New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21

are the treasury of good things out Of which
they are to reward the selfish e-Tea5 ~ tbair foi
lowers.
We would emphasize the fact that our own
natlye born American citizens are the class
cnlehy responsible for the present low state
% Po4tlcaI morals. And the bare fact that it
is unrebuked and unpublished by them is an evil
Qence OF another kind OF selfishness-distinct
from that Of the poIiticians-which is born Of
the very conditions of American life. Our bet
Ter citizens have lost their public spirit, and all
sense Of public responsibility. If they treat
Election Day itself as a holiday, when they
Desert the polls to be at home with their fam
lies how much less will they care for primaries
or contact with sOrdid political demagogues!
Il does not pay they say. l myself believe
with foreigners, who criticise and wonder at
apathy, that a revolution is surely coming, but
not the kind of revolution which they predict
II viii not be a revolution of blOOdshed among
the lower classes but a revolution of public
spirit against sordd selfshness in the breasts of
moral, high-minded citizens Patriotism cannot
tolerate forever treachery to the Government
and the betrayal Of constitutional trusts. Hon
eSty cannot live forever side by side with dis
honesty, nor cOnsclentlOuSneSS with immortality"
At the bottom the chief cause why Ameri-
can political life fails TO interest the noblest
and most influential class of American citi-
zens is because of its want of noble
ness, because of its arrant sOrdidness, its
low moral level, its debasing associations, its
slavery to the spirit of selfish greed If such
corruption has been purged away in other lands
by the splendid courage, persistent skill and
self-sacrihce of moral leadership, why can it
not be overcome land? Never since
the Revolution has there been greater call for
real statesmen 8 greater opportunity for
craftsmanship Of the highest order than there is
in our beloved country to-day. Most unexpected
events have happened within the last three
years. Had what has happened since the battles
Of Manila and Santiago been prophesied in 1896
We would not have believed II. II is as though
the veil had suddenly been torn aside for a
divine purpose, that we might the respon-
sibility of the international position we really
back to what Ihe country was fifty years ago.
Whether We will or not, whether for better or
worse, we must go forward.
We hear in these days a great deal about
Imperialism. no spirit Of imperialism in all
American history. and least Of all in the last two
years, We had no thought OF territorial aggTan-
dlZement when we went TO war with Spain:
and now, before we have time TO realize the full
meaning Of passing events, certain islands, as a
result OF that war. have become part of the
United States. II is we'll that the cry OF i'm
perlaEsm should be IN the air to-day, for il
serves as a warning and caution against very
real dangers which encompass every onward
step. We cannot measure the new conditions Of
the present by the maxims and the standards of
the past The greatest danger of all is the peril
Of an arrested development
Thirty or forty years ago wise and far see
ing man, who had arisen TO a place of great
promise not only n Europe. but in America, said
- his now still more distinguished son: What
ever happens in the future however inpOr-
tant an issue may be, never take sides against
the Unltec states And then, in answer 10 the
earnest inquiry Of the young man, he added
with deep feeling, Because God is behind
America
The next exercise Of the morning was the con-
ferring Of the degree OF doctor of laws upon the
Hon John Hay. Secretary Of State. Professor
Woodrow Wilson presented the honor to Mr..
Hay. Professor Libbey placed the hood upon
Secretary Hays shoulders who accepted the
honor in these words.
Ny gratitude is not Iessened but enhanced by nv
sense Of unwrrtkiness. But l take this horror as
a sign of your approval of the manner IN which
the foreign relations of country have been
Quoted during The last four :. And ! any sue
cess has atten ID effOcts II IL ue not ab'ry
or strength of mind. but TO centuries of National
tradition, which raarEed plainly tor IT'S the course
from which We have aever SWervsJ We believer
in our coUntry's high destiny, and needed no
counsel but that Of National welfare. duty and
honor The light which has guided us was akin
to the bright affuence which has ted this uni
Versity, g beacon to the paths Of learning and
sound morals. During the remainder Of my Pc
iticaI life il shall be my effort become less
worthy Of the honor and responsibility Nbich you
have Just conferred upon me.
DR.. Patton dismissed the audience with bene-
dictiOn