The San Francisco call., 1901-12-24
UNITED STATES
A WORLD POWER
Justice Brewer Reviews
the New Conditions
in America.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 23.-The twenty
first annual banquet of the New England
Society of Pennsylvania was held to-
night in Horticultural Hall, covers being
laid for nearly 400 members and guests.
Guests were present from New York,
Baltimore, Washington, Boston and other
cities. Assistant United States Attorney
General James NJ. Beck, president of the
society, opened the speechmaking with
brief address. In coming down the line
of illustrious New Englanders, President
Beck mentioned the name of George
Dewey" This was the signal for an out
burst of applause such as was not re-
peated during the remainder of the even
ing. The principal speaker was Associate
Justice David Brewer of the United
States Supreme Court, who responded to
the toast, The United States; A World
Power" Justice Brewers address was
frequently punctuated with applause.
Among other things he said:
The twentieth century brings us face to face
with new conditions and we are conscious that
the United States of America has become
Some fancy that the Spanish war wrought the
great change. This is hardly so. 1t may have
cleared the air and brought us face to face
with the consciousness of the change, put 81
lent forces of commerce and religion have been
work for years bringing about that result.
Again and again il is stated that the United
States has now become world power So
it has but what is meant by the term
world power and how are we to justify our
right to that tirlep Not bv the manifestation
of military power or naval strength.
While wars viii be as wars have been, and
while there is within the resources of our coun-
try an undisplayed military and naval strength
that makes her the most dangerous enemy
land and sea- yet the dawn of the twentieth
century unveils a greater national glory than
can be won on any field of strife. While the
events Of the last two or three years have com
PEELED increase in military and naval
force, while the amount of money which is
called for by the Secretaries of War and Navy
seem to many too large, and while the roll Of
the drum and the blare of the bugle are more
often heard. vet the sons of the pilgrims will
,never turn our country over to the man on
horseback nor viii our dearest laurelS be GRIM
soned by the blood of the dying soldier.
We shall deserve to be called world-power
because relations with all nations will be
carried upon the highest principles of truth
and justice We stand in the council of ma
tions strong enough to fear attempt to
wrong US; so strong that We cannot afford to
wrong any, even the weakest nation strong
enough to be firmly just to the most powerful
of nations and so strong that We must be
kindly just with the weakest. We must be
frank well a honest. Henceforth diplo-
matte language must be something to reveal
pose. The honesty we must show is not tho
honesty Of Shylock, measured only by that
which is enumerated in the bond, but that of
the golden rule an honesty which compels us
to the other party to the transaction.
Into all the avenues of our official life is en-
tering civil service reform-promotion by
merit has ceased to be the joke of the politf-
clan and is coming to be the controlling rule
of all official life-not merely in the army and
navy land we have had of late some very posi-
tive assurance in respect to them) but in all
the departments of official life. national. State
and municipal Whatever may be the present
defects in the machinery employed to secure
the desired result. and very likely the defects
are many. it is of the brightest assurances
Of the future that the thought and, purpose of
the people are turned in this direction and they
will not be thwarted