Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-06
PENIS GREAT STATE
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Continued from First Page)
its commerce; her school houses furnish the
statesmen in the halls of government But
great as is her material wealth, she is
greater still in monuments of the past.
What glorious memories still entwine around
Valley Forge and Brandywine! She was the
center of the great struggle for inde-
Dendence. There, in her chief city, stands
independence hall and the bell that tolled
out liberty to all the world There Betsy
Ross made the first American flag under
the direction OF Washington himself.
Postmaster General smiths Grafton.
Hon. Charles Emory Smith, postmaster
general of the United States, delivered the
Grafton of the day. AS he stepped to the
front of the platform there was a veritable
ovation for the diplomat, journalist, states
man and orator He said:
This is Pennsylvania day. 1t is dedicated
to the friendly interest of the great COM
monwealth of the east in this splendid
monument Of the energy and public spirit
of the west. Philadelphia is the mother of
pride how the Centennial of 1876 has been
followed by a series of brilliant exhibitions
and she has encouraged and supported them
with the same patriotic zeal which prompted
her own pioneer effort. She is here today
through her representatives to congratulate
you on this stately and impressive creation,
on these dazzling scenes of beauty and
activity, which typify the artistic achieve
ments and the industrial progress of this
mighty transmississippi region
| Pennsylvania feels another interest in this
imposing exhibition To the sturdy en-
lightened and enterprsing citizenship which
has created this noble commonwealth She
has contributed en- honorable share. Her
blood flows in the veins of this vigorous
offspring of the adventurous spirit and thrift
OF the older sections. Her children are
among the pillars of your state. One of
her sons was for years your distinguished
and honored senator and still adorns and
illumnates your civic life. Pennsylvania
blends in high degree the composite racial
elements and the fruitful heritage of an
| cestral diversity which have enriched and
strengthened the American people: and
9teadfast stable and solid as she is. firm
as the keystone of the arch she symbolzes
she has none the less Joined in the onward
march and infused something OF her own
characteristics in the upbuildng of this
great empire of the west.
| Events Move swiftly.
| We have moved during the last six
months in the swift current of stupendou8
events which have recast the maps apl
spanned the wide horizon. We have just
emerged triumphant from a short but
crucial and momentous war. which has car
ried forward history and unveiled destiny
The halo it has shed on American arms and
the glory with which it has exalted the
| american name III us WIN just pride ana
eXultation. Reluctantly accepted by the
president only under the supreme mandate
or humanity and justice once undertaken
| the unerring seriousness of it's aim, the un-
falterng vigor of its direction and the
| unbroken sweep of its success stand un-
matched on the pages of war The re-
nown of the American navy always brilliant
and never equalled, man for man and gun
FOR gun, was sustained and enhanced in
every clash of the struggle. An army of
| 25O 600 SummOnnd bp lyS
OF citizenship. organized, equipped and made
| ready for action. Every soldier who fought
was transported beyond the deep. The
whole scene of the war was on foreign soil
and in tropical cline, under burning skies
and drenching torrents. with the blight of
fever and the danger of pestilence. In the
face OF such difficulties. what swift and
unerring triumph!
| With our monumental victory we face
new epoch in the history of the republic
We come to a broader outlook whose deep
import 1t is we'll for us to consider. The
| world knows our ampler reach and our
larger destiny and we feel it. No true
American can be insensble to the increased
| respect for our country and the higher con-
cepton of its mission which the marvellous
revelations of this war have inspired in all
lands The embattled farmers at Lexing
| ton fired the shot heard round the world"
! and not less distinctly and Significantly did
he opening shot of this under the gilt
tering consultations of the Orient resound
in every capital of the globe and awaken a
new understanding of Americas onward
movement.
One of Great World Powers.
1t is recognized that the United States
advances to its place as one of the great
| world powers, and whatever may be our
| wise policy, whatever may be the measure
of our lust restraint or our legitimate am
| oition. no American fail to feel an
| honorable pride in the new distinction and
The new consideration never before APP
preached, which American heroism and
, | American craftsmanship have brought to
| our republic. The worlds acknowledged
tribute is the measure of its estimate of the
potency 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 emer
gency in the true American spirit. 1t makes
us responsible for Cuba. 1t gives us Porto
Rico 1t plants cur outpost on the farther
side of the globe. Whatever we hold,
whether it be more or less. will be held, not
) ;or territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT, but solely in
| acceptance of responsibilities which Provi-
dence has laid uDon us. Men lightly talk
of imperialism" Our imperialism is not
territorial lust, but bengnant trade expan-
sion and CviliZing influence, and our flag
is at Manila, net in any spirit of spoliato
not in either the greed or the glory of con-
t | quest, but let it be reverently said, under
the controlling force of a Proydential guild
ance, at the ripe hour in the DEVELOPMENT
and requirements of our national growth
1t is treated in many quarters simply as
a question of territorial expansion, but that
! Is secondary and incidental consideration.
The great and oveTshadowing question is
one of commercial openings. The heart of
he issue is not mere territory. but trade
, necessities and facilities. Beyond and be-
hind and beneath this departure lies the
broad problem of Americas destiny in the
commerce and civilization of the world II
} We are to fulfill that DESTINY we must have
r commercial expansion. and it is pro-
t,undly significant fact which shows a guild
ing hand that oveTrules the will OF man
that this war should have come Just as this
great necessity begins to be realized. The
: opportunity matches the neeC.
Time and Opportunity.
The universal acceptance of its obligation
to stretch forth its civilizing hand where the
fate of war has carried it. the fortunate
possession of an established emporium on
the very theater of the worlds seeking have
brought the occasion and the duty together
? Is it not for enlightened American states
manship, watchful of American interests. to
: use the opportunity, not in territorial
avarice, but for commercial extension and
civilizing influence in the Orient with the
base and bulwark that are needed for its
support? Shall we be worthy of this high
mission? ! have full faith in my country
, men, | belieVe in he Snirit .ho