The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-10

coAeent of some of them?
Does Connecticut. who voted the 9TH
sr way in 1875 and in 1881, vote that
way now?
Are the thought and the spirit to
prevail, and the Interpretation we ale
10 give the great document that which
secures liberty to the people OF me
United States, or to people everywhere
where the flag floats?
Are you to take the spirit which MAX
eth life, or the letter which ldlleth in
this hour of great national temptation
in one of the greatest actions ard
greatest eras in all history?
abraham Lincoln had some sensible
ideas on this matter, as we used to
think We have heard som ething about
the flag in modern times. Abraham
EIncoln was invited one day to raise
the banner over the old Independence
Hall in Philadelphia, on that memoir
able journey from his home - the ua
fional capital When we think of what
followed, the words he uttered there
seem prophetic. They rival in grandeur
the Immortal words at Gettysburg We
are asked what else we can do with
the Philippine islands, unless we are
to Sacrifice the immortal principles of
the Declaration. That answer can be
easily and satisfactorily given. But il
1T could not be given, we know very
well what Abraham Lincoln would have
said who declared on his way to the
seat Of government, that he would not
save the Union itself at the sacrifice
ofAfhe Declaration of Independence.
All the political sentiments I entertain
have been drawn. so far as | have been
able to draw them, from the sentiments
which originated in and were given to the
world from this hall. | nave never had
IA Feeling politically that did not spring
in he
Deplaration of Independence. Now,
my friends, can this country be saved
upon this basis? If it can, l shall consider
myself one of the happiest men in the
world If | can help to save it. If it can
not be saved upon that principle, it will
be, truly awful. But if this country can
not be saved without giving up that prn-
ciple l was about to say | would rather
re assassinated on this spot than sur
render it.
Then, after adding that he had not ex-
{pected to say word, he repeated the
eonsecration of his life, exclaiming-
have said nothing but what I am
willing to live by and, if it be the pleas
ure Of Almighty God to die by.
When you raise the flag over the
Philippine Islands as an emblem of
dominion and acquisition you take it
down from Independence Hall
Let me read from Lincoln once more.
In his great Lewiston speech of Au-
gust, 1858, he read aloud the preamble
of the Declaration Of Independence,
and added this:
This was their majestic Interpretation
Of the economy of the universe. This was
their lofty. and wise and noble under
standing of the justice of the Creator, to
his creatures Yes, gentlemen, to all his
creatures, to the whole great family of
man; They grasped not only the
whole race of man then living, but they
reached forward and seized upon the fur
thest posterity. They erected beacon to
guide their children and their children's
children, and the countless myriads who
should inhabit the earth in other ages.
Wise Statesmen as they were, they knew
the tendency of prosperity to breed ty
rants. and so they established these great
eelf-eyident truths, that when in the dis
fant future some man, some faction,
some interest, should set up the doctrine
I1at none but rich men, or none but white
men, or none but Anglo-SaXon white men
were entitled to life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness. their posterity might
look up again to the Declaration of indie
pendence and take courage to renew the
battle which their fathers began, so that
truth and Justice and mercy and all the
humane and Christian virtues might not
be extinguished from the land; so that no
man should thereafter dare to limit and
circumscribe the principles on which the
temple of liberty was being built Now,
my countrymen, if you have, been taught
alton of Independence; if you have lis
tened to suggestions which would take
away from its grandeur and mutilate the
Talr symmetry OF it's proportions,
let me entreat you to come back. Return
to the fountain whose waters spring close
by the blood of the revolution.
j Mr. President, Louis Napoleon. at the
opening of the session of the French
assembly, March 2, 1854, made this de-
claration:
Besides, and I love to proclaim it
loudly the time of conquest Is past,
never to return for it is not by ex-
tending the boundaries of it's territory
that q nation can henceforward be hon
pred and powerful, but by placing itself
at the head of generous ideas and
spreading everywhere the empire Of
right and justice.
Napoleon forgot what he had said
when he grew a little stronger. He
saw his opportunity in Mexico, as our
friends think they see ours in the
Philippine Islands. But the sure and
TERRIBLE feet of destiny overlook him
in the midst of his pride and power.
There's one hath swifter feet than crime;
Cannon parliaments settle naught.
; Mimic is good but, spite of change,
Guttenbergs gun hath the longest range.
Spin, spin, CIotho spin
lachesis twist and Atropos sever,
IN the shadow year out, year in,
The silent headsman waits forever.
Wait, we say. our years are long,
Men are weak but man is strong.
Since the stars first curved their rings
We have looked on many things.
Great wars come ana great wars go,
Wolf tracks light on polar snow,
We have seen him come and gone
Il -l1slra Nam 1g1r,
Spin, spin, Clotho, spin,
Lachesis twist and Atropos sever,
In the shadow, year out wear in
The silent headsman waits forever.
Our commissioners come back from
Paris bringing with them the cast-off
elothing of this pinchpeck Napoleon,
and ask us, who have seen his fate,
to Discard for them the spotless robes
tnVhich our fathers arrayed the beau
flful genius of America.
AZ year ago last December the presi-
dent of the United States sent a mes
sage to congress. In that message he
said:
Isspeak not Of forcible annexation,
because that is not to be thought of,
and under our code of morality that
would be criminal aggression.
The time of conquest is past" said
louis Napoleon. All, Mr.. President
Prssident Mckinley but repeated Louis
Napoleon, though in louder and clearer
voice. THE time of conquest is past,
saidsthe French emperor. 1T is not by
extending the boundaries of it's terri
tory that a nation can henceforward
pc npnored and powerful, but by plaC-
ans ftself at the head Of generous ideas
ana spreading everywhere the empire
of right and justice"
PRESIDENT Mckinley, when he spoke
was not thinking even of honor or Of