The Van Buren press., 1899-04-01
Mr.. BrJ. MS WashIng.on's Birthday
Address.

The Washington, D. C. Sentinel.
publishes the following extract from an
address delivered on the 22d February
in the city of Washington by W. j.
Bryan The Sentinel, says:
His ideas on expansion and increase
of the standing army are shared by the
whole German American press, Demo
cratic and Republican.
He tore the idol of the Anglo Sax
on civilization down and showed that
American civilization was the one to
which we pretend to belong. We pub
| lish that part of the speech in full, be-
cause, as he told us afterwards, he
wanted to show to all the other national
tiles constituting the American people
not coming from Great Britain that not
the Anglo Saxon but the American
standard was the highest of eiyiliza-
tions We call our German, Irish and
Scandinavian colleagues attention to
this subject.
"Much has been said, said Mr..
Bryan, "of late about Anglo Saxon
civilization. Far be it from me to de-
tract from the service rendered TO the
world by the sturdy race whose Ian
guage we speak. The union of the
Anglo and the Saxon formed new and
valuable type, but the process of race
evolution was not completed when the
Anglo and the Saxon met. A still later
type has appeared which is superior to
any which has existed heretofore. and
with this new type will come a higher
civilization than any which has preced-
ed it. Great has been the Greek, the
Latin, the Slav the Celt, the Teuton,
and the Anglo. Saxon. but greater than
any of these is the American, in whom
are blended the virtues of them all.
''Civil and religious liberty, univer
sal education, and the right to partici- !
pate, directly or through represent /
atives chosen by themselves, in all the
affairs of government-theseg give to the
American citizen an opportunity and an |
inspiration which can be found nowhere
else.
standing upon the vantage ground
already gained, the American people
can aspire to grander destiny than has
opened before any other race. Anglo
Saxon civilization has taught the indi-
vidual to protect his own rights. Ameri-
can civilization will teach him to re-
spect the rights of others.
"Anglo-Saxon civilization has taught
the individual to take care of himself.
American civilization. proclaiming the
equality of all before the law, will teach
him that his own highest good requires
the observance of the commandment
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self
'Anglo Saxon civilization has, by
force of arms, applied the art of gov
srnment to other races for the benefit
If Anglo Saxons. American civiliza
ion will, by the influence of example,
excite in other races desire for self
government and a determination To Sc
,ure it.
anglo Saxon civilization has car
red its flag to every cline. and defend |
I'd it with forts and garrisons. Ameri |
,an civilization will imprint its flag |
upon the hearts of all who long for |
freedom.
To American civilization all hail
Tines noolesi offspring is the last
The forcible annexation of the Philip
pine Islands is not necessary to make
The { nif@d States a world power For
over ten decades our nation has been
world power During its brief exist
.enee i has exerted upon the human
race an iuHaenc5 more potent for good
than al the other nations Of the earth
combined, and il has exerted thai in
1ueucs without sword or Gatling gun
Mexico and the republics Of Central and
south America testify 10 the benign in
. s.r-~ ..~tsfa
and AAia give evidence Of the working
of the leagen Of self government. In
the growth of Democracy We observe
the triumphant march of an idea--an
IDEA that would be weighted down
rather than aired by the arnor and
weapons profsred by Imperialism.