The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-10

dence which was with us in the begin
ming has continued to the nation His
great interpOSitiOn. When unhappily,
we have been engaged in war, He has
given US the victory. Fortunate, in
deed, that it can be said we have had
no clash of arms which has ended in de-
feat, and no responsibility resulting
from war is tainted with dishonOr. In
peace we have been Signally blessed,
and our progress has gone on unchec-
ked and ever-increasing in the inter
Vening 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 con-
tributed their good blood to make the
nation what it is.
has grown to upwards of 60, 900, 600 in $780,
and our estimated population today made
by the governors of the states is "a. 500, ,231.
We have gone from thirteen states to
forty-hve. We have annexed every var
1ety OF territory, from the coral reefs and
cOcoanut groves of Key West to the icy
skirting the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, the
Pacific and the Arctic and the islands of
the Pacific and Caribbean sea and We
nave extended still further our jurisdic-
ton to the far away islands in the Pacific.
Our territory is more than four times
peace was signed in 1913. Our industrial
growth has been even more phenomenal
than that OF population or territory. Our
wealth estimated in 1890 at 1852, 00o. .000 has
advanced to sixty-five billion dollars
Education has not been overlooked.
The mental and moral equipment of the
youth on WnOIn Will IN the future rest the
responsibilities of government have had
the unceasing and generous care of the
state and the nation. We expended in
1S97-98 in public education open to all
1902. lis, ,54S: for secondary education S23,
474. .6S3; and for higher education for the
same period $50 307. .902. The number of
pupils enrolled in public schools in 1896
81 was ia, 632, 49, or more than 20 per cent
strength to the republic2
Our national credit often tried has been
ever upheld. 1t has no superior and no
stain the United States has never re-
creditors or to humanity. 1t will not be-
gin to do either. 1t never struck a blow
except for civilization and never struck
HAS the pyramid lost any of its
strength2 Has the republic lost any of its
yirility? las the self-governing principle
menace to our stability and duration-2
These questions bring but one answer.
The republic is Sturdier and stronger
than ever before Government by the peO-
the flag is more universal than when the
union was formed. Our steps have been
forward, not backward. From Plymouth
rock to the Philippines the grand trf-
unphant march Of human liberty has
never paused.
Fraternity and union are deeply i'm
Oedded 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 memory. North.
south, east and west were never so weld
ed together, and while they may differ
about internal policies, they are all for
the union ana maintenance of the integ-
in the hearts of the people? Witness the
I0O,UVO men Sprlng1ng to arms and in thirty
days organized into regiments for the
Spanish war and million more ready to