Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-23
TIE BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON
Continued from First Pagc.)

lnSS. Mans opinion of what is 10 be
Is half wish and half environment.
Avarice paints destiny with Il dollar
mark before it, miliJarism cquips it
with sword.
lie is the best prophet who. recog-
nizing the omnpOtence of truth. COM
prchcnds most clearly the great forces
which are working out the progress. not
OF one party, not Of one nation, but OF
the human race.
HISTORICAL PREDICTIONS.
History is replete with predictions
winch once wore the hue of destiny but
which failed of fulhllment because
those who uttered them saw too small
an arc of the circle of events. When
Pharoah pursued the fleeing Israeltes
to the edge of the Red Sea he was con-
hdent that their bondage would be re-
newcd and that they would again make
DrickS without straw, but destiny was
not revealed until Moses and his fol-
lowers reached the further shore dry
shod and the waves rolled over the
horses and chariots of the Egyptians
When BelshaZZar, on the last night of
his reign lead his thousand lords into
the Babylonion banquet hall ana sat
down 10 table glittering with YES
sells of silver and gold he felt sure or
his kingdom for many years to come.
Out destiny was not revealed until the
hand wrote upon the wall those awe
inspiring words, Memo, Meme. Tekel
Upsharsin.' When Abdcrrahman swept
northward with his conquering hosts
his imagination saw the Crescent tri-
umphant throughout the world but
destiny was not revealed until Charles
Martel raised the cross above the bat
tlciield of Tours and saved Europe from
the sword of Mohammedanism. When
Napoleon emerged VictpriuS from Ma
renSo. from Ulm and from Austcritz
he thought himself the child of des-
tiny, but destiny was not revealed UNI
til BluchcrS forces joined the army OF
Wellington ana the VanQuished COrS-
can began his melancholy march To 81.
Helena. When the redcOats of George
the Third routed the New En.landers
at Lexington and Bunker Hill there
rose before the British sovereign visions
of colonies taxed without representa-
ton and drained Of their wealth by for
eign made laws. but destiny was not re-
Healed until the surrender of Cornwallis
completed the work begun at Ind epend-
cncc Hall and ushcred into existence "A
government deriving its just powers
from the consent of the governed.
ANOTHER CRISIS.
1--WE have reached another crisis. The
ancient doctrine Of Imperialism, ban
iShcd from our land more than IL cen
fury ago, has rc-crOsscd the Atlantic
and challenged democracy To mortal
cOTlDdL upon american SOIL. w neither
the Spanish war shall be known in his
tory as war of liberty or as :; war of
conquest; whether the principles of
self government shall be strengthened
or abandoned: whether this nation shall
remain Il homogeneous republic OF be
come II heterogeneous cmpire-these
questions must be answered by the
American people when they speak, and
not until then, will destiny be reveal
cd.
Destiny is not II matter Of chance. it
is Il matter of choice; ii is not a thing
TO be waited for. it is L thing to be
achieved.
NO one can see the end from the
beginning. but everyone can make his
course an honorable one from begin
ming to end by adhcring to the right
-sti+4Ii--i.- all circumstances. Whether Il
man steals much or 1frrfr Trr7-TT-tepeHd-
upon his opportunities, but whether he
stalls at all depends upon his own Volt
ton.
CAREER OF CONQUEST.
80 with our nation. If we embark
upon a career of conquest, no one can
tell how many islands we may be able
to sieze or how many races we may
be able to subjugate; neither can any
one estimate the cost, Immediate and
remote. To the nations purse and 10
the nations character. but whether we
shall enter upon such 4 career is a
question which the people have right
To decide for themselves.
unexpected events may retard or
advance the nations growth but the
nations purpose determines its dcsti-
ny.
What is the nations purpose? That
purpose is set forth clearly aud unmis
takably in the first sentence OF the
Constitution:
I've. the people of the United States.
In ~, Tf.,.
establish justice. insure domestic tran
guilty. provide for the common de
Tense promote tho general welfare. and
secure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and To our postcrity. do ordain
and establish this Constitution for the
United States Of America.
PURPOSES OF COVER NMF;NT.
at will be seen that one OF the main
purposes Of the founders OF our gov
crnmcnt was to secure for themselves
and for posterity the blessings of lib
erty.
That purpose has been faithfully fol-
lowed UP 10 this time. our statesmen
have opposed each other upon economic
questions. hut they have agreed in de-
Tending self government as the control
ling national idea. They have quarrclod
among themselves over tariff ard fl
nance. but they have been united In
their opposition to an entangllng al
lance with any European power.
Under this policy our nation has
grown in numbers and I'm strength.
Under this policy its bcnofcient in
nucnce has encirclcd the globe. Under
this policy tho lax payers have been
spared the burden ana the menace Of
n large military establishment and the
young men have been taught the arts
Of peace rather than the science of
war ON each returning Fourth of July
our people have met 10 celebrate the
signing of the Declaration of Indcpcnd-
cncc; their hearts have renewed their
VOWS to free institutions and their
voices have praised the forefathers
whose wisdom and courage and patriot
ism made il possible Tor each succeed
ING generAtIon To ropea; the Words.