The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-18
According to the View of the Former
President I'm His Speech mt New
York Last Night.
TIME FOR SOBER THOUGHT
AND RETURN TO PATRIOTISM AND
GOOD SENSE OF OLD, HE SAYS.
Sermon on the killing of Beers in
south Africa and the Staying of
Natives in the Philippines.

| NEW YORK, Jan. 1.-THE Holland So
| ciety held it's sixteenth annual dinner at
| the Waldorf-Astoria tonight The Rev
| DR.. Henry Van Dyke, president of the So
ciety. presided. On his right sat ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland. and Tunis c. Bergen at his
left. Covers were laid for 800, and all places
| were taken. The speakers were Grover
| Cleveland DR.. Andrew III. Smith and
| Charles w. Dayton Mr.. Cleveland said;
1.-The cordial welcome you extend to
| me is exceedingly grateful and comfort
| ing for il gives me a grain of satisfaction
| in the ordeal that confronts me. am con-
| vinced that the art of making an after
dinner speech without distress is for me
a sealed book; and as the years pass,
am only saved from complete wretched-
| ness In my efforts in that direction by
! the kindness and toleration of those who
| are good enough to listen to me. 1 cannot
! resent the charge that am apt to preach
sermon on occasions of this kind, for
| L am afraid this accusation is justified. IL
/ has been my lot to be much on the sober
side OF life, and to feel the pressure of great
! responsibilities. Besides, i believe 1t some
| times happens that an excess of light
| hearted gaiety creates condition of popu-
/ lar thought and impulse that may profit
aoly be steadied by. sedate suggestions
| ment-even though 1t may be called SER
| monizing. AT any rate / am quite willing
10 take a humble place among the SER
monizers, L., this time of headlong national
heedlessness, and to invoke the cultivation
| and saving grace of Dutch conservatism.
| This Is the kind of conservatism that
counts the cost, but for the sake of prin-
clple ana freedom will disregard the cost,
| that lays out voyage by chart and COM
pass and follows chart and compass to the
end; that loves the liberty and national
happiness which rest upon tried and sure
| foundations; that teaches reverence for
| national traditions and encourages the peo-
| pies satisfaction with their eountry's mis-
| sion. 1t Is the kind of conservatism in
which our Constitution had IFS birth and
which mas thus far been the cource of
| Nations safety and strength-the conserva-
| tism OF justice, Of honor, of honesty, of
| industry, of frugality and of contented
| homes
| CONSERVATISM CAST ASIDE.
'In this assemblage of those who know
so well the meaning of these things, the
| question is suggested whether in present
| conditions this conservatism characterizes
the conduct or guides the sentiment of our
| people. There can be but one answer to
| this question. Conservatism has in great
| degree been jauntily cast aside or condemn
| ed as opposed to our country's welfare and
| glory. A strange voyage has been entered
| upon without count of cost, and without
chart or compass. The tried and sure foun-
/
| piness have been discredited. Reverence for
our national traditions has been relaxed
| and satisfaction with our country's mis-
| sion has been undermined. The restraints
| and limitations Of our Constitution have
| become CALLING and irksome under the
| temptations of national greed and aggran-
| dizement. Our old love Of peace, honor
| and Justice has been weakened, and fru-
| gality and contentment are not now traits
| inseparable from American character.
war, even with the worlds advanced
| civilization may sometimes be necessary
| and justfab!e, but whether necessary and
| justifiable OK not, the decentralization that
/ follows in its train can never be evaded. 1t
| teaches bloody instructions which, in a
| country whose citizens do the fighting, cam
not fail to leave their impress for time.
at least, uron public and private life in
| time of peace
'Thirty years after the close cf the war
| for the preservation of the Union a treaty
| of arbitration was formulated between the
| United States and Great Britain which, il
| completed, would have gone tar towards
| removing every pretext OF war between the
| two countries Thus these two great Eng
| lish-speaking nations then assumed leader
| ship in the path of peace, and In advocacy
| OF the abolition of WARMTH the hope and
| expectation that the example would be
| followed by other nations, and that more
| general abortion of arbitration means
| of settling international disputes would re-
| suit in a great advance towards the aban-
| donment Cf war throughout the world. This
| treaty failed OF confirmation in the Senate
| of the United States. Less than five years
| passed ard these English-speaking cham
| oions Of peace and arbitration are still OPP
| Grating I'm parallel lines-one In the Philip
| mines and tho other in South Africa-but no
| longer Cor peacs and arbitration. Both are
killing natives in an effort to possess their
| lands.
| case n is most serious one II England
| succeeds in her attempt In South Africa,
| she will but add another TO her list OF sim'-
1 hxoxr 10 urfl he IL
| ingated: and because of our engagement
/ in a similar venture in another quarter.
| they will miss the expressions OF American
| svmpathy which we are accustomed to ex-
| tend to those who struggle for national life
| and independence. On the other hand, with
| success In our subjugation effort new, uE-
| tried and exceedingly perilous situation will
| he forced upon us. We can conquer Philip
pines. and after conquering them can prob
| ably govern them. 1t Is In the strain upon
| our institutions. the generalization of our
| people the evasion of our constitutional
| limitations and the perversion Of our ma
| tional mission that our danger lies. AS
| distinguished bishop has said. The ques-
ton Is not what we shall do with the Phil
| innines but what the Philippines Will do 20
| u.s. Our country will never be the same.
again For veal or woe, we nave already
irravocabIy passed beyond the old lines
4 .aThe republic will. in some sort. be saved.
| Shall IL be only in name and semblance.
| with fair external appearance, but with the
| germs of decay fastened upon its vitals.
| or shall IT, though changed, still survive IN
such yigor and strength as TO remain the
hone and pride OF free Americans?
| .'The problem is momentous one. Its
| solution depends upon the extent 10 which
| tho old patriotism and good sense of our
| coontrymen can be rescued from impend-
| ing danger Thus these are sober days for
thoughftii citizens--days for preaching
/ days for sermonizing III We are TO be
| saved from disaster. IL must be through the
| cultivation and enforcement OF that sort
! Of conservatism thar should find con-
genial home in the Holland Society. In
the midst of reckless tumult and In the