The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-07-04

events ana great men should he kept
in everlasting remembrance Tell We
your children of it, and let your chill
dren tell their children, and their chill
dren another generation Walter
Scott shows US Old Mortality going
through the cemeteries OF Scotland
chiseling anew the names and dates
and deeds OF those who many years be-
fore wrought valorously for God and
native land. He wanted the young
and rising generation to have the in
spiratiOn of those who lived heroic
lives in years before. When the armies
of ancient Rome went out to battle
they marched through the stree. that
on either side was lined with monu-
ment and memorial to the heroes who
had lived and fought before them.
They felt themselves comprised with
an innumerable cloud of witnesses, and
were inspired to do for their country
as valorously as the heroes of old had
done. The anniversary of a nation S
birth is an opportune time to inculcate
lessons of patriotism by emphasizing
the things that make a nation great and
keep it so.
Carlyle quotes Cromwell with ap-
pfoval in the assertion that the real
Bible of a people is their own history.
Ii IS record of the way God has led
them. The history of our Republic is
TO US Bible, a revelation of the will
and purpose of God. To the fathers
and founders of this nation came the
Voice of God when they were dwelling
at Scrooly and Leyden, saying unto
them: Get thee out of thy country
and from thy kindred and from thy
fathers house unto land that / will
show thee; and / will make of thee a
great nation, and l will bless thee and
make thy name great; and in thee
shall all families of the earth be bless
ed" James Russell Lowell interpreted
the providence Of God in regard to this
nation Alright when he said: Next to
the fugitives whom Moses led out of
Egypt, the little shipload of ou1casts
who landed at Plymouth two and half
centuries ago are destined to influence
the future of the world This nation
has divine mission as truly as had
Israel of old. This nation is as dear
to God as was Israel of old He has
favored US with riches and wider pos
sessions. We are heirs of a more
splendid heritage, stewards of q more
sacred trust
The consideration of our national
heritage emphasizes the truth of the
text and reminds US that God hath not
dealt with any nation SO generously
and graciously as with u.s. In the first
place, consider our inheritance Of ter
ritory. No richer possession was ever
bequeathed to any people than the
southern half of this great continent
No nation on the face of the earth to-
day possesses such a territory as we
possess. Few of us comprehend its
marvellous extent and magnificent rich
ness. From it's western shores, laved
by the waters of the Pacific, to its
eastern boundary, washed by the waves
Of the Atlantic, is a distance of 5000
miles-farther than Roman eagles ever
flew. Lying between the Gulf and the
lakes, in the temperate zone, it pos
sesses in fullest measure the natural
elements necessary to the physical and
intellectual development of a vigorous,
enterprising people. It's soil is fertile;
its mines are rich: its climate is salu-
brious. 1t is, as Gladstone affirmed the
natural base for the greatest nation OF
the world. What was said to Israel Of
old may with greater emphasis be said
of US: The Lord, thy God, brngeth
thee into a good land-a land Of brooks
of water, a land of wheat and barley
and vines and fig trees and pomegran-
ates, land of oil, olive and honey; a.
land wherein thou shalt eat bread
without scarceness. Thou shalt not
lack anything in it-a land whose
stones are iron, and out of whose hills
thou mayest dig brass. All this, and
more, is our natural inheritance. God
for ages reserved this great and wide
territory for the establishment of a
great republic To the shores of this
elect land He brought an elect people,
and bade them build here a republic of
God
Lo I uncover the land
Which | hid of old time In the West.
AS sculptor uncovers the statue
When ne has wrought his best.
The marvellous possibility, the fabu-
lous richness of this country surpass
the dreams of the most ardent enthusi-
asst It's manifold resources we have
only begun to discover and develop. An
English statistician, Mr. Mulhall has
set forth in figures the comparative
earning capacity of the leading coun-
tries of the world. He computes the
annual value of our products at fifteen
billion dollars. Great Britain comes
next with about seven billion. Then
Germany and France and Russia in
their order with still lower figures. At
the bottom of the list is little Spain
with one billion. Thus it is seen that
the United States in its wealth produc-
ing capacity nearly equals the resources
of the combined countries of all Eu-
rope. We are becoming a rich nation,
rich beyond the dreams of avarice.
Here indeed is the natural base for the
mightiest empire that ever rose under
the vault of heaven. God has entrust-
ed to US the fairest acres of the world
He hath not dealt SO with any nation.
Consider what is meant by the union
Of all this territory under one form of
government Consider the significance
forty-five great States welded into one
republic. Take a map of Europe and
see how ii is cut up into kingdoms, en-
pires. principalities. See how diverse
they are in language, religion, customs,
politics What different ideas of Gov
eminent are there warning for suprem-
acy from the despotism of Russia to
the democracy of Switzerland Here we
are one people. We speak one language.
We give loyal and loving allegiance to
one flag. Here in this republic can be
seen the greatest moral miracle Of the
world, people gathered from all the
nations of the earth united into one
compact nationality, inspired by one
purpose. resolved at all cost to make
this Government of the people, by
% YNln or foy. ~,