Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-05


lieye we shall settle the questions that
are before US as wisely and decidedly
as our fathers settled the questions
that were before them, and that the
sons Of the fathers will take their place
in history site by side with the fathers
themselves.
But we have before us now, as they
lad before them then, an ever living
issue. Back OF the olang upon the
battlefield and the discussions upon the
platform. 10 the prints and in the legis
lative halls, the philosopbic eye oan
see that the real questions then and
the real question now is the same.
How shall We make this world better
world to live IN and this life happier
life to live? A great step forward was
taken for cur country when it won Its
Independence of Great Britain, but
greater steps have been taken since and
are being taken now. The world IL
growing better every day and the men
and women in it are becoming better
men and women and life is becoming
better worth living. Let US do our
part, 30 that when the historian shall
oollate the causes which led to the
better times that are coming, not the
least among these causes shall be
named the patriotic actions and effort
OF the Soma and Daughters of the
American Revolution.
| l was travelling one time In Con-
cord coach over the oresIs of thu Rocky
Mountains 1t was long journey. We
pursued IL by night and by day, but it
| was jolly party of US and the time
passed rapidly and pleasantly. The
| first night we whiled away the time
with song and Jest and story, until as
We were pursuing our way in the dark.
ness, one of the passengers pointed to
a light in the distance. what is it?"
Somsone answered ''It is forest on
fire." Another said "Some settlers
cabin Ia in fames.'' and still another
that it was the Aurora Borealis. And
while we were sitting and watching
and discussing, some contsndIng that
it was one thing and some another, the
| question settled itself. The orb of day
rays of the sun that we had seen.
Mid the dim light which always sur
rounds the present, in the darkness
through which we are ever travelling on
life's journey, we can all Of US see today
a rift in the ciouds,a light on the hori-
zon, glimpse into the future. Some
men think that that future that they
sac is one tting, and some another.
Some think they can define the outlines
of the man on horseback, stronger
government, that shall put down by
sheer force the turbulence of the hour.
Some think that they can see anarchy,
the absence of all government, life
with no restraint. Some think they can
sue socialism, condition in which life
is all government, and there is no
chance for individual activity. The
pessimist sees nothing but a darker
| cloud behind and more troubulous times
to come. The optimist Hees nothing but
| what is sweet and lovely and pleasant
| in the world that ia TO be; but we, sons
Of stern but liberty loving fathers, are
practical men. We are not disturbed
by the walls OF the pessimist or the
dreams of the optimist We are not led
away by the wild vaearies of the
| anai chist or the socialist. We apurn as
our fathers spurned, the very suggestion
OF despotism we have no use for the
man on horseback. What we see through
the rift In the clouds is life not essen
TALLY different from the life we are liv-
ing now, only modern invention and
improved processes OF production, the
wisdom and experience gained through
the ages, will make it a life with less
hardship and more happiness. What
we see is neither despotism nor anarchy,
neither iron rule nor lawlessness,
neither force nor license. tut govern
msnt, continuing as it begun, with its
sharp edges rounded off by the attrition
OF experience, and taking more and
more advantage of the teachings of the
ages; government not of the few for
the benefit of the few, nor of the many
to the exclusion of the few. but of all
the people for all the people. We see
through our rift in the clouds the old
flag that floated at Cooch's Bridge,
with star upon star added as the years
go by from all parts of the American
Continent and from the Occident and
representing sovereign State in which
life shall be inviolate. property shall be
safe and the people happy. We see also
the people of all the earth gazing with i
upturned faces and longing eyes upon
that flag which represents freedom,
happiness and prosperity. We see
better as we'll as q greater United States,
a nobler as we'll as q happier people.
May God grant chat what we see to
day in the dim light that comes over
the horizon of the future; may be seen
in living and bright reality as that
future becomes the present.
Foremost among thoseiwho will scale
that opening rift and call men onward
to the better future that is to come,
will, | hope, be the Sons aud Daughters
of the American Revolution.
GEN. WILSON'S ADDRESS.
Gen. Wilson, who was introduced as
a man whose name was household
word on four continents, spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. President, Ladies' aud Gentle.
men The history OF the occasion which |
biings us together today upon this con-
Hecrated spot mas been sufficiently eX- |
planned by the clog uent speakers who |
have preceded me. As one who has |
followed the flag both at home and |
abroad for over third Of century, |
the more pleasing task has been |
assigned to me, of making brief ad-
dress, In which shall endeavor to tell |
you what that Gag stands for, what it |
has stood for, and what in Gods provi- |
denoe it shall stand for throughout all |
time.
Every school boy knows that it was
adopted by the Congress on the 14th |
day of June, 1777. in the second year
of that revolution by which the United |
States secured their independence, and
took their place among the free and |
sovereign nations of the world. Every
school boy knows TINT its ID stars in
blue field. and its ID stripes of alternate
uh IN nj