The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-05
AMERICAS NEW BIRTHDAY.
JUSTICE WOODWARD'S FOURTH OF
july GRAFTON AT CHdUTAUQUA.

Tho Events of the Past Year, He Says. Mark
tho bay Day of New Birth-The Ma
tion Confronted with n New Mission and
with Duties from which II Cannot Escape.
CHAuTAuQuA. July 4.-Mr. Justice John
Woodward Of the New York Supreme Court
delivered Fourth OF July speech to-day on
Tho New Era" at the Chautaudua Assembly.
in which lie said:
Once more we have met to celebrate our
national birthday-this day OF days-to pay the
tribute OF memory to the founders OF the re-
public and to the heroes who have perpetunted
1t. But o-day there is double significance in
the celebration. The past year has witnessed
events OF such profound import that we may
almost mark this day as a day OF new BIRTH
Tho republic. whose career seemed no rigdy
definite. has suddenly been swung out Of the
path OF its orbit. and is bound we know not
whittier on a new track and toward an un-
known destiny.
And there are those who view the depart
ure with grave misapprchension. Thore are
many who regard this day as the harbinger Of
national disaster. and who croak Of doom as
they recall the epoch-changing record Of tho
year Just past. But ! am not with these. II is
needless to recaptulatc in this presence that
harmonious round Of circumstances. that Gull
minatng series Of glorious events. whose
arbiter Of nations.
I'VE suddenly find ourselves confronted with
unknown duties and with new mssion-duties
that are imperative. and a mission from which
we cannot escape. We find ourselves intrusted
with the lives and destinies of helpless mill
lions whom pity babe us rescue from their
hopeless gloom and place in the warm sunlight
Of freedom. We rcaliH" all at once that we are
ono OF the great powers of the world-that
henceforth we must have large voice in
every international dispute IA decisive vote in
every international adjustment. We have be-
come in day Goloniztng power whose dis
and whose flag will follow that trade to its ulti-
mate port We have become great CONNER
eeal nation, and stand forever com commiitted to
begun new era an era that is destined to be a
memorable one. Let US read the signs OF the
times in the light of the dawn that is Just
The year lust vast closes an enoch Of ma
tiona isolation and opens an era Of duties as
broad as the EARTH as infinite as the sea. 1t
has evoked possibilities that have hitherto
been but the dream # the pnanthroFs It
GUS as humanity. as enduring as life, We. the
pioneers of the new era. must meet these face
terity and illuminated memory heritage OF
noble tradition aud the Legacy Of an a Hntar,
that we will meet the problem before us with
the tna Wa will Fl @ fdud haT to the
emergency when it shall come.
Our precipitation into the worlds arena
to ne some ShapEeI bn IN
come n great conm"rcial nation the greatest
of all time. | confidently believe. We must.
therefore. prepare for it. and the youth OF the
land must he given the advantage Of a special
training which will suit the needs OF the hour
We must have a commercial course in our
higher universities. which will educate our
youth to the highest point OF efficiency, so that
The i l nh rr"duct Of the old universities Of
Europe. business experience is not enough;
we must hay" the highest degree Of technical
I,Ar fhn -fTNlI u lie ~
fist will bear oil the palm in the contest NJ the
future ,o T., ,ha
last decade. Like England. we must estab-
lish special course for men who contemplate
mnistration. Our commercial agents and our
consular representatives are, as whole.
Our recent projection into world politics, and
the consideration given to the question Of in
ence also makes the study OF INTERNATIONAL
law Of great importance. and il should hold a
curriculum, The great conflict OF the future
will be the fierce rivalry OF commerce. and
the ow 6e so S ee tnas
the victory OF the vast Oriental trade we
have at present but an insignificant share, and
yet there is no reason why within a quarter OF
century we should not be BILE to control it:
and the destiny Of hundreds Of millions OF
the present We must begin th, preparation
| without delay. AMI the specialization which
must he inc fOuniatltln OF our success SnOulu
he made by those most adanted to the work.
The subjects Of climat Ology. ethnology. physics
and geography and their Kindred studi"R should
be placed in our new commercial education
and at once receive the attention their i'm
portance deserves. for it is well known that
countless lives and immense fortunes have
been lost by the ignorance Of these necessary
subjects by investors and prospective col
onizers. 80
Armed with working knowledge OF the
environment to be confronted and of the con-
ditiOns to be met. our youth. by superior me-
chancul skill, by equal energy and int igent
perseverance. shall soon he able to distance
all competitors in mark cts that are now almost
closed 10 us because Of lack OF the requisite
information. And il is the educational institu-
tions OF the land which must furnish the facility
for this preparation. As the professions are
already becoming oEercrowded, many an ad-
venturOu' youth will turn with longing to this
new theatre Of nattonal effort, where he can
work md Il 81 nttnln "