The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-21

judgment upon their brethren. who,
whatever their shortconing, are doing
strong mems work, as they bring the
light of civilization into the worlds
dark places The criticism Of those who
live SOFTLY remote from the strife, IS of
little Values but it would be difficult to
overestimate the value of the mission
airy work of those who go out to share
the hardship, and while sharing it, to
wage war against the myriad forms OF
brutality. It is such missionary work
which prevents the pioneers from sink
ing perilously near the level of the saw
agery against which they contend.
Without it the conquest of this CONT
nent would have had little but an ami
NAL side. Without the pioneers fierce
and rude virtues and somber faults
would have been left unit by the flame
of pure and loving aspiration. Without
it the life Of this country would have
been a life of inconceivable hard and
barren materialism. Because of it,
deep beneath and through the national
character there runs that power of firm
adherence to a lofty ideal upon which
the safety of the nation will ultimately
depend.
Honor, thrice honor to those who for
three generations, during the period of
this peoples great expansion, have seen
that the force of the living truth ex-
panded as the nation expanded. They
bore the burden and heat of the day;
they tOiled obscurely, and died unknown,
Inal we might come INTO q glorious AeL-
itage. Let US prove the sincerity of our
homage to their faith and their work by
the way we manfully carry toward COM
pletiOn what under them was so well
begun
Coming up here tonight I made up my
mind to speak to you of the n manifesto
tons of the spirit of Righteousness, of
something that has taken place TINS day
and of something that has happened with
in ten days. An action of the nation
which eliminated III the creation today
and III the starting OF q new republic
on its course. That has represented four
years Work-blundering and shortcomings
in the work, of course; and there We're
men of little faith who only saw the short
cOmings and the blunders-but it repre-
sents work triumphantly done We have
the right to feel proud that we have
kept ever pledge to the letter and estab-
lished new national precedent do not
remember another such case-and have
looked for one with care-a case where,
as the result Of such war. the victori-
GUS nation has contented itself by starting
a new nation, free on the difficult path
of self-goVernment.
More anarchy and ruin would have been
before the island if we had been satisfied
with the victories Of war and left its peo-
pie to shift for themselves. For four
years our representatives in the island
have been representatives largely of the
army. I sometimes hear the army at
tackled, and I have even heard missions
attacked. Still when great work is to be
done in peace or in war it is good to have
the army to depend upon. Our repre-
sentatives worked to build up the school
1 system, to establish sanitary measures,
0
starting of industries, that the new gov
eminent might begin with the chances IN
| its favor.
Now as nation we bid it Godspeed
and we intend that it shall have all the
aid we can give it. ! trust and believe our
/ people in the national legislature will see
to it shortly that we have the advantage
| of entering into peculiarly close relations
| with our economic system.
THAT is one deed consummated today.
Now for the other. Ten days ago an
| appalling calamity befeu another portion
/ Of the West Indian islands; territory be-
longing to two different nations; islands
not under our flag; but their need was
! met it as speedily as possible. Congress
at once appropriated large sums of money.
They were augmented by ppr1vate gifts
And, gentlemen, ] find as usual the army
and navy the instruments through which
| the work to be done could be done. The
/ minute I wanted men who could drop the
| work they We're engaged upon and feel
| assured that neither pestilence nor vol
! canO would make them swerve from their
duty. men of IncOrruptible integrity, L
| them to the stricken island. I am sure
you all feel proud that ships bearing the
American flag should be among the first,
| think the very first, to take relief to
those overtaken by so appalling a disas-
ter.
1T is a fine thing to have at the open
ing of the century such omens of righte-
Gus acting, of international brotherhood.
Omens OF the future, where a sense of
duty to the neighborhod viii extend along
mated in the starting today of the free
/ republic of Cuba on the paths of indie
pendence and being first to reach out a
| helping hand to those overwhelmed by
disaster without regard to the flag to
which they paid allegiance"