The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-06

Grant spirits from the world beyond sent
to us to accomplish a great end than like
those possessing only the common at
tributes and propensities of mortal man.
Prominent among those constituting the
latter class appears the name of William
Mckinley.
The greatest curse that has ever borne
down upon any nation has been that of
human slavery. For four hundred years
Egyptian slavery pushed down the iron
heel OF serfdom upon the children of Israel
There seemed to be no relief until there
arose from the floating ark of bulrushes
a child of special destiny-a Moses who
was to lead them from their bondage.
Forty years of wilderness life. of hunger
and toll and he delivered them to the
promised land and Egyptian slavery was
no more.
For nearly go years African slavery
cursed the sacred idea of American gov
eminent and dishonored the American peo-
pie. 1t continued until there arose from
humble cottage-yea, a cabin OF logs
and mud-a child Of special destiny. a Lin
coin, who was to set them free. Five years
of civil war. rivers of noble blood, millions
OF money and property and he delivered
them, and African slavery was no more.
For four hundred years the cruel hand
Of Spain held sway in the Island of Cuba
and wrenched from her subjects the very
blood of their existence. Spanish exaction
was Cuban slavery and starvation. There
seemed to be no relief Their wall and
cry for deIiverance went on UNDECIDED until
there arose from a most unpretentious
home child of special destiny-William
Mckinley, President of the United States
who was TO deliver them. A few thunder
ing guns. perfect system of management.
the bursting bubbles over the sunken ships
of Spain and he delivered the Cubans. and
Spanish slavery was no more.
Centuries ago Moses died and was
buried by angels from heaven. Years ago
Lincoln came TO an untimely death. but
the name Of Lincoln is immortal. By the
III InTK sv.lrx -ff1 hi
complete destiny not yet worked out. Right
in advance of his people upon all questions
of national Importance. he is destined to
yet guide the ship of state for at least half
a decade, during which prosperity only can
prevail"
OUR NATIONAL POSITION.
Gurley Brewer. of indianapolis. spoke to
the sentiment, 'Our National Position" He
said, in opening his address: For more
than thirty years our national position rel
alive to the negro has appeared to me the
grandest providential problem of the twen-
tieth century. Conditions are working out
its solution and glorious will be the re-
suit. What does God mean to do with the
negro? Make of him to pull down the
temple of liberty and extinguish the hopes
of the world? Will God make use OF him to
trample in the mire and tear into ribbons
the stars and stripes which bear our COM
merce and thunder in triumph over the
waves of the mighty ocean? No. The black
man will help the white man work out the
grand problem of free government, and
paint with your blood and mine amid the
stars of glory T. Pluribus Unum-and there
1t will shine In the simplicity OF its own
grandeur as long as a glimmering ray de-
sends from the galaxy of heaven
He took strong grounds against the term
''conquering the Philippines" but insisted
that armed rebellion must be put down,
wherever il lifted it's head, and when that
was done then those peoples would enter
into the benefits and blessings of the Con-
the passage of the Porto Rican tariff bill
for any Republican detection.
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER.
Judge T. ]. Brooks, of Bedford, paid
glowing tribute to the American soldier.
After outlining the worlds progress in
other things the speaker said:
I'm one thing there has been no per-
ceptible advancement; that is of wars
among the nations. Arbitration has not
solved the problem nor changed the course
of events, and ii has not been sufficient TO
bled sphere of national policy and race
struggle. There is no court in which ma
tons can go for the arbtrament of their
disputes except the battlefield. There is
no power to which the nations will submit
except that of the sword. In the nine
teenth century, as In earlier ones, IL ap-
of the world has been prevailed by the
breaking UP of traditions and growth of
generations except by war. Peoples and
races are freed from bondage to-day by
armed revolution, as yesterday. The pro-
gressive nations of the day pushing
the inert and fossil peoples out of the path
of civilization by war, they always have
done. The great epochs of upheaval of the
born of blood and preserved by arms.
Our people have but in few in
stances been served by soldiers of for
tune The exceptions were during Tie war
for independence, when the cry of strug-
Cling liberty was heard over the seas and
appealed to the gallant Steuben, De Kalb
and Lafayette. Otherwise the American
soldier has been one with the American
patriot and citizen, from the day of Miles
Standsh to the day of Roosevelt and Law
ton. Our standing army has not gone
apart from the people. but has become a
part of our common citizenship. The Serv-
ice of the American soldier has been to his
country and to its cause and to its prin-
ciples. not so much to government or lead
ership. The same energy. the same per-
siStence, the same intelligence that made
our people the conquerors of continent In
peaceful lines has made our soldier sue
ceSsful when he was by events called to
his place in the ranks.
Wherever known, wherever situated,
victorious or defeated. the American sol
der has been not only gallant soldier,
but the embodiment of the highest grade
Oh the nlHeteenlH century clNllZaliOn Inc
glories of Bunker Hill, Yorktown, New Or
leans Chickamauga, Gettysburg and San
tiago are dear to our hearts, and mention
of the names alone is sufficient to make the
blood course faster and faster; but one
| notable victory of citizen-soldier in our
history receives scant mention. At the
close of the great war two armies, among
| the largest in the annals of war the con-
quered and the conquerors. were left with
out occupation and employment. The wise
men of the world stood aghast at the pros
pect of disarmament of so many veterans
of war, but as the armies melted away like