Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28

certainly no misanthropist. While there
are many men who have served their coun>
try better in their generation than have
in mine, yield to no man in love for the
republic, or in pride in my country, and in
my countrymen who are making today her
honorable history. We may err in our day.
Our fathers erred in theirs. Yet oCr genera
tion is better than those who went before
it. The coming generations will be better
than we are.
The orator of today puts his emphasis on
glory, on empire, on power, on wealth. We
live under, and love, and we will shed our
hearts blood for the same flag which
foated over our fathers, and for which they
were ready to die. But IL sometimes seems
that the flag has a different meaning,
whether It floats over the capitol, or the
ship of war, or the regiment on the march,
or the public assembly. We no longer speak
of 1t. except coldly and formally, as the
symbol Of power, or OF false, cheap, tinsel
glory.
/ think the popular reverence for Wash
ington. and Lincoln. and for Sumner and
for Webster. is not abated But few poli-
tical speakers quote today the great sent
ences which made them so famous, or the
great principles to which they devoted their
lives.
Justice Harlan, a noble Kentuekian and
brave soldier. as we'll as a great Judge, said
in a speech to the Loyal Legion. that "the
heart of the north had grown cold toward
the millions Of bondsmen whose chains it
had broken" l heard an eminent republican
senator say. not long ago, that he was sorry
we had ever abolished slavery. But all
these things are temporary, and superficial
and cutaneous. The deep heart OF the
American people beats today, as ever. for
Justice and liberty.
The war OF 1912 brought great glory to
the nation. It was crowded with naval VIC
tories. 1t wor for us the freedom OF the
seas. But there is no statesman who had
/ anything to do with the war of 1912 that is
remembered now for the share he had in 1t.
| That war left us but one name which may
| fairly be called illustrious in our military
history-the name OF Andrew Jackson. And
the glory OF New Orleans has been, think,
eclipsed by the glory Of putting down nulli-
hcation.
The war with Mexico won for us a great
addition to our empire and the dominion OF
the Pacific. Yet the two generals who won
! fame in that war while both did their full
duty as soldiers, both were opposed IN
opinion to the war. The statesmen OF that
day who brought on the war with Mexico
are almost wholly forgotten now, while
Webster and Sumner and Clay and Benton
and Corwin hold their places in the affec-
tion of the people and shine with an un-
| diminished luster.
ROOseveIt's Hero.
! When Theodore Roosevelt chose his hero
| for the imitation Of the youth OF America
! he passed by Polk and Pierce and Blu
chanan and Gushing and the other states
men who brought on the Mexican war He
took Benton for his example, who gave up
power and once and popularity to protest
| against it.
/ l have somtimes wondered IL William
Bradford and Brewster and John Robin
son and Carver and Winthrop ever cele-
brate the landing Of the Pilgrims in the
world where they are now dwelling. II
they do, wonder who will be invited 10
the banquet? Who of later generations
! will be thought worthy to sit by their side