The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1899-07-05

grew liberties upon which we have builded.
Liberty is a growth or development. It's
course down through the ages is traceabie
by lines red with blood. The Revolutionary
war resulted in winning our independence
from Great Britain, but full political rights
were not accorded the citizens for years
after the adoption of our constitution.
Property qualifications were required in
different amounts by different states. A
man must have property 10 the amount of
SO pounds in New Jersey before he could
vote. Maryland and the Carolinas required
50 acres of land most of States made their
electors subscribe to some religious creed.
| African slavery and property qualification
excluded 100000 men from franchise. Thus
| when liberties seem to be won it was only
| begun,
| God hath reserved this great new CONT
| nent with its fertile fields. productive forests
| and rich mines for the flower of European
civilization to discover, subjigate and
develop The best heart and brain of
England, France aud Holland have patiently
worked out for US an ideal human govern
ment to be administered not by king or
sovereign, but where every citizen is king and
every ballot dropper is clothed with the
| OA6AAIy oAO pOWSA VI SoNCA SASA AleAlS SUN
is our theory of government that the rail
splitter of to-day may become the ruler of
| the nation tomorrow.
Under this theory we have solved the great
problems OF the past. When we were
100000 of people with no central govern
ment, no credit at home, no standing abroad
no navy or standing army, we achieved our
independence. We consolidated the thirteen
different commemorative with dissimilar
ideas, predjudices and interests into one
great nationality under a constitution which
| guarantees to every citizen the largest
liberty and equality of opportunity. We
opened our doors to the poor and oppressed
OF all lands and invited them to share the
| wealth of our continent on equal terms with
those who had purchased it with their blood
and treasure. When secession raised it's
snaky head to- threaten the dissolution of
our republic and when the dark hand of
disloyalty was raised to tear in shreds our
star spangled banner in response to Lincoln S
ringing call for men to preserve the integrity
of the union and the honor of the flag. the
men of the north from the bench, forge,
Office and farm offered themselves as a
sacrifice upon the nations altar that our
republic might live. Through the suffering
sacrifice of our boys in blue liberty and
union, one and inseparable'' were preserved,
and our national emblem was borne aloft
over fields of blood and carnage from Bulls
Run to Appomattox without the erasure or
pollution OF single star. Slavery was eradi-
Gated, but the flower of the American youth
persisted. This land was made free. but it
was deluged in tears and blood. The war
over, by generous contribution on the part
of the north and direct taxes on the part of
the south, we gave the African the same
educational privileges as our children en-
joyed. By purchase and war We have won a
vast domain and extended all our beneficent
| institutions.
When Spanish tyranny and oppression,
which devasted Cuba's fair fields and wasted
her population. offended our sense of hI-
mainly we responded to the call of duty at
| an expense of millions of dollars and hun
dreds of lives, we planted our flag on Gu bas
and Port Ricos soil, bringing the natives the
blessings of life, liberty and pursuit of
| happiness. which was denied them under
| spanish misrule.
| What are the results of this war? Only six
months have passed since Mckinley ratified
| the treaty of peace and the cities of Santiago
and Havana. which were filthy beyond de-
|
vision clean as Boston or New York. The
death rate of Santiago has been reduced
| from 700 per week to not to exceed 80 or 40.
A year ago there was not a public school
building in the city. Now there are seven
teen elementary and grammar schools at
tended by 1000 pupils. Courts are
| recognized. law and order are enforced.
Cock and bull fighting is prohibited. Cubans
have been appointed to different municipal
offices and are making rapid progress in self
government under American supervision.
The American people are confronted with
grave responsibilities and unprecedented
problems to-day. year ago in public adj
dress at Delhi we said ''out of this war new
issues will arise. which will push into
subordination the questions which agitate
the public mind, and men will take sides
either for or against our influence in the
Isles of the Sea, without reference to past
POLITICAL affiliations Recent events have
justified the remark. What shall be our
policy in those territories in which SPAN
has relinguished her authority? No one dis
putes our right to interfere in behalf of
Cuba and Porto Rico. BY succession of
brilliant victories by land and sea the Span