The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-05
CHARLES EMORY SMITH
Orator at Celebration of Penn
syIVania Day at Omaha.

Transmississippi exposition called the
audience of Pennsylvanians to order at
the auditorium. Gen. Charles F Man
derson welcomed the visitors and was
responded to by John W. Woodside of
Pennsylvania, chairman of the state
commission. He introduced Postmaster
General Charles Emory Smith, who
spoke as follows:
I'VE have moved during the past six
months in the swift current of stupen-
dOus events which have recast the maps
and spanned the wide horizon. We
have just emerged triumphant from
short but crucial and mOmentOuS war
unveiled destiny. The halo it has shed
on American arms and the glory with
which it has exalted the American
name fill US with just pride and exul-
tatiOn. Reluctantly accepted by the
president only on the supreme mandate
of humanity and justice, once under
taken the unerring sureness of it's aim,
the unfalterlng VlgOr of its direction
and the unbrOken sweep of it's success
stand unmatched on the pages of his
tory. The renOwn of the American navy
always brilliant and never eQualed man
for man and gun for gun, was sus-
tanned and enhanced in every clash of
the struggle. An army of a quarter of
a million men was summoned from the
ranks of citizenship, organized, equipped
and made ready for action. Every sol
der who fought was transported be-
yOnd the department. The whole scene
of the war was on foreign soil and in a
tropical climate, under burning skies
and drenching torrents, with the blight
of fever and the danger of pestilence.
In the face of such difficulties what a
swift and wonderful triumph
Face New Epoch.
with our monumental victory we
face a new epoch in the history of the
republic. We come to a broader out
look whose deep import it is well for
us to consider The world knows our
ampler reach and our larger destiny and
we feel it. No true American can be
insensibIe to the increased respect for
our country and to a higher conception
of its mission which the marvellous
revelations of this war have inspired
in all lands The embattled farmers at
Lexington fired the shot heard around
the world: and not less distinctly and
significantly did the opening shot or
this war under the glittering cOnStel-
IatiOns of the Orient resound in every
capital of the globe and awaken new
understanding of Americas onward
movement. 1t is recognized that the
United States advances to its place as
one of the great world powers ana
whatever may be our wise policy, what
ever may be the measure of our just
restraint, or our legitimate anplIloh'
no American can fail to feel an honor
able pride in the new distinction ana
the new consideration, never before
APPROACHED. which American herolsm
and American SJdIeSIHdLSiA4p nave
brought to our republic.
THE worlds acknowledged tribute is
the measure of its estimate OF the Pc
tency of our new position Our use OF
that position will be the measure OF
our wisdom and rulership. Equal TO
every crisis in the past, we shall deal
with this new emergency in the true
American spirit. 1t makes US reSpoh-
sibIe for Cuba. 1t gives US Porto Rlco.
II r,1auts orr OUTPOST on the farther SIDE
of the globe. Whatever we hold, whether
it be more or less, will be held not Ior
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but solely IN
acceDtance of the responsibilities Whlch
Providence has laid upon US Men lalh
lightly of imperialism. our Imperial
ism is not territorial, but OenlSAAH
trade expansion and ciVlllzlng lhnueHce
and ON. flag is at Manila not IN any
spirit of spOliation, not IN elIneI tiie
greed or glory of conquest, put let II
be reverently said, under the conlrolnns
force of a prOvidential guidance, at IHe
ripe hour in the development ana re-
ouirements of our national growth.
Territorial Expansion.
eft is treated in many quarters sim
ply as a question of terrltorlal eAz
Dansion but that is a secondary anu
Incidental consideration. Ihe great
and oversha dowing question is one OF
commercial openings. The hearl OF me
issue is not mere territory but TRACE ne
cessities and facilities. BEYOND anu
behind and beneath this departure 1eS
+17e broad problem of America deStlny
in the commerce and civilization OF the
world - .zo-4i,,,- "a
must have commercial expansion and It
is a profoundly significant fact Whlch
shows a guiding hand that over uIS9
the will of man that this war shocl
have come lust as this great necessity
1naeius to be realized. The opportunity
matches the need. The elevation OF the
United States to a new rank among the
nations the universal acceptance OF us
70 CT
hand where the fate of war has car
ried it. the fortunate possession OF an
established emporium on the very Ihe5t-
fer of the worlds seeking nave brought
the occasion and the duty together Is
if not for enlightened American states
nanship watchful of American inter-
ests to use the opportunity, not in ter
ritOrial avarice but for commercial ex-
tension and civilizing influence in the
orient with the base and the bulwark
that are needed for its support.
Shall we be worthy of this high mis-
sion? I have full faith in my country
men I believe in the spirit and capac-
itv of the American people. This war
and its tremendous questions nave CIV
on us a new elevation and dignity and
rurnOse How it has dwarfed and di-
minished our domestic differences and
our petty contentious! how II mas KIM
Cled the patriotic fires and quickened
the true national instinct! How it has
lifted us to a higher plane of pubic con-
-lscfousness and to a broader view OF ma
tiOual greatness. In the large work
before US of governing and developing
orr new possessions. of ameGOraung
and advancing the condition of the new
peoples who have been brought under
the protecting folds of our flag. and Of
achieving the fullness of the new pos
sessions within our grasp there Is call
for all that is best in our American
courage and craftsmanship and charac-
ter.
No Partisanship.
There is a call for thoughtful. con-
scientious and patriotic devotion on the