The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-04
THE LAST FOURTH OF THE CEN
TURY.

TURY.
The last fourth of July of the nineteenth
furnishes a point Of view from
which Americans may look backward and
forward, and it is a patriotic duty to do
both. A survey of the century that is
will show them much TO be proud
of and thankful for, and an attempt TO look
whether there are not evils in our social
and political system that need reforming,
and whether as a nation we can reason
ably hope to have as smooth sailing and
escape the perils that beset all governments
successfully as we have done during the
first century of our national existence. One
hundred years ago to-day the government
was In its infancy, and the Nation was get
ting on it's feet and beginning to realize it's
existence. The Constitution was still in
an experimental stage and had yet to be
construed in theory end tested in practice.
Washington had died only a year before.
and the feeling of gloom and foreboding
caused by that event still pervaded the
The original thirteen States had
been increased by only three, and the pop
ulation OF the country was less han six
millions. The center Of population was
eighteen miles west of Baltimore. The pop
ulation of New York city wa 10000, of
Philadelphia about 10000, of Boston $4,000.
n of Washington City 5000. Peo-
pie were beginning to talk of the
West, meaning western New York,
Ohio or Kentucky. Spain had re-
Gently coded back to france the
Louisiana territory. embracing an immense
area in the heart of the continent. and
there was at that time no prospect or
thought of our ever acquiring it. In such
circumstances the celebration of the fourth
of July, 1890, could hardly nave failed to ex-
cite in the minds of the statesmen of the
period wonder as to what the coming CEN
fury had in store for the new government,
and some degree of anxiety as to whether
it would be able to weather the strains and
storms it was probably destined to expert
ence.
Looking back from our present point OF
view Americans cannot but be filled with
admiration at the wisdom of the trainers
of the Constitution and the fathers of the
government. and with pride at the growth
and progress of the Nation. Volumes might
be written, as many have been, describing
that growth and progress in detail, but
the results themselves furnish their most
eloquent comment. One might quote the
epitaph on the tomb of the architect OF
look around YOU" We know
historically what the United States was
a hundred years ago. and we know by ex-
p~erience n participation what it is to-
day. But when we look forward we cannot
tell what the coming century has in store
for us as a Nation any more than could
those who celebrated the 4th of July. 1890.
We know that during the nineteenth GEN.
fury the government has survived unex-
pected perils and deadly attacks. and that
the United States has become one of the
recognized great powers of the world, but
who can tell what perils the next century
may bring or where the 4th of July, 1000,
will find us? Some of the p~rofoundest stu
dents of government, and not unfriendly to
the United States. have predicted that our
greatest perils would come after all the
arabic land had been taken up, and our
rapidly increasing population had little
room for expansion; after we had ceased
to be essentially an agricultural people and
had come to have many great and popu-
lous cities; after the conditions Of life had
become much harder than they nave been
at Any time in the nineteenth century; after
the vast accumulation Of wealth in some
directions and the increase of poverty in
others had accumulated class distinctions;
after the dangers as well as the merits OF
universal suffrage had begun to faster
themselves on our SYSTEM; after the people
had ceased to remember that eternal Wig
ilance is the price of liberty and when the
lust Of power, the spells Of Office, the
spirit of commercialism and the reckless.
ness of partisans and demagogues should
have weakened or destroyed the virtue and
patriotism of the people. These conditions
nave hui oil COLlc yet, Dul WHO S0dll say
they may not come If the people are not
true to themselves and to the principles
Of republican government as they were
and down to US by the fathers? Tn
last fourth of July Of the century is not
merely a day for self-laudation and boast
ing. 1t Is not even merely a day for dwell.
ling with just pride on our legitimate
achievements in the past. 1t is a day fol
thoughtful and anxious reflection as &c
hat the twentieth century may have in
store for US and as to whether we shall
begin it with as much political virtue as
the Americans of 1900 did the nineteenth
century