The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-05-30

average man it is conceivable may be quite
as rich in a monarchy as IN democracy.
The man who cannot appreciate any good
that is not readable in terms OF money can
not see the advantage of democracy over
monarchy. That the mole, just out of his
burrow cannot appreciate the beauty OF
the rainbow, does not prove anything
against the rainbow. Human brotherhood
is not a question of profits but of prin-
ciples. Not profits but principles have
thus far been supreme in our American
life, Not for profits but for principles did
our forefathers launch the Mayfower. Not
for profits but for principle did our fathers
pledge their lives. their fortunes and their
sacred honor. Not for profits but for
principles did the boys in Blue endure the
tolls of battle field and forced marches.
Once, few men who controlled the ma
chinery of government, according to their
own pleasure and profits imposed tax up
on men and called 1T government. Our
fathers withstood this claim, and the ques-
ton at issue, mark you,-was not cheap
tea but taxed tea. In our day a few men
who control the machinery of trade, for
their own profits and gains, impose tax
upon all the necessaries of life. We are as
much the underlings of these combinations
as our fathers were the underlings of dis
tant Parliament. The question at issue,
mark this,-is not SO much cheaper. beef,
though God knows that high priced beef
means much to the poor; the real question
is taxed beef If our fathers had accepted
the doings of Parliament they would have
deserved their chains. If we their children
stand the impositions of these combin-
atoms we deserve our chains. people
has all the liberty it deserves and uses, and
if we lose our liberties we deserve to lose
them.
We believe in liberty for ourselves; we
believe that popular government is price
less boon. Then by the very nature of the
case we believe in liberty for all mankind;
we believe that popular government is the
inalienable privilege of every people. Lib
erty is the human birthright of every son
of man. The drift of history is toward
democracy, end popular government in
every land is as certain as to-morrow's SUM-
rise What does this mean? What is our
duty in the world? How shall we conduct
ourselves among the nations? Shall we
muster an army and go forth to dethrone
kings and to deliver mankind? That would
be as wicked as it would be futile. That
would be to retard and not to hasten the
coming day. Not all peoples are ready for
popular government; not all peoples have
yet learned cooperation and self control.
We shall not try to force our institutions
upon people who are not prepared for
them; we shall not attempt to Americanize
the world by force of arms. That is to
prove recreant to every principle. of our
national history. Nor shall we seek to &C
quire alien territory and hold subject PEG
Piles under our national tutelage. That is
to make our American idea matter of
latitude and longitude. We believe with
Lincoln that no man is good enough to be
trusted with the rule of his fellow, be that
fellow white, black or brown. We are
ready to help all who seek our help: we
are willing to guarantee the independence
from all other nations of any people who
may seek our protection; but we will COM
pei no people to become Americans: we
will help them be themselves and work out
their own destiny in their own way. We
will do for others as we have done for
Cuba; and our treatment of Cuba will be
one of the bright pages in our national
history.
One thing is all important in our thought
of our mission among the nations. Ideas
are more potent than armies. A great idea
is the most potent thing beneath the stars;
and nothing can stand before it. Mighty
armies may be defeated; for they have
been defeated before; but great idea, is
like the sun rising which nothing can de-
lay or hinder. There are two kinds of
greatness possible to nation. There is a
greatness which is measured by extent Of
territory and strength of armies,-the great
ness of Assyria and Rome. There is an
other greatness which is measured by ideas
and thoughts,-the greatness of little
Israel The greatness of Assyria and Rome
with their armies and empires is but van
ished dream; the greatness OF Israel with
its thoughts and ideas is living and wax
ing. The greatness and the might of
America do not inhere in our territory, our
NUN bers, or our wealth; our American
Idea is our national glory. Let us under
stand we'll our American Idea; let us be
loyal to it; let us seek to make it a reality
in our national life and institutions; and we
shall conquer the world We shall conquer
the world, not by armies and commerce,
which at best is but a low and pagan form
of w 9h0lI world
by our ideas and institutions, which is the
only real and lasting conquest. Let us
show the meaning of liberty and the glory
of popular government; let us eXalt our
American ideas and seek to realize those
ideals; and the whole world shall be blessed
The age of the people is coming and the
age of kings is passing. the shoulder OF God
is behind the rising tide, and the child can
sweep back the ocean with his broom more
easily than the autocrat can stay this rising
flood. Let us be true to our fathers, true
to ourselves, true to our ideals and we shall
hasten on the glorious day.
In the providence of God great and
wonderful work has been laid upon this
nation. We are an elect people with the
clear stamp of God upon US. 1t is impor-
tant that we endeavor to understand our
mission that we may make our calling sure.
What is the end that we seek as a nation?
What is the vision that glowed before the
eyes of our fathers. 1t may hap in the
course of time that the people of the United
States shall become the most populous,
the richest, the mightiest nation of the
globe. Suppose this result be attained;
and it is a contingency that is not at all
remote or unlikely. Is this consumma-
ton to be wished? To augment our wealth,
to increase our numbers, to become the
mightiest nation on the globe,-is this our
ambition? Then ashes to ashes be our cpl
taph soon or late. For what are mere num-
bers, or material wealth or strong battle
ships? Do these things make a nation
truly great? Do these things ensure nat
ional perpetuity? Do these things mean
the fulfllment of our national calling and
election? To ask such questions is to an
swer them. A peoples life CONSISTENT not
III the abundance of the things which 1t
possesseth. There is no nation saved by
the multitude of its horse or the strength
of its battleships. In returning and rest
shall ye be saved, in quietness and con-
fidence shall be your strength.
Men of the Grand Army of the Republic.
we welcome you to. day for your own sakes
and for the sake of the cause you so nobly
defended. We are grateful to God for the
example you have given us of love OF coun-
try and devotion to duty. We salute you,
and pray God that for you all there may be
an abundant entrance into the eVerlaSt-
ing Kingdom OF God through the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ. We remind our
selves of your devotion that our hearts may
be stirred with like devotion. We pray
God that we may all play our part we'll in
the struggle for our nations future. On
one of the dark days in old Rome when
the destiny of the empire hung trembling
in. the scale, the people gathered in the
Forum to consider the issue before them.
Orator after orator spoke, appealing to the
fear and to the patriotism of the people; but