The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-01
Governor Mounts Address.

Governor Mounts Address.
The feature was the address by Governor
James A. Mount or The Nations Destiny
The Citizens Duty" The Governor SPOKE in
part as follows:
w are living in an age marvellous for
its privileges and it's responsibilities. This
country affords unbounded opportunities
for achievements and illImitable fields for
activities. Ii is a grand privilege to live IN
this age and in this land. This Nation has
become a dominant factor in the worlds
destiny. Its resources and its growth are
unmatched. The guiding hand of Jehovah
may be seen in our country's history. The
past ~foreshadows our future destiny. He
lacks faith in divine purpose, and in the
mission ordained for tins country, who
cannot discern IN the logic OF events the
unfolding OF a purpose and plan above hu-
man kin. he VINO cannot interpret an om-
nipotent hand guiding, an omnlscient wis
oom planning for this Nation a transcendent
destiny, cannot read the written past nor
understand the active present, nor have
faith in the promising future they portend.
God chose for the planting of this Nation
the germ of liberty made prolific through
the wrongs of oppression. Men and women
who had been denied civil and religious
liberty were willing to face danger, endure
privation, and. if need be, sacrifice life, in
the effort to create homes consecrated to
freedom. In the wildS of a new world
they nurtured their posterity amid scenes
of self-denial, toll and peril; into the iron
warp of these natures were woven the
threads of steel which made their char
acters ~infiexible, unconquerable. They were
long in training for the night OF agony
that was to give birth to freedom. Seven
long years of suffering and heroic struggle.
together with the priceless blood of pa
triots, measure the purchase price of our
liberties. They established a government
upon the principle that all men are created
free and equal; that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
Into the Constitution of this free gov
einment was incorporated a provision rec
ognizing human slavery. Here human wis
dom, forgetting human rights and neglect
ing the eternal principles of justice, incor-
porated into the Constitution a provision
inconsistent with the Declaration OF In
dependence and incompatible with the spir-
ii of justice. Out of this mistake grew an
antagoniSm and arose a controversy that
could not be adjusted. Over this question
of human slavery the House was divided
against ITSELF and the "irrepressible con-
fiict' arose. Compromise for a while stayed
the impending crisis but could not re-
move the cause. To statesmen 1t seemed
that Liberty's star of hope was waning,
and that the experiment of self-govern-
ment would be subjected TO the severeSt or
deal-that of civil war. The most saga
cious could not penetrate the dark night of
war and see beyond the dawn of the COM
ing day of peace and unity and prosperity
in this Nation. The threatened conflict
burst upon the country in all Its pent-up
fury. over the question of slavery arose
secession and civil war! Before the throne
of the God of the universe, on a thousand
bloody battlefields, amid the awful din Of
war, for four long years was this question
contested. God saw and heard, and gave
.-;otArxv fa tha nricoinlzc fhnt would npn-
mote the divine purpose. The means that
the South employed for the perpetuationo or
slavery were overruled for its destruction.
The union of the Nation was preserved.
and the evil of slavery eliminated. The
South accepted the verdict, and to-day we
rejoice in a united, harmonious. prosperous
people. Mans wisdom could not see the
end at the beginning OF the war. Jehovah
led us In His own way, teaching us that
he will chastise our iniquity with divine
retribution, and purify US from oppression
with blood. Then. sympathy for the down.
trodden and oppressed of Cuba led to re-
monstrance with Spain, and finally to the
war for humanity.
MAY NOT BE STUNNED.
again we see omniscient wisdom guiding
the country's destiny and making the cause
of the oppressed and the efforts of this Ma
ton to mitigate their suffering the healing
balm of Cancellation and the u~nifying ONT
lnGUl tldl q OOullu III AOSCI III tHC
once discovered States. From the North
and the South the battalions rallied under
the flag OF the Union and carried the BAN
ner of freedom to victory against the foes
Of liberty. This ensign of liberty waves
over new territory. Ii now floats to the
breezes in the Antarctic, in the Mid-Paciiic.
and is bathed in the sunlight of the Orient.
The results of a wa we could not hon
orably avoid have imposed reSponSibilitle
We dare not shun. This Nation, under God,
is being directed into enlarged duties and
grave responsibilities. In the dark night OF
civil war We could not understand, we
could not with human vision penetrate the
veil. but in the light of subsequent events
we do know that Omnipotent Power was
above the clouds and darkness. and from
His throne of justice and judgment He was
controlling our destiny. Who could nave
been made TO believe in 1861, when war was
imminent and Cancellation and union I'M
possible, that in the year s3s-thirty-nin
years later-we would be a united Nation,
with the cause of discord completely re-
moved? With our aggregate wealth then
! SIG. 0O, 900, COO, who would have dared predict
that in 1929 our wealth would be SS2.0OO.Wn
0G0? Who could have been persuaded that
in three decades following that war the
Increase of wealth in the United States
would excel the aggregate wealth. OF the
United Kingdom of Great Britain by 3'UO,'
100000? and yet such are the results at
| had been made at the close or the war ina
in 1896 the food product OF the United States
would be 100. 10000 tons, or 100000 tons more
than the combined product OF the United
Kingdom of Great Britain, France, Ger
many, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Holland
such prophecy would have been held up &c
ridicule and yet at Page 6I3 of MuihaiIs
Dictionary of Statistics for 1896 we mo TINS
estimate presented. The manuractuie
products OF the United States IN lAs
amounted, according TO the same STANDARD
authority. 20 80. 500. 600. 600. and the products
f! OF the United Kingdom OF Great Britain &c
$3.50. 000. 900. In 1896 the aggregate wealth oi
Austria, Italy, Spain. Portugal, Scandina,
! via, Holland. Belgium. Switzerland ano