The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-13

progenitors, ana surpassed the ideals of
our founders.- Our development has been
the epic OF human progress. 1t has made
poetry of statistics and glorious romance
of history 1t has left the dreams of op-
timists as faded spectres in the rear of
achievement. Our longevity projects it
self to the fartfiest reach OF 1s,man spec
ulation. and the future is gorgeous with
every sign of hope and courage
Our people understand each other bet
ter than they have done. Consequently.
they have more hearty feelings of friend
ship and sympathy for each other tha
they ever had. At home and abroad the
principles and the flag of the American
Union were never more respected We
are the most thoroughly unified of the
great nations. In this building the diff
ferences of forty-five commonwealths and
seventy-siN millions of people come to
the mill to be ground out The whirl of
the grinding is great, and might make
the Impression that our differences We're
also great. But be not deceived Our
States are as much alike in their forms
of government as the leaves of a tree
Our people are alike in their language
their laws, their usages and their aspira-
tionS.
STRONGEST NATION.
We are the strongest Of nations. So
far, with only the phantom OF a regular
army as a nucleus of education. our wars
have been fought for the most part by
the volunteer citizen soldiery. They have
never failed to cope successfully with the
trained bands of Europe. To-day at the
tap of a drum ten millions would swarm
to the national defense, and to a for
cign foe our seacoasts would become
Looming bastions fringed with fire"
Against the soldier of any age or any
country we might place with confidence
the American volunteer. There is an ar
my in our country grander than any ever
mustered on the field of Mars. Iii line it
would stretch over 5000 miles. 1t is the
conscript and volunteer school children of
the United States. over 16,Goo,cD0 strong.
1t is the embryo of the mightiest civiliz-
ed force ever organized by any people.
Woe be unto him who sees in these young
souls any unworthy thought. When this
army deploys in action may it fly the
banners of truth, of liberty and love of
fellow-men.
The experience of over a century has
exhibited the strength of our electoral
Institutions We are as strong within as
without.
Compare the men whom the people have
chosen Presidents with an equal num-
Der cf hereditary mpnarchs of any other
sen, finds its IEcarnatc Vlndlcation. IltiS
Is the only :;.eat nation that ever passed
TIN cush its formative conflicts without in
f.cIipg in :, single case the penalty of
death for a political cause. Does not this
fact alone speak volumes for free thought.
for free speech, for the government of
the i1eople and for the high character OF
the American people?
II we have had strife it has been the
proud and lCfty strife of the brave and the
true who can cherish honor. who can cher
islh principle, car cherish love, but cannot
cherish hate.
Il am an American means moro to-day
than it has ever meant. for tf all the ma
tons We're arranged in line, each repre-
sented by one tyl,licat man, the American
man would stand at The head OF the line,
the taMest, the straightest. the brawniest,
the most practical-minded and biggest
hearted OF them ali.
HOPE OF THE WORLD.
We are the foremost nation Of the world.
We are the light and hope of the world.
1t is our freedom that has made us great.
Race problem, Phil l-ppine problem, trust
problem-what will you do with them? l