The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-26
CONFLICT NOT PARTISAN.
1t Is n Contest Between the Forces of
Progression and Reaction.


Fellow-Americans. this is no partisan
conflict. II is no unprecedented struggle.
1t is the ever-old and yet the ever-new,
because the ever-elemental contest between
the forces of growing nationality and those
who resist il; between the forces of ex-
tending dominion and those who oppose 1t;
between the forces that are making us the
master people of the world and those who
think that our activities should be con-
fined to this continent forever. 1t Is the
eternal duel between the forces of prog
ress and reaction. of construction and dis
indignation. of growth and of decay. Roth
sides are and always have been sincere.
Washington was sincere when he advocated
the adoption of the Constitution; Patrick
Henry was sincere when he resisted IL as
the death-blow to our liberties: Jefferson
was sincere when he acquired the empire
of Louisiana: Josiah Quincy was sincere
when he declared in Congress that the
Louisiana acquisition meant the dissolu-
ton or the Union. Webster was sincere
when he asserted the sovereignty OF the
Nation, the indestructibility of the Union.
and declared that the Constitution could
not follow the flag until the American peo-
pie so decreed and Calhoun was sincere
sovereignty, the right OF notification, and
announced that the Constitution, carrying
slavery. followed the flag in spite of the
WILL OF the American people.
Lincoln was sincere when he proclaimed
that the Union was older than the Consti-
tuition, that nationality was the indestructi-
bic destiny of the American people. and
that he would maintain that nationality
by arms; and those mistaken ones were
sincere who sought to divide the American
people and on the field of battle poured
out their blood fighting for their faith But
their sincerity did not make them right.
Their earnestness ability. courage could
not give them victory They were strug-
CLING against the Fates. They were resist
ing the onward forces which were making
OF the American people the master nation
OF the world-the forces that established US
first as a separate political body, then
welded US into national unit, indivisiple;
then extended our dominion from ocean TO
ocean over UNEMPLOYED wilderness; and now
In the ripeness of time fling our authority
and unfurl our flag almost all around the
globe. 1t is the divine event" Of Aneri-
can sovereignty among the governments
of men for which these forces have been
working since the pilgrims landed on the
red mans soil. Men-patriotic, brave and
wise-have sought to stay that tremendous
purpose of destiny, but their opposition
was as the finger of a babe against the re-
sistless pour of the gulf streams mighty
current. For Gods hand was in 1T all. His
plans were working out their glorious re-
suits And Just as futile is resistance to
the continuance to-day of the eternal move
ment of the American people toward the
mastery OF the WOrlQ. his Is utotiuy
neither vague nor undesirable. 1t is
definite, splendid and holy.
When nations shall war no more without
the consent of the American Republic;
what American heart thrills not with
pride at that prospect? And yet our in
terests are weaving themselves so rapidly
around the world that time is almost here.
When governments stay the slaughter of
human beings. because the American Re-
public demands it: what American heart
thrills not with pride at that prospect?
And yet tonight there sits at COnstanti-
nople sovereign who knows that that
time is nearly here. When the commerce
of the world on which the worlds peace
hangs, traveiing every ocean highway of
earth, shall pass beneath the guns of the
great Republic; what American heart thrills
not at that prospect? Yet that time will
be here before the second administration
of the last American President of the
nineteenth century and the first President
of the twentieth century, William McRin-
ley. When any changing of the map re-
quires a conference of the powers, and
when, at any congress of the nations, the
American Republic will preside as the most
powerful of powers and most righteous of
judges; what American heart thrills not at
that prospect? And yet, that prospect is
at hand, even j speak. 1t is the high and
holy destiny of the American people, and
from that destiny the American bugles will
never sound retreat. Westward the star
of empire takes its way.