The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-28

take the place of national Seh-reliance. No
alliance no inoffensive conduct on our part
would supply in time of need the failure in
ability to hold our own with a strong hand.
We should work out our own destiny by
our own strength. A vigorous nation like
ours does not always stay still. Now and
then there comes a time when II is sure
either to shrink or to expand. Grant saw
10 ii that We did not shrink, and therefore
we had to expand when the inevitable mo-
ment came.
Great duties face us in the islands where
the stars and stripes now float in place of
the arrogant flag ot Spain. AS we perform
those duties well or Ill so will we in large
part determine our right to place among
the great nations of the earth. We have
got TO meet them In the very spirit of
Grant. IL we are frightened at a task
above all. If we are cowed or disheartened
by any check or by the clamor of the sem
sation monger-we shall show ourselves
weaklings, unfit to invoke the memories of
the stalwart men who fought TO finish the
great civil war. If we do not rule wisely,
and If our rule is not in the interest of
the people who have come under our
guardianship, then we had best never have
begun the effort at all. AS a nation we
shall have to choose our representatives in
those islands as carefully as Grant chose
the generals who were to serve at the vital
points under him. Fortunately so far the
choice has been most wise. No nation has
ever sent a better man than we sent TO
Cuba when President Mckinley appointed
as governor general of that island Leonard
Wood; and now in sending Judge Taft at
the head of the commission TO the Philip
pines the President has again chosen the
very best men to be found in all the
United States for the purpose in view.
Part of Grants great strength lay in
the fact that he faced facts as they were
and not as he wished they might be- He
was not originally an Abolitionist, and he
probably could not have defined his views
as to state sovereignty, but when the civil
war was on he saw that the only thing TO
o. fn a m md liGE hx
force of arms the constitutional right to
put down rebellion. 1t Is just the same
thing nowadays with expansion. Ii has
come, and il has come TO stay, whether We
wish ii or not. Certain duties have fallen
to us as a legacy of the war with Spain
and we cannot avoid performing them. All
we can decide is whether we will perform
them well or i'll. We cannot leave the
Philippines We have got to stay there, eS-
tablish order and then give the inhabitants
as much self-government as they show
they can use to advantage. We cannot run
away If we would. We have got to see the
work through because we are not nation
of weaklings. We are strong men, and We
intend to do our duty.
ITO do our duty--that Is the sum and sub
stance of the whole matter. We are not
trying to win glory; we are not trying to
do anything brilliant or unusual. We are
setting ourselves virogously at each task
as the task arises. and we are trying to
face each difficulty as Grant faced innum-
erable and eminently greater difficulties.
The sure way TO succeed is to set about our
work in the spirit that marked the great
soldier whose life we this day celebrate;
the spirit of devotion to duty, of determina-
ton to deal fairly, justly and fearlessly
with. all men, and OF iron resolution never
to abandon any task once begun until 1t
has been brought to successful and tri-
umphant conclusion."
At the conclusion of Governor Roosevelt s
speech an informal reception was held on
the stage of Turner Hail. after which the
visitors were driven to General Grants old
| residence and other points of interest, and
at 6 o'clock boarded the train for Chicago.
The special train on which Governor
Roosevelt came to Ga1ena stopped at Rock
ford few minutes in response to repeated
cheering from crowd of fully 10000 peo-
pie. Governor Roosevelt spoke briefly from
the rear platform of his car. 'It is a great
pleasure" said the Governor. Ito come to
| Illinois on this, the birthday of one of those
two men whom Illinois gave to the Nation
to stand with Washington as the three
greatest men the Nation has yet produced.
am touched by being greeted here and
| there along the line by the men who wear
| the button which shows they fought in the
great war. We have great difficulties
ahead Of US, great problems to face They
| can be faced only by the people themselves
| We, the younger generation, know, will
| do our duty in times of peace, as our
| forefathers did in times of war. The years
| 1861 to 1866 saw the peoples war. 1t was
| fought to declare that the flag which had
! been rent in twain should be made whole
again, so our success in solving the great
| problems of industrial and civil develop
ment depend upon the attitude of the peo-
pie, their seriousness and high resolve and
| integrity I'm public life. And am confident
| that they will not be found wanting"