The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-15
WAS GREAT LECTURE
Congressman DOIIiver at The
Auditorium.
MEANING OF EVENTS
Talks of What United States
Got Out of Spanish War

The lecture by Congressman ]. P. Dol
tiver at the Auditorium last might was
throughout the vigorous thought OF
craftsmanship. While the matter of the
lecture may not have been measured up
20 the canons Of those who looked for
epigrams and the richness of literary
quotation and setting, yet the rugged and
pringinal thinking, the forceful express
sion, the apt illustration, the lesson OF
past events, the earnest zeal, the LOFTY
patriotism, the eloquence one is accus-
toned 10 associate with the musings and
congress. rather than the lecture plat
form. compelled attention and carried con-
Viction to every enc. The lecture was
serious rather than entertaining, and be-
ing so, will last in impression 1t is not
often that Wichita has the opportunity
of hearing an address upon patriotic
theme so profound and inspiring as last
nights lecture.
The lecture was preceded by a program
of good music from Shaw's orchestra
Governor Stanley introduced Mr. Dolhver
In a short address in which he referred
TO the speaker as one Of the most brill
liant orators in America The audience
did not warm up particularly until Mr..
Dolliver got to more recent events in
American history. Then the applause
was lavish, and especially so in response
to reference to the events of the Span
Ish war, in which the speaker described
the effects OF that struggle on national
politics paying particular tribute to Cen
eral Joe Wheeler and Hamilton Fish.
Mr.. Deliver dealt with the meaning of
events rather than with mere annals. The
Declaration of Independence was not the
beginning of the Revolution, not the
formal declaration of an existing war,
but the outcome of d conviction which
mad been growing a long time. The
press, the pulpit and the bar had incul-
Gated the idea that rule by England was
q rule apart from us and therefore it
was, logically, without our consent and
wrong The lawyers played a great part
sn the Revolution. It was due to lawyers
like John Adams, who thought out the
reason for the weakness of the English
laws did not choose men to assist in
making laws, and therefore the situation
was wrong. 1t was not SO much this
specific taxation or that. Many Of the
complaints by colonists had been rectified
but back of all was principle, the right
10 government. History but shows
the preparation we have been going
Through to take part in the worlds af-
fairs. The declaration Of independence
was but the purpose of the people taking
shape.
The declaration does not mean equal en-
hOwments, but equal chances for all alike
For almost a century the Declaration
was construed by one section Of the
country to mean white men only. This
question was settled in the debate Of
Douglass with Lincoln. Thus the cOnvic- |
rion of the people was seteled against /
slavery before there came a Lincoln with |
9lis emancipation proclamation. Out Of |
The war came larger and truer meaning !
TO the Declaration. The Constitution,
which had formerly left statesmen in
doubt as to the perpetuity of the nation,
left them so no longer. The war left |
the nation indestrucuble.
he speaker told of his own position to |
delay the precipitation of the country 1
into a war with Spain over Cuba, Other |
counsels prevailed. The country was
right, and he was wrong The country |
went unselfshly into that war for human |
aty, giving men and money without con- !
sutling its own financial ends. This is
abe highest plane that ever nation made !
war.
The war has brought opportunities and |
responsibilities. Opportunities which /
demonstrate that there is something
more than mere wealth ana seIfshness in
this nation. The millionaire and the cow
hey messed and fought and died side by
side This opportunity has shown to the
world that this nation is a nation with
courage that its flag must be respected /
anywhere. We have a united country by
reason of the war. the blue fighting with
the grey; sectonalism has disappeared
Partisan politics has been made less bit
ter.
But we are told Of the burdens Of our
new situation. Be not alarmed. Burdens
are the mans by which our nation may
learn 70 stand erect in its manhood nre-
pared for its future Burdens with ma
lions as with men, are their advantage.
Start boy in life alone and he VIII sue
coed; give him money and he VIII prob-
ably never start in life at all.
Through the lecture ran the iFca that
there IS something higher than our tenn
poral selfish welfare and that something
is our country and its fag. Teach the
ooys and girls to look to the future; ex-
hort to confidence and faith in the ,ar-
manence of our institutions The 5lea
That rich men and rich mems children az.
running the nation is disproved by the
census. In New York every great ma,
YOU know. except three families drif.aa
there from the country. This is poor
mans country.
An Important Difference
To make il apparent TO thousands. wh,
think themselves i'll. that they are NOT az
flicted with any disease. but thar the svs-
SiDlnlN