The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-16

olEeT pdftS oI tue country nave Adu
their public thanksgivings and iubilees
in honor of the historic. events of the
past year, but nowhere has there been
greater rejoicing than among the people
here-the gathered representatives of the
South. ! congratulate them upon their
accurate observation OF events. which
them the privilege of being the first to
celebrate the signing of the treaty of
peace by the American and Spanish
commissioners. Under hostile fire on Il
foreign soil, fighting in a common cause,
the memory of old disagreements has
faded into history. From camp and
campaign there come the magic healing
which has closed ancient wounds and eff
faced their scars. For this result every
American patriot will forever rejoice. 1t
is no small indemnity for the cost OF
war.
This Government has proved itself in
yincible III the recent war and out of it
has come q nation which will remain
indiyisible forevermore. No worthier
contributions have been made i'll patriot
ism and in men than by the people Of
these Southern States. When at last
the opportunity came they We're eager
TO, meet it and with promptness respond.
ed to the call of the country. Intrusted
with the able leadership of meI dear to
them, who had marched with their fath-
ers under another flag, now fighting un-
der the old flag again they have glorious
ly helped to defend its spotless folds and
added new lustre to its shining stars.
! That flag has been planted in two heniis-
pheres and there it remains the symbol
of liberty and law, of peace and progress.
Who will withdraw from the people over
whom it floats its protecting folds? Who
will haul it down? 80
''The victory we celebrate is not that
of a ruler, a President, or Il Congress-
but of the people. The army whose va
Tor we admire and the navy whose
achievements we applauded were not
assembled by draft or conscription, but
from voluntary enlistment. The heroes
came from civil as well as military life.
Trained and unframed soldiers wrought
our triumphs.
THE peace we have won is not a sell
fish truce of arms, but one whose condi-
tions presage good to humanity. The
domains secured under the treaty yet
to us not as the result of crusade OF
conquest. but as the reward Of
faithful and fearless response to the call
of conscience, which could not be dis
regarded by u liberty-loving and Chris
tian people.
1--WE have so borne ourselves in the
conflict and in our intercourse with the
powers of the world as 10 escape com
IL. e L
sal confidence Of our high purpose and
unselfsh sacrifices for struggling peo-
pies.
'Fhe task is not fulfilled. Indeed, it is
only just begun. The most serious work
is still before us, and every energy Of
heart and mind must be bent and the
impulses of partisanship subordnated to
its faithful execution. This is the time
for earnest, not faint hearts.
New occasions teach new duties
ITO this nation and every nation there
come formative periods in its life and
history. New conditions can be met
only by new methods. Meeting these
conditions hopefully and facing them
brayely and wisely is to be the mightiest
test of American virtue and capacity.
Without abandoning past limitations,
tfdalIIOHS ana principles, but by meeting
present opportunities and obligations, we
shall show ourselves worthy of the great
trust which civilization has imposed upon
us.
'At 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 fail
ed to lend a helping hand TO establish
and uphold and. I believe, never will fail.
The glories of the war cannot be dim
med, but the result will be incomplete
and unworthy Of us unless supplemented
by civil victories, harder possibly to win,
i'll their way no less Indispensable.
I'VE will have our difficulties and our
eembarrassments. They follow all vic
tories and accompany all great response
bilities They are inseparable from
every great movement or reform. But
American capacity has triumped over
all in the past. Doubts have in the end
vanished Apparent dangers have been