The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-01
VISIONOF A GREAT. AMERICAN.
The day we Live in Forctold with
Pride by the Father OF Alaska, Will

The day we Live in Forctold with
Pride by the Father OF Alaska, Will
lam II. Seward.
From Mr.. Stewards speech in the SEN
ate upon the death OF Henry Clay:
Among gcniuses SO lofty as these
webster. Calhoun. John Quincy
Adams, Jackson, Monroe, Madison and
Jcfferson) Henry Clay bore n part in
regulating the constitutional freedom
Of political debate. establishing that
long-contested and most important line
Which divided the sovereignty OF the
several states from that OF the states
confcderated: asserting the right OF
neutrality, and TIndlcatlns It by war
against Great Britain. when that just,
but extreme measure became neces-
sary. adjusting the terms upon which
that 'perilous. yet honorable contest,
was brought to a peaceful close, per-
fectinS the army, and the naval ana
national fortifications; settling the tis-
cal and financial policy Of the govern
hent In more than one crisis OF appar-
city threatened revolution asserting
and calling into exercise the powers
OF the government for making and i'm
proving internal communications be-
tween the states: arousing and encour-
aging the Spanish-American colonies
on this continent to throw or the for
eign yoke, and to organize governments
on principles congenial to our own. and
thus creating external bulwarks Tor
our own national defence; esta bllsbing
equal and impartial peace and amity
With all existing maritime powers; ana
extending the constitutional orsaniZa-
ton OF government over vast regions.
all secured In his lifetime by purchase
or by conquest, whereby the pillars OF
the republic have been moved from the
banks of the St. Nlary's to the borders
OF the Rio Grande, and from the mar
gin OF the Mississippi to the Pacific
coast.
80 "The Union exists in absolute
integrity. and the republic in complete
and triumphant development. With
out having relinquished any part of
their individuality. the States have
more than doubled already. and are
increasing in numbers and growing in
political strength and expansion more
rapidly than ever before. Without hav-
irg absorbed any state. or having even
crcroached on any state, the confeder-
brace all the new members who have
come: and now. with capacity for fur
Their and indefinite enlargement, has be-
come fixed. enduring and perpetual. AL
though it was doubted only half q CEN
fury ago whether our political system
could be guaranty for the peace and
happiness of society, 1t stands now con-
fessed by the world the form of gov
eminent not ONLY most adapted TO en-
pire. but also most consenial with the
constitution OF human nature.
When we consider that the nation
has been conducted to this haven. not
only through stormy seas. but alto
gether also without course and with
out star; and when we consider.
moreover, the sum of happiness that
has already been enjoyed by the Amer
lean people. and still more the inhu-
c2ce which the great achievement Is
cSertinS on the advancement and amel-
iora;'nn of the condition Of mankind.
We sre at once that it might have sat
isfed the highest ambition to have
been. no matter how humbly. concern
cd In so great q transaction.
Certainly. sir, no one will assert that
Henry Clay in that transaction per-
formed an obscure, or even a common
part. On the contrary. from the day
he entered the public service until that
on which he passed the gates of death
he was never follower. but always
leader.
We are rising to another
and more sublime stage ofsnational pro-
s:css-that OF expanding wealth and
rapid territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Our institutions throw broad shad-
ow across the ST. Lawrence. and,
stretching beyond the valley OF Mexico.
reach even to the plains Of Central
America. while the Sandwich Islands
and the shores OF China recognize their
renova;inS influence. Wherever that in
i'aencc Isl felt. z desire for protection
unde. those institutions is awakened.
'EIpansion seems 10 be regulated not
by any difficulties of resistance, but by
tie moderation which results from our
own internal constitution. No one
knows how rapidly that restraint may
give away. Who can tell how far or
how fast it ought to yield? Commerce
has brought the ancient continents near
TO US. and created possibilities for new
positionS-perhaps connections or colo
MES there-and with the trade and
friendship OF the elder nations. their
conflicts and collisions are brought to
our doors and our hearts. Our SYM
pathy kindles, or Indifference eXtin-
gUishes the fires Of freedom In foreign
lands. Before we shall be fully con-
scious that 4 change is going on in
Europe. we may find ourselves once
more divided by that eternal line Of
separation that leaves on one side those
OF our poor citizens who obey the I'M
pulses of sympathy. while on the other
are found only those who submit only
TO the counsels OF prudence. Even pru-
dence will soon be required to decide
whether distant regions, east and west.
shall come under our own protection,
or be left to aggrandize Il rapidly
spreading domain Of hostile despot-
ism"