The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13
"American Possibilities"

American Possibilities" was discussed
by Frank b. Shuts. of Aurora. He said
I'm America everything is possible. Per-
sonal achievement Is unlimited, the capa-
bility of the community is unbounded, the
Nations destiny is unshaped. The gate
ways of the world are open TO the Ameri-
can citizen and anxious hands are beckon-
ing. What DO you desire most earnestly my
American friend? Fame, wealth, the splen-
dor of place, the thrill of power? They
all open to the humblest lad and the
meanest born within the boundaries OF the
land. What do you ask for my friend? A
nations progress, peoples thrift, all the
deathless glories of all the past duplicated
and magnified in the rising glories of the
day to come? America to-day, along every
line, in every field, is the master mind OF
the world
Mr. SHUTS then eloquently told OF the
rise, from humble beginnings, or Amerl-
cans who became famous in politics, lit
erature, war and industry Continuing, he
said:
I'VE keep our faces turned into the past
and reach the period of twenty years ago.
Now in Indiana the Tale of the Christ has
daZZied the literary intellect of the land,
and Lew Wallace has made himself the lion
of the period henry Ward Beecher is clos
ing a long life, rich with well deserved
hOnors, crowned by the sincerest tributes
tnat come to man. Booker Washington.
with kindling reputation, is teaching a
night school in Hampton Institute and is
making the first effort that was ever made
to drag his people from the mire. William
long struggle for the protection OF Amerl-
can industry and the prosperity of the
American people, which continued until his
eyes were closed. James Whitcomb Riley IS
publishing poems Of merit in the Indian
apolis Journal and people throughout the
State are bordering his name. Thomas A.
Edison, from the position Of newsboy on
Detroit railroad, has accomplished the I'M
thought of, the unrealized, in his manipu-
lation of the sciences and had raised the
question: Where will it all end? Where can
it all end?
And So tonight, / ask you to drink
with me the possibilities of the American
Nation and Of every boy within its borders.
l ask you TO drink with me to the one hun
bred years and more of our Nations glori-
Gus history; to the patriots who stood upon
Jersey line and fought at Monmouth; to the
volunteers who struggled the wintry
heights of Canada and on the plains Of
Mexico; TO the half million boys in blue
who, with triumphant progress, made free
dom possible; to those who Stormed the
blockhouse at San Juan and humbled the
bloody pride of CASTLE; l ask you TO
drink with to our men of affairs TO
those of business, to those of the profess
siOns, to those Of the streets and of the
shops whose brain and Drawn have made
it possible for America TO be. / drink to
our churches, with their olive branches of
peace, the guardian angels of the world; TO
our schools with their torches of knowl-
edge, the monitors of the tine; to our
newspapers with their tongues or flame, the
critics of the period. / drink 20 fair
women and brave men. | drink TO all the
gentle memories of the past; to all the
golden glory of the present; to all the songs
have been, all We are and all We hope to
he