The record-union., 1899-10-10

ter to Brazil Charles Page Bryan, Jap
anese Minister Jutaro Kemura, Senator
William E. Mason, Captain Joseph y.
Coghlan, Sir Alphonse Pelletier, Sena-
| tor William B. Allison, Senator James
| NJ. Mcmillan, Senator Samuel D. Nc
Fery, Commissioner General Ferdinand
| w. Peck, and General Chambers Me-
| Ibben.
| The material part of the banquet OCT
cupied two hours. and it was nearly
| 10 O'Clock when Mr.. Stone raped for
| order and brought the intellectual por-
| tion of the program to the front in
brief address.
Governor Tanner then in a short ad-
dress, welcomed the visitors on behalf
of the State of Illinois.
| After he had concluded Mayor Car
ter II. Harrison of Chicago, and Sena-
tor Shelby NJ. Cullom of Illinois were
| introduced in succession by Mr.. Stone,
| the former extending to the visitors the
welcome of the people of the city Of
Chicago, and the latter a greeting on
| behalf of the Federal officials of Illi-
| nois
| The banquet guests knew by their
programs who came next on the list Of
speakers, and when the postmaster
arose to introduce the President, who
responded to the sentiment of 'The
Nation" he was greeted with cheers
which for time prevented his voice
being heard. When quiet had been re-
stored Mr.. Stone introduced President
! Mckinley, who spoke as follows:
Mr.. ToaStmaSter and Gentlemen: L
| am glad to join you in extending sim
cere welcome to the distinguished
| statesmen and diplomatists who rep
resent the great countries adjoining us
on the south and the north. We re-
| joice in their prosperity, and we wish
them godspeed in the pathway of pro-
gress they are so energetically and sue
cessfully pursuing.
"On the reverse side of the great seal
of the United States, authorized by
| Congress June 20. 1882, and adopted as
| the seal of the United States of Ameri-
ca after its formation under the Fed
eral Constitution, is the pyramid sig
nifying strength and duration. The eye
over it and the motto allude to the
| many signal interpretations of Provi-
dence in favor of the American cause.
The date underneath, 1916, is that of
| the Declaration of independence, and
the words under it signify the begin
ming of a new American era which COM
mences from that date.
1T is impossible to trace our history
| since without feeling that the Provi-
/ dence which was with US in the be-
! ginning has continued to the nation
| his gracious interpoSition. When, un-
happily, we have been engaged in war,
| He has given us the victory. Fortu-
/ nate indeed that it can be said we have
| had no clash of arms which has ended
| in defeat, and no responsibility result
ing from war is tainted with dishonor.
In peace we have been signaIly blessed,
and our progress has gone on uncheck-
ed and ever increasing in the interven-
| ing years.
In boundless wealth of soil and mine
and forest nature has favored us, while
all races of men of every nationality
| and climate have contributed their good
blood to make the nation what it is.
From 3.929,214 in 1870, our pooula-
ton has grown to upward of 62,000,000
| in 1890, and our estimated population
to-day made by the Governors of the
States is 77,S03.2 .231. We have gone
from thirteen States to forty-five We
have annexed every variety of terri
tory, from the coral reefs and cocoanut
| groves of Key West to the icy regions
of Northern Alaska-territory skirting
| the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, the
Pacific and the Arctic and the islands
| of the Pacific and CaTibean Sea, and
we have extended still further our jur-
isdiction to the far away islands in the
Pacific. Our territory is more than
four times as large as it was when the
treaty of peace was signed in 1888
Our industrial growth has been even
more phenomenal than that of popu-
lation or territory. Our wealth, esti-
mated in 1870 at $462, 900, 900, has ad-
vanced to S45,000,00000
Education has not been overlooked.
The mental and moral equipment of
the youth, on whom will in the future
rest responsibilities of government,
have had the unceasing and generous
care of the State and the nation. We
expended in 1S9T-9S in public educa-
| tion, open to all, 5000, 115, ,54S; for sec
ondary education, So, ,474, ,6S3: and for
higher education for the same period.
$30,3O4,9O2. The number of pupils en-
rolled in public schools in 1S96-97 was
1862, ,492, or more than % per cent.
of our population. Is not this a pillar
| of strength to the republic?
Our credit, often tried, has been ever
upheld. 1t has no superior and no
stain. The United States has never
repudiated a national obligation. either
to it's creditors or to humanity 1t will
not now begin to do either 1t never
struck a blow except for civilization.
and never struck it's colors.
Has the pyramid lost any of it's
| strength? Has the republic lost any
of its virility? Has the self governing
principle been weakened? Is there
any present menace TO our stability
| and duration? These questions bring
but one answer. The republic is stur-
dier and stronger than ever before.
Government by the people has been ad-
vanced. Freedom under the flag is
more universal than when the union
was formed. Our steps have been for
ward, not backward. From Plymouth
Rock to the Philippines the grand tr:-
umphant march of humanity has never
| paused
Fraternity and union are deeply i'm
bedded in the hearts of the American
| people. For half a century before the
civil war disunion was the fear of men
OF all sections. That word has gone
out of the American vocabulary. 1t is
| spoken now only as historical MEM
ory. North, South, East and West
We're never so welded topatbar 90