Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-30

shall have under our protection as weak
but actual portion of ourselves millions of
savages and mi-savages who are abso-
lutely ignorant of what human aspiration
and human freedom mean Within the
limits of our domain will swarm by
myriads those who can scarcely tell their
right hands from their left and whose
minds are sunk in the lethargy of idolatry
or the confusion of superstition. They
will be helpless to compete with our nine
tenth century intelligence and yet The
weakest among them will be entitled to
safeguard from oppression and wrong
and justice-social, commercial and po-
litical.
Further than all this-as though it were
not enough to ma ie us shrink into humil-
ity-our relations with all the govern
ments of the world will become increasing
ly sensitive We are no longer to be re-
garded as an American power but a world
power; and that will cause international
jealousies and suspicious over our every
act; for fear that we distub the nice ad-
justments of the international balances.
Over against all the fearful and exacting
task that lies before us, what shall we set
OF encouragement?
The brains OF those who think and the
hearts of those who love even our measure
Of human liberty, thrill with belief in our
destiny. Graded in remoteness, tended
by those who choose exile for freedom S
sake, nurtured by devout and devoted men
whose heads were endangered by the
pledge of their hands, sustained and main
tanned through trials from without and
almost volcanic descriptions from within,
1t is not for naught that our great branch
Of the race that loves human freedom has
been brought thus far. We believe that
our light is not now to be set on hill in
order to go out with greater humiliation
but in order to shine with greater clear
ness, because of the awakening sense that
we are as never before the observed of all
observers.
The very facing OF the unavoidable gives
courage. The moment Of supreme danger
makes the prepared mind cool, calculating
and lightning swift in its action. When
the great mass of the nations heart pull
safes with the feeling that a greater test of
American capacity is upon us than any to
which we have been hitherto subjected,
that future generations may rise to
denounee weakness and ineffectveuess,
should it be shown-then there will be a
movement among us that shall prepare
the great burden bearers of the new test
ing.
times produce great men, just as the needs
OF hive produce queen bee. The men
do not always rise from the group that
we expect. Our own selections would be
quite at variance with the men who step
forward: but they appear, and that is the
chief point. Would you have selected as a
surveyor of forest land gentleman
farmer who preached his LIQUOR for his
farm hands? just like the rest of them,
a colonel OF militia, to bear in his hands
the precious easket of American liberty
and to be the sponsor for a country whose
rapid development has been unexcelled in
the history of the world? Nay; know
you would not Would you have pos
sessed insight sufficient to see beneath the
uncouth figure OF horny handed rail
splitter, whose very attempt to wear the
pot hat OF civilization made him look still
more peculiar, and to discover in him the
poise of character that made him strong
to execute "A terrible task, prompt to for
give and anxious to be just? Nay, you
know you would not.
Let not shadow of doubt be in our
minds, though We have incomplete tasks
at home, that the wisdom will be lacking
for the task abroad. The very width of
our new task will make US all think more.
and more wisely, and therefore react upon
home conditions.