot be in doubt
1--WE could have avoided all the diff
cultieB that lie across the pathway OF
the nation IL few months ago We had
coldly ignored the piteous appenls Of
the starving and oppressed inhabitants
OF Cuba. II we had blinded ourselves
to the conditions so near our shores and
turned a deaf ear to our suffering
neIghbors, the issue Of territorial eX-
pansion In the Antilles and the East
indies would not have been raised.
"But could we have justified such
course? Is there any one who would
now declare another 70 have been the
better course? With less humanity and
less courage on our part, the Spanish
nag, instead OF the stars and stripes,
would still he floating at Cavite, at
Ponce, and at Santiago, and a chance
IN the race OF life would be wanting to
millions OF human beings who to-day
call this nation noble. and who, trust
will live to call 1t blessed.
Thus far we have done our supreme
duty. Sha. we now. when the victory
won in war is written in the treaty Of
peace and the civilized world applaudI
and awaits IN expectation turn timidly
away from the duties imposed upon the
country bE its own great deeds? And
when the mists fade and we see with
clearer vision, may we not go forth re-
joiclnR in strength which has been
employed solely for humanity and al
ways been tempered with Justice and
mercy, confident OF our ability TO meet
the exigencIes which await US, because
confident that our course Is one of duty
and our cause that of right?"