Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-26

&AS PoAAA kAA% Ao oAAS AZ ~
feet. He said Il dare say there is not a
perfect man or woman in this audience.
If there is a perfect man here, I desire
him to rise to his feet" No one arose.
He then said IF there is a perfect wo-
man here, l desire hat she will RISE"
None one arose. He then said IF there
is any n here who has ever heard or
known of a perfect man or woman, I
desire that they will arise" And a
small, meek little lady arose in the rear
of the church and said: IF you please.
sir, I have heard of a perfect woman.
but she is dead. She was my husbands
first wife"
1t is a law of nature that there must
be pain as well as pleasure; that there
must be clouds as we'll as sunshine; that
night must precede the day; that sor-
row must go hand in han with joy, and
that there must be tears as we'll as
laughter. But we also know that the
surging and rolling of the storin-tossed
waves serves to keep the waters of the
ocean sweet and pure; that the storms
of thunder and lightning clear the at
mosphere, and that were it not for the
u eyes could not bear the
light.
Oddfellowship recognizes these plain,
self-evident truths, and without Stop
ping to quarrel with the work of the AL
mighty, sets itself to the worthy COM
mon sense task of dealing with ond
tlons as it finds them, in a practical,
sympathetic and humanitarian way,
still believing, however, that with all it's
! trials and burdens there is still much to
be thankful! for, much that is worth liv-
ing for; that there is more sunshine than
rain, more joy than sorreY, more laugh
ter than tears, and that after all ad-
verslty has it's noble uses, and that mis-
fortune oftimes serves to sharpen the
edge of prosperity.
The aim of Oddfellowship is to fur
nish an inspiration for well doing, to
stimulate a generous impulse for unself-
ish effort in behalf of others, to give it's
members an object and a purpose in
life, that purpose being to alleviate suf-
ferlng, to uplift the fallen, to elevate, en-
noble and dignity the race. Oddfellow-
ship would set a star of hope in the sky
of every human soul, knowing full we'll
that there is nothing more certain in
human philosophy or human experience
than that the surest way to happiness
for ourselves lies in bringing happiness
to others.
1t must, 1 am sure, be a source of
great satisfaction to us as an American
organization, having the welfare of the
nation at heart, to Know that this ami
versary is held under such favorable
conditions viewed from the standpoint
OF national as well as Individual inter-
ests. Never before in it's history has
our country enjoyed greater or more gen.
eral prosperity, n never before have
we as a nation held such "a position of
power and prestige and influence among
the governments of the earth as we do at
this moment.
Two years ago we were plunged Into
a foreign war whose purpose was to res
cue an oppressed people from the tyr
amy and persecution of Spanish mis-
rule. Out of that conflict we emerged
with such honor and glory as a rarely
i IAIon 10 fhQ IOf nf a nathan pI ~
u be a source of intense pride and
qualification to Odd Fellows to know
that out of all that splendid phalanx of
heroes and patriots and martyrs who so
proudly and eagerly sprang to the call Of
duty and who bore our flag to victory
with such courage and devotion, every
twelfth man wore upon his breast the
three links, symbOlical of our %organzi-
ton.
One of the fundamental principles of
the order is loyalty. Loyalty to our OBJ
legations, loyalty to home and family and
friends, and above all, loyalty to our
country, devotion to it's institutions and
obedience to its laws. AS citizens, as
well as Odd Fellows, we are deeply con-
cerned in all that affects the nations
welfare, and I nave no doubt bu that
we have all watched with keenest inter-
est those great events which have re-
ed in carrying our flag and our authority
over the distant island which have
come to us as a result of the var with
Spain. Primarily there are very few
Americans, l presume, who would VOL
UNFAIRLY assume the great responsibility
involved in this step. But when nations
start out to war no human foresight can
foretell what the results are going to be.
The fortunes of war have thrust this
duty upon us whether we would or not,
and for one l regard it as a responsibility
and a duty which as a nation we cannot
honorably shirk or evade, but which we
must discharge fearlessly and resolutely
yet in a spirit of liberation, of liberty. of
justice and humanity.
I cannot help but believe that the ex-
tension of our influence and authority
over these Islands means that the same
principles which v made this the
ever known, will, as time and opportunity
n conditions permit, be given full
force and effect wherever our flag floats.
1t means that ultimately liberty and law,
order and Justice and the practices of
enlightened civilization are to %suEplant
force and cruelty and despotism.
No man need fear hat this great re-
public of ours will ever enter upon a pol
Icy of tyranny or enslavement of any
people who may come under the protec-
ton of our flag. Every step in our prog
ress, every act in u national career,
every tradition of our national existence
n every line and page of our history
from Washington on down to this mo-
ment, completely and indignantly refutes
and -repudiates such an assumption.
No people ever yet came under the pro-
lection of the American flag whose con-
dition has not been vastly improved.
Such has always been the case in the
past, such l nave faith and confidence
to believe will be the rule in the future.
I think it may safely be set down that
the American people will take no back
ward step. They will tolerate nothing
that savors of dishonor or surrender of
national dignity or self respect. Their
faces are turned hopefully to the future;
they recognize the fact that their place
is at the head of the procession. and I
believe there will be no hating in the
L ora nd On u,o I'd arab ~ onn