Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-30

unacuuainted with and unit for self
government, and great problem is
how to bring these unfit MASSES into
helpful addition to American life. In
the South we have the rapidly in
creasing oolored population, brought
here as slaves, emancipated through
the most awful drain of life and money,
elevated in Ignorance to citizenship,
and every State south of Mason and
Dixon's line today trembles before the
unsolved question of preserving intel
ligent self-government and at the same
time guaranteeing rights of citizenship
to an ignorant mass. With these
problems resting upon the burdening
the nation is it wise to throw upon it
the awful problem of dealing with
| millions far more incapable of and
unused to self-government? Can we
expect to find safety in adding to our
difficulties? Can we relieve against
one problem of dealing with ignorant
and unfit masses here by adding mil
lions more to the problem? This is no
| trifling question and is not answered
by any eush about duty and destiny;
in fact, all this talk about destiny is
wearisome. We make our own destiny.
We are not the victims, but the
masters, OF fate, and to attempt to un-
load upon the Almighty responsibility
| for that which we choose to do is not
only an insult to Him, but to ordinary
human intelligence. We are told we
have become so great and powerful
that the world needs us, but what the
world most needs is not tho touch of
our power, but the blessings of our
example. 1t needs the bright example
of free people not disturbed by any
illusions of territorial acquisition, of
pecuniary gain or military glory, but
content with their possessions and
striving through all the abilities,
activities and industries of their wisest
and most earnest to make the life of
each individual citizen happier, better
and more content.
My friend, two visions rise before
me: One of a nation growing in popu-
lation, riches and strength; reaching
out the strong hand to bring within
its dominion weaker and distant races
and lands; holding them by force for
the rapid wealth they may bring-with
perhaps the occasional glory, success
and sacrifice of war; wondrously
luxurious life into which the for
tunate few shall enter; an accumulation
of magnificence which for term will
charm and dazzle, and then the shadow
of the awful question whether human
nature has changed, and the old law,
that history repeats itself, has lost its
force, whether the ascending splendoi
of imperial power is to be followed by
tho descending gloom of luxury, decay
and ruin. The other of nation, where
,, the spirit Of the Pilgrim and the
Huguenot remains the living and con-
trolling force. affirming that the
Declaration of Independence, the fare
we'll address of the Father of his
Country and the Monroe Doctrine
shall never pass into innocuous
desuetude; devoting its energies t.
the development of the inexhaustibl,
! resources of its great continental ter
ritory solving the problem of universal
personal and political liberty, Of I
government by the consent of thu
D governed, where no king, no class ant
no race rules, but each individual ha
d equal voice and power in the control o
all, where wealth comes only as tn
) compensation for honest toll of hant
! or brain, where public service
= private duty; a nation whose suprem
! value to the world lies not IN it
2 power. but IN its unfailing loyalty t
Q the high ideals Of its youth, its foreve
lifting its strong hand, not to govern
d but only to protect the weak; and thu
$ the bright shining which brighten
more and more into the fadeless eternt
u day.
! Brethren, Ebal and Gerizim are be
u fore us. Might and right stand O
. either side with their great appeals.
@ To every man and nation comes the momer
to decide.
i In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, IL
: the good or evil side;
70 Careless seemst the greater Avenger; history
Vi pages but record
70 One deatIi-grapple in the darkness 'twixt Of
70 systems and the Word;
Ia Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong TO
L, ever on the throne.
y Yet that scaffod sways the future, and, b
~ hind the dim unknown,
of Standeth God within the shadow, keepir
10 watch above His own.
% We see dimly in the Present what is sma
y and what is great,
Oh Slow Of faith how weak an arm may tur
Us the iron helm of fate, -....
In But the soul is still oracular; and amid u
10 markets din,
r List the ominous stern whisper from Il
of Delphic cave within,
= 'fThey enslave their children's children wi
make compromise with SIM"
+ Paraphrasing in part the invocatic
!, which attends the opening of I'll
Supreme Court, God save the Unite
Il States Of America and keep them fro
~ the road so often travelled by nation
Il. of increasing territory, accumulatIr
ho dominion, rapidly and easily acquir,
nj wealth, luxurious splendor. grown
NO separation between the poor and II
h, rich, presaging decay and death; al
N. may we always hear the solemn pray
nj of Abraham Lincoln, borne upward
ds Heaven from the consecrated field
Ii. Gettysburg upon the mighty volume
ar. patriotic incense which ever rises fro
bo that sacred spot, that government
Of and by and for the people may new
TO perish from the earth.
TO God of our fathers known of old,
ral Lord of our far-fung battle line,
H., Beneath whose awful hand we hold
y" Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
we Lest we forget-lest we forget.
re Far-called our navies melt away,
I've On dune and headands sinks the fire
no Lo! all our pomp of yesterday
on Is one with Nineveh and Tyre
re, Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
. Lest we forget-lest we forget
If. drunk with sight of power, we loos,
HI Wildtongues that have not Thee in aw
Such Boosting as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law
fl..I e At