The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-07-05

DecN renewed VI lne ldlSfI puIt Va 'He
war tax. and it il officially stated that
within the next year the remaining war
tax will be wiped from our statute
books.
Thanks to the wise policy of cur gov
crnnCnt, complete peace mas been re-
stored in IT,. Philippines, while Cuba is
on the eve of the full enjoyment Of civil
and political liberty as the result of our
freeing bcr from the oppressive and
tyranniral rule of Spain In the Philip
pines. the era Of progress and develop
ment has already lrguE and in many
ways the Filpihos have been thoroughly
convinced that We are their b6efactorS
instead of their oppressors.
We cannot contemplate our present
peaceful and prosperous condition with
out there arising in our hearts the most
rcvcrent gratitude for those patriots
who gave tLeJ Hives and fortunes for the
freedom Of our country. Indeed one Of
the nohlest purposes in observing this
day is to honor the name and fame OF
our valiant ancestors and on a day like
this our mind intuitivply revcrts TO the
courage and suffering. the deeds Of yalor
and glory, achieved by our forcfathers at
Lexington, Bunker Hill, Trenton, Valley
Forge. Frandywinc and in all Of those
bloody contests which made the Inherit
ance they gave to us of such priceless
value. OF them will quote the Ian
guage of the Greek orator Pericles. used
by him about 1900 years ago in honor Of
the Athcnian patriots who fought for
their country, which was as follows:
"For while collectively they gave their
country their lives, Individually they re-
ccived that rcnown which never grows
old, and the most distinguished tomb
they could have; not so much that in
which they are laid as that in which
their glory is left behind them, to be
everlastingly recorded on every occasion
for so doing. either by word or deed,
that may from time to time present it
self. For Of illustrious men the whole
earth is the sepulchre; and not only does
the inscription upon columns in their
own land point it out, but in that also
which is not their own. there dwells with
everyone an unwritten memorial Of the
heart, rather than Of material monu
ment."
When we look with almost breathless
wondermcnt at the growth and progress
IliluS ny pNi CUuullt, We any sEEA
for the elements which have made us so
successful. Had it been provided in the
constitution, adopted 1775 that a wall
should be built around our then thirteen
States, our advancement and progress
would not be d fraction of what It is.
But the doors Of our country were
thrown open and over every door the
word "welcome" appeared. We have
been helped by the millions of liberty
and happiness seeking people of Europe
coming to our country and admixins their
sturdy manhood, ambition and deter
minaton with our own native American
qualities. 1t is sometimes said TINT the
European immigrants are the worthless
and criminal class Of the old world. In
my opinion, there never was Il greater
SANDER upon any class of people than
that. 1t takes an ambitious man to
leave his native country and fntherland
and 90 to far-oH shores in search Of
better conditions, Of more civil and
religious liberty than his own country
offers land gives him. The class of
people coming to the United States to-
day are not unlike those who came here
in the earliest days Of our history. They
are, as a rule, liberty and home.loving
people, as is proven by the fact that
many Of the best citizens in our country
today are those who were not born here.
We cannot deny the very considerable
and beneficial effects that immigration
has had in the development of the
Unitcd States. We owe much to the So
called foreigner. A few years ago at a
picnic, held outside of New York city,
by n lot Of new acquisitions to our popu-
lation, the orator on the occasion, speak
ing of what we owe to the foreigner said:
"Who was it but the foreigner that has
developed the wonderful resources Of
American Who was it but the foreigner,
by toiling in the mines beneath the earth
and in the broad expense of our fields,
that made the wealth of this country?
Who has built the railroads Of the coun-
try but the foreigner? Who has furnish
ed the labor for the largest building of
this country but the foreigner? And last
ly, let me ask who was it that discovered
your country but the forcigner?'
But the present generation Of Amcri-
cans has inherited not alone from be-
yond the seas. Noble sircs have Wrought
in their own land. There were brave and
serious men who brought religious free
dom to our New England coast. Their
battling with the wild winter and wilder
natives is part Of our own annals and
stirs in every schoolboy patriotic
pride. The hcroiSm and pcrils of their
children and children's children from
Lexington to Yorktown to the emcr.
gence from their struggle to national In.
dependence-all this is American. There
are not indeed upon our country's head
the gray hairs of age, but there are
upon her body the scars Of many battle |
and these are marks Of honor. Americas
grand inheritance is not SO much in her |
broad acres and cxhaustlcss material
resources as in the blood and ancestry |
which are hers. Her duties arc commeu.
surate with her advantages, and as tho
whole world admires her freedom, so |
let it admire her moral greatness and |
her disposition to employ her vast power |
for the welfare of humanity.
Oh. America! Priceless heritage OF |
our fcrciatlcrs Let US never cease to |
honor ana adore thee, and may God IN |
his goodness and power mako us stead. |
fast in our purpose to preserve our coun.
try, with its government and its iust. |
tutoHs, as it was a hundred years ago !
and as it is today. AS Webster said on |
that memorable occasion of the dcdca.
ton Of Bunker Hill monument, let us
say here today; "Let our object be our
country, our whole country, and nothing |
but our coui try. And by the blessings Of |
God may that country itself become
vast and splendid monument. not Of op.
preston and terror, but Of wisdom, OF |
peace and Of liberty, upon which the !
whole world may gaze with admiration, |
forever
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