The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-29

Tic Wal hAiCI lLAC Cli4 N64tlr III ~ 49Al
the war was not all. The tribute has
been continuously exacted. Wounds and
diseases contracted in service have
brought early death, crippled and broken
frames have borne heavy loads. Stn
more, there are feelings Of mourning
ones which cannot be written IN history
The sacrifice was everywhere The re-
jdicins over the gain was great, but along
with the shout of victory was grief over
loss. Today these things have become
matter Of history. Now the gain of no
erty has passed into one OF the CON-
mon accepted advantages. We are en-
joyirg what otAers gained, but with
what a price was this honor purchased
for US?
That which gave US our American life
was Christian The spirit OF self sacri-
ace, and that which gave US our Ameri-
con honor is necessary to the continuance
of 1t SelfishneSs was unworthy of HIN
who faced the fact of an armed oppres-
sor; so is 1t today unworthy of us %
whom it is given to hand the blessings
of life on to others
Our American liberties are not essen
TALLY perpetual. We expect our institu-
tons 10 last and to improve, but they
Will not do 50 because OF any necessity
which naturally belongs to them. Tho
law OF al better things is degeneracy
Any gain which mas come by culture can
be retained only by constant care. and
civilization is no exception. Nations are
like men When decay sets in II begins
at the top. look for the American idea
TO be realized more ard more. but the
expectation is born OF the faith which I
have in the character of our people. I
look for the spirit Of love 20 increase and
1 look for continuance OF liberty
Fhe very idea Of liberty will suggest
this. Some one said: Perfect liberty f.
conformity 10 perfect law" There was
form Of liberty in the old German
woods. The barbarian knew no restraint
no. nor would he listen 60 any command
except his own desire He preferred rob
bling his neighbor to working his own
field. It was but natural result Of that
hberty-its quick descent into the tyTan-
ny OF feudalism.
We are not eeel1lng for types Of the.
most Cnrestrained individuals. Ancient
monarchiss. especially the Oriental. md
modern Russia have sucn in their aIlso-
lutte rulers. The idea Of liberty which
rules here, and without which the charm
of American life would be gone. Is that
which recognizes the dignity OF every
man as a man and appreciates all his
capacities for good
And that Idea can be realized only a.
the unselfsh spirit rules II 7 put my
own interest first and with careless dis
regard OF Yes'iIts give my support to
measures which will cause evil 70 others,
I am surely doing despite 70 the Ameri-
can idea and am aiding 20 undo the work
which others have wrought
The higher character II American insti-
tutions requires consideration Of the IN
dividual for the general good NJ Guyot
has considered this fart Ia his lectures
on civilization. He says. "Of al the
systems Of government and political
guarantee 70 may b asserted. without
fear Of contradiction, that the most diff
cult 20 establish and render efectuaI s
the federative system. This system re-
qui7es that the viii Of man that lndlvI5-
ual liberty. should concur &. the sstab-
iishrent and Indifference ~ TIRE sTstsrE
much more than in any other. teczuse g
posse sses less than any Other the n-esns
OF cnercion. This systom eVi3ectly -
Guires the greatest maturity n reason.
% Borafty ard = civilization "a tn
society To which Il is applied" And 81
IS oeca1ss this man q large Jfsservatie1
saw thas oonsrieaos ertended - little
into national afssrs TIA. Re safs. after
regarding certain failures IN replglGcan
government: IT s7pea-s. flen. that -
publScan o-sanIza+io7. even under the
most <av0-ahls cs-c'1s- stances. cid MT
contain, az ttfs perlo5. a-y more han
Il his dsn. sirce. tas principe o. prog
resa, Duration and s-fss-Esoz-
And = e c1-gus % 80 h0T -sgrh isis
fact wsfch an '.rsf~g has obtained n
n opinions = our iaw wake-s The5
k-ax GhsS usost eepsad upon tas cha-ao-
ter ~ the people fo~ sf1s welfare = ;se
nation. I-hfr-ee- s-ateg take pains 20 o.
clare IN coas-stutso.s talst the f-e3urn y
conscience - no< % be saksr . szc-iss
zcta q isceGEfsouEnees - . fuztffT /
.<zctfnes Inconsistent zffth ths pace ard I
81 te.y = 10 STATE n SIX states = q Z
nan Srrfes ths existence - Cof - se -