The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-05-12

an the great progress ana advancement
OF the country including the armed con
| test of lass year, and which | am GLAD
To say now appears to pe happily ended
no sec,ion of our land has been more
devoted 90 the cause of our country
| and TO upholding it's honor and prestige
than the people of the Southern states.
"Those upon which rests the cares.
duties and burdens or government have
encountered no endorsements or com
plants or criticism of the Southern
STATES. None of their volunteer regi-
ments have asked 10 be- returned from
fields OF active duty, ana when the re-
quest has come from governors OF 9TH
er commonwealth, volunteers from the
southern states have promptly begged
for the honor on filling their places IN
the front of battle
"The position in which the American
people find themselves today was not
sought by them but is the logical result
Of conditions thsust upon the country by
a course Of events beyond our control.
a. IT be said that they were foreseen
and predicted, it must also be admitted
that no power in our grasp could stay
the tide, and now We stand before the
gaze Of civilization confronted by grave
responsibilities. The supreme test Of
American institutions ls involved, and
the American system Of government Is
on trial.
1T IS said by some that while Eng
land, Holland. France, and other nations
may extend a protecting hand TO peo-
pies ana lands separated from the home
country benefitting both the protector
and the protected, that We shall be ut
tcrly unable to accomplish such pur-
pose. To admit this proposition Is 10 ad-
NIT that our system Of government IS
lacking In the essential qualifications
which every sovereign power should
possess. In one year We have risen to
the first place in the family OF nations
To make the smallest retrograde step,
would be at the expense OF tho prestige
We have won. To return to the starting
point Of a year ago would be to lose
what !t would take a century 20 regain.
In answer to those who say that the
policy Of our forefathers forbade the eN-
tension of territory, I would point 70
Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana pur-
chase, 10 Monroe and Florida, Polk and
Texas. and the vast territory acquired
Ath'AN -fA'AAHnf tuA lAAti ~ AiAAitM 9NiAn-
son ana the acquisition Of Alaska.
1T there be any who contend that
we should not permit the island of Cuba
10 become part Of the United states,
ana iis people Al they desire IT, 20 enjoy
an the rights OF American citizenship. 7
have only TO point TO the official decia-
ration of our great statesmen commenc
ing with Thomas Jefferson and running
through almost the entire period Of the
first half of this century. During all
that period our honored statesmen and
Presidents from Buchanan laid down In |
their messages and state documents
the imperative necessity or making the
Pearl OF tho Antilles part OF the TN
red States.
In concluding his address, General
Wheeler paid a glowing tribute TO the
women OF the South and the part they
bore in tho war and the dark years
which followed, saying;
Although some OF those blessed wo-
men are sim with us. many more have
ong since gone 10 their reward but
hey have rocked in cradles the pranci-
'les. minds and characters which are 70
control the futures OF their beloved land.
rhe thought which ] wish 10 impress
lpon the minds OF the generation TO
whom We must soon entrust sacred
'harge for the confederate soldiers
ace is nearly run, and the Injunction
yhioh I would ieave with your sons and
laughters--for the daughters have the
loblest part-is this;
"seo 10 H. that the women OF the con-i
edoracy have IN iheir posterity mon-