The Van Buren press., 1901-12-28
THE NEW WORLD POWER.
Address of Associate Justice Brewer at thu
New England society's An
nual Banquet.

nual Banquet.
Philadelphia, Dec. 24.-The twenty
first annual banquet of the New En-
gland Society of Pennsylvania was
held last night in Horticultural hall,
covers being laid for nearly four hun
dred members and guests. Guests
were present from New York, Balti-
more, Washington, Boston and other
cities. Assistant United States At
torney- General James A. Beck, presi-
dent of the society, opened the
speechmaking with @ brief address.
In coming down the line of the Illus
trious New Englanders President
Beck mentioned the name of George
Dewey" This was the signal for an
outburst of applause such as was not
repeated during the remainder of the
evening. The chairman then intro
duced as the first speaker Associate
Justice David j. Brewer, of the Uni
ted States supreme court, who re-
SDOnutu W thC tOdses Inv ChitNo
States; World Power"
Justice Brewers address, which fol-
lows, was freely punctuated by ap-
plause
"The twentieth century brings us
face to face with new condi-
tions, and we are conscious that
the United States of America have
become more important factor in
the worlds thought. Some fancy
that the Spanish war brought the
great change. That is hardly so. 1t
may have cleared the air and brought
us face to face with the conscious
ness Of the change, but silent forces
of commerce and religion have been
at work for years bringing about that
result
again and again it is stated that
| the United States have now become
world power. So they have, but
what is meant by the term, world
power. and how are we to justify our
right to that title? Not by the mani.
festation of military or naval
strength:
"While wars will be as wars have
been, and while there Is within the
resources of our country an undis-
played military and naval strength
that makes her the most dangerous
enemy on 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 compelled an increase in our
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,
yet the sons Of the Pilgrims will ney.
er turn our country over to the man
on horseback. nor will our dearest
laurels be crimsoncd with the blood
Of the dying soldier. We shall de-
serve to be called n world-power, be-
cause our relations with all nations
will be carried upon the highest prin-
ciples of truth and justice. We stand
in the council of notions stronge enough
to fear no attempt to wrong MS; 80
strong that we can not 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
| .,t,t Ia. xxtnnLapt Nv, ,a frn plg
as well as honest. 1Ienccforth, di-
plomntic language must be some
thing to reveal and not something to
conceal thought rhd purpose. The
honesty we must practice is not the
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 see the
other party to the transaction"
The justice, in noting some OF the
on civil service reform. In regard 10
this he said;
Into all the avenues OF our official
life is entering civil service reform
promotion by merit has ceased TO
Ire the joke of the politician, and IL
coming TO be the controlling rule OF
all official lifc-not merely in the
army and navy land we have had OF
late some very positive occurrences
respect TO them), but In all the de-
pnrtments Of official life, national
state and municipal Whatever may
be the present defects In the machIs'
cry designed tosecure the desired re.
suit, and very likely the defects are
many, II IL one of the bright assur.
nnces of the future that the thought
and purpose Of the people are turned
in this direction and they will not
he thwarted"