The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24

custom by discussing from the standpoint
of partisan any current or acute issue
Which might more properly belong to the
hastings of political agitation or to the
forum of national debate.
What say tonight will be the words of
an American citizen who loves his country,
and pays humble tribute to dts greatness;
who seeks his inspiration from its eonse-
Grated flag, and who finds the essence of
patriotism in the purpose to put that flag
above his party and his God above them
both. 1 do not speak the creed of any par
ty, neither do 1 speak the voice of any sec
tdon. shall speak the faith of the man
with his hat in his hand as 1 read it in his
weafher-beaten face that day.
Born in the valleys of that old Palmetto
state whose first dissenting voice raised the
call for troops In 1861, / have lived since in
fancy In the hills of the Empire state of
the south-Georgfa-who at our country's
call for volunteers gave more troops for the
war with Spain, in proportion to her popu-
latton than any other state On all this
glorious union.
'"The time has been when eloquent mis-
sionaries of peace and reconciliation both
from the north and south have labored long
to heal the wounds a civil war inflicted in
the hearts of a common people, and they
do well. But now the patriots who sought
each others blood across the stars and
stripes have side by side shed their Hfes
blood in its defense, and thank God that
nOly nag n1ueS nOI one scar Wut1llH ilS
sacred folds.
1.-THE stirring stories of FL Caney and San
Juan, of Santiago and Manila bay, illustrate
that the loyalty of Vermont is but the 10y
| atty of Georgia, and that the sons of all
the states still cherish that love of our
country that strengthened the arms of
| their patriot sires in the days of seventy
six.
"There Is no more reason why northerner
| or southernorr should challenge comparative
| credit for diseharging the duties of loyal
citizenship than that son of Lancaster
should fall upon the neck of a son of the
| same generation of York, and over the
| faded roses of three centuries protest a
| deep loyalty to the emblem of Albion. 1t
| had at best but secondary charms for the
| ancestors of them both, but the
evolution of national pride it floats today
| in amplifed significance, an object of re-
| spect and reverence for every Englishman
| in whose veins flow either the blood of Lam
| caster or York.
1--WE are assembled tonight as American
citizens without regard to state, to section
or party. We meet in the shadow of what
is constructivey, If not technically, the
dawn of new century; and we go from
here, laying aside the cares of business and
the veXations of economic discussion, to
lose ourselves in the enjoyment of the bless
ed season in which the Master of all the
central figure. And after this we turn our
with renewed strength to discharge the OBJ
legations with which the all-wlse Great
has invested us. There are burdens to bear,
it is true, but what nation is without them,
or will be free from them, until the ideal
Arcadia DIS materialized-a prospect of
which even the new century does not give
promise
1.-THE span of century has marked the
extension of our national domain from the
Atlantic seaboard across the blue ranges of
the Alleghenies to the fertile valleys of the
Mississippi and its tribu tares; beyond the
naked plains of the west over the rugged
peaks of the Rockies, into the fruit-laden
cups of the Sierras-and yet we are not
half way to the distant extremity over
which the stars and stripes now float. Our
outposts still looking westward, peer
through the darkness of the ages and meet
at the day line the pickets of European
civilization carrying Christianity, cem-
merce and education where pagansm, cha
os and ignorance have held full sway.
I'm the Philippines $1,000 american SOL
oilers today are standing in the trenches
against the1onslaught on our national au-
thorty. 1t is needless now to recount the
why's and the wherefores of this attack
There is room for patriotic difference on
expansion of our boundary lines and the
subsequent control of territory thus ac-
-auired. But it should be enough for any
American citizen, whatever may be his po-
litical opinion, to know that our boys are
being killed, our flag is being assaied and
our authority is being defied.
'It seems to me there is one proposition
however, which should commend itself to
the judgment of every one who applies the
proper standard to his country's duty, and
who cannot look with indifference upon
assault upon its flag, from whomsoever it
may come, and whatever may be the con-
ditions prompting such attacks. Those who
regard the islands as an undesirable and a
burdensome asset should be accorded full
sincerity of motive and honesty of purpose
On the expression of their opinion; but in
the present state of affairs they Should
Join mono the less heartily in the patriotic
effort of those who hold a contrary view to
sustain the government in its declared
policy of removing the frebrand from the
hand of the revoluhontst before treating
with him concerning his future state
Expression has been made eigntfying a
wrilIingness-nay, more than that, a positive
desire3on the part of a small but eminent
Nv respectable and particularly demonstra-
tive few whioh secures dts enlistment with
out regard to party, not only to applaud
the reyerses encountered by our troops, but
IN hail with delight a development which
would drive them into the ocean. III L
Thought for a moment that Sucn expression
embodied anything like popular senti-
ment would feel concern for the honor OF
our country and the security of its govern
,nant Firm. however, in the faith of our
fathers and impressed with the view that
nutMc sentiment, when fully aroused, sell
dom goes wrong, prefer to take such a
manifestation as the morbid and aggravat-
cd sentiment of a hopeless and thoughtless
element. which no more measures the pa
trsotism of our masses than grain OF SAND
In the hour glass measures eternity.
"Personally I have thought and still
think, that had we coupled with the ratih-
cation of the peace treaty an assurance IN
the nature of the declaration made 1or Cu-
ban independence, there would have been
no serious disturbance in the Philippines.
and that we would now be in the peaceful
possession of the archipelago as we are In
control of Cuba. believe it is not too late, |
even now to make that broad declaration |
of our policy; assuring domestic control OF
internal affairs, combined with the guaran-
tee of independence whenever, IN one opin-
ion of this government the fillpinos are |
able to administer government which Will |
protect life. secure property, maintain law |
and order, and meet the demands of civil |