The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-15

sibilities almost beyond conception. We
have seen our splendid republic within
the short space of one year make
stride forward that is to-day the Won
der of the civilized world. There are
misgivings abroad lest we should fail
to solve the great problem we have laid
out for our study; but it is only natural
that these misgivings should exist
Those who look with Jealous eyes upon
American advancement find it easy to
be apprehensive of our ability to sue
coed, and to fear for our future, for
their apprehensions and doubts, I inl-
agine, are born of their unexpressed-
perhaps unconscious-hope that we will
fall in short, it is quite reasonable to
think the wish is father to the thought.
The world recognizes in the struggle
now going on across the Pacific the
rising of a star which is likely to out
shine them all. They see to-day the
oldest and the youngest nations face to
face-the United States and China--one
drawing the feeble breath of old age
and impotent to raise a vigorous arm
against the aggression of those who
seem ready to tear her to pieces and
divide the spoils; the other flushed with
the blood of youth and strength and
just emerging from century of tri-
umphs in invention, commercial enter
prise, education and experience, which
have prepared her to be the leader Of
the nations and the master, if she will,
of the worlds destinies.
1.-The door of Eastern Asiatic trade
connot now be CLOSED, for the American
republic has her foot upon the TIRES
hold. The United States are begin
ming to understand the significance of
that phrase so common to foreign diplo-
matte policy-.a sphere of influence
and they are going to exercise that in
fluence. Strange peoples are to come
more into our life, and these peoples
are, by-and-by, going to render a YER
dict upon our trial. The greatest ques-
ton before the American Government
to-day is, How shall we deal with
Them? In France, liberty, equality
and fraternity have been but names.
1t will be the test of our success wheth-
er we can make them facts. I hope
and believe that our flag will continue
to have the meaning of its past wher-
ever it may wave-whether in the main
land of the United States or over its
islands Of the seas. I hope that it will
stand for an honest and just govern
ment, in which every individual, with
out distinction Of race or creed, will be
equal before the law, for only under
such banner can American citizens
hope to gain happiness and enduring
success The history of the world, L
think, shows that where the rights of
the humblest citizens are not equal be-
fore the law to the rights of the high
est the trend Of nation is surely
downward, and no one is safe. Rome
was once the master of the world, but
when she reached that point in her
career where her slaves constituted the
great majority of her population her
decline began and continued to her fail.
Russia was a nation of harbarians and
serfs She enancipated the latter and
opened path of progress for the form
er; but her present ruler is trying to
take a step forward and a step back
ward at the same time. Before I left
New York 1 received information that
the Car had by imperial decree abro-
gated the Constitution under which the
people of Finland have been allowed,
within the Russian Jurisdiction, to
maintain their special national charac-
ter and that he had turned down this
peoples petition for mercy. The re-
suit is that they are preparing to emil
crate to some other country.
Il at once wrote to our people in San
Francisco, for it seemed to me that here
lay a great opportunity for California,
which needs more citizens 1t has been
calculated in recent statistics that the
Russian and English tongues are to be
the ruling languages of the future, but
believe the language that we speak
here tonight VIII be the commercial
language of the world, for it is the Ian
guage which has created the best type
of government and of citizenship. To-
day we have tine spectacle of the Car
of Russia trying to thrill the universe
with a brilliant vision of great peace
congress which shall put an end to the
horrors and cruelties of war, and at
the sameltime turning a deaf ear to ap-
peals from representatives of more than
100000 of his people, who are to-day,
in consequence of ii, casting about for
new homes under an alien flag, where
they can enjoy The right to live lives Of
peace and happiness according to the
dictates of their conscience
France, as is well known, is declin-
ing in population and in real power.
She is a republic, but a republic in
uniform. Her wise men look with great
alarm upon Anglo-Saxon superiority,
and are asking anXiously what is the
reason for it.
The answer, I take it, lies largely in
her methods of education, which may
be called a process of forcing the young
in order to prepare them for the govern
ment service. The nation is bed-ridden
with officia.isn. As for Germany an
eminent French writer, speaking of the
failure Of the French school to fit men
for the struggle of life has said con-
temptuously: Germany need not rail at
France for her decline. We are only
preceding her. The German Emperor
himself has said in recent years, speak
ing of the German method of education:
Our schools have failed, from prac-
tical point of view-that is, they do not
form a man to succeed; and he urged
that the youth of the country ought to
be educated so as to fit them for the
struggles of life. And he says further:
Our schools have given US too many
learned men, They turn out more
learning than is good for the nation at
large and more than is good for the
Individual
Now, this is a preface to a remark
that l want to make. and that is that
regret one tendency in our country, adj
mirable as are her institutions. 1t
is almost heresy to say it, but do not
mind taking the responsibility, for that
is one of the things / am used to. / re-
fer to the increase of the higher edu-
cation for the masses. The Anglo
ell t,~i hit