Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-07

volcanoes belched forth certain destruc-
ton into their lands. Twice did our
pressOr was crushed.
"But 1 have dwelt upon the develop
ment that was conceived in the last
war, and naturally I again look for the
responsibility Of the trust that comes
with it. You have fought the battle for
humsnity's cause: you have fought the
battle of national dignity and pride:
you have proclaimed to the world that
tyranny must not be, that liberty is ,he
goddess of government and that you
are her champion.
"Of the things that pertain to this
life there has certainly not come to us
greater blessing than the doctrine of
government. 1t rests upon the
presumption that the people Will be
honest with themselves. Unfortun-
ately, however, strange though it may
seem, This presumption does not al
ways hol6 true. Men in their greed
for wealth and their anxiety to excel
too often gain their ends at the ex-
pense of principle, and are too prone to
mistake that which is advantageous for
that which is honorable and that which
is expedient for that which is just. How
many people are there who, in their de-
sire to steer clear of politics, let the
reins of government, fall into the hands
of those who are, at the very outset,
rampant with the desire for abuse?
How many entertain for the shrewd
politician sort of mysterious regard
that crystalizes into q morbid sdmira-
tion and worship in proportion
as the dealings ana manipulstions of
that politician become blscker and
more treacherous and his chicanery
more acute? And that very thing,
what shall | call it t7-that demagogue
wOrship-is one of the greatest evils
that threatens our institutions today.
Let us wipe out this element in the
character and makeup of young Amer
lea. Let out your anathems on all such
men, and let us forever exterminste the
corrupt politician who, like thirsty
vampire, suckles out the life blood of
the nation.
The signs are promising and the
philosophy of recent events permits OF
! no fear lest this task be not well done.
1t has, moreover, revealed the richest of
treasures in the heart of the young
man of today: it has revealed in him a
desire and yearning that is genuine
and pure; and truthfulIy does one OF
our great philosophers say that the
true value of man is arrived at not by
= what he has, not by what he is, but by
the things that he desires. And of the
desires of which man is capable what
one could be better and nobler and
more beautiful than the unselfsh, char
liable and God-like desire of self-sacri-
flee to secure the freedom and better
ment of your fellow man.
"Ah, in the face of these truths have
We not reason to rejoice? Have not
our soldiers and our sailors acted these
ideals even to the height of sublimity !?
l Think of our boys riding the oceans
through hail storms of shells, or wad-
ing through stagnant marshes and
bsrbed wire on to tie battlements of
4 Santiago and Ell Caney, or sweltering in
the cesspoOls of mslarial camps, ready
to lay down their lives, and all TO Sc
cure to an alien people the prize of lib
erty and better and higher civiliza-
ton.
"But, as | said, the rule of life is
motion; and we must keep on improy
ing the things at home, growing better
!. and stronger in health and character
each day of our life so that other
peoples can not help but come to love
and admire and yearn for the princi-
pies that have made US great aud
happy. And when it comes time TO
hand our trust over and render account
to the next generation all our works
and deeds will be given unto a life of
immortality; the oppressed of the
eastern hemisphere will rise In revolt
and demand government IN imitation
; of our republic; the eastern monarchs
will envy the freedom of every Ameri-
can; all powers will rival for the favor
and friendly protection of America.
In every harbor of the world YOU will
tnen see the emblem of liberty flutter
from forest of mast-heads; in every
shore you will hear the beat of Ameri-
cas- morning drum; in every sea will
float the lordly, fearless battleships of
America; our grim and monstrous guns
will stare out from over the peaks of
Nicaragua and Alaska with open jaws,
eagerly searching the skies to eastward
and to westward, to nOrthwerd and to
southwark defying any enemy, aye the
whole world if that need be, and then
can our sons truly say with increased
devotion and fervor,
f Columbia! the gem of the ocean,
A world offers homage to thee.
: Work of Giant Fire Cracker.