The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-18
THE UNITED STATES.
Hon. HOIxe Smiths Tribute to the
Country and Its People.


Country and Its People.
Hon. Hoke Smiths response to 1.-THE
United States" was a tribute to the
great country which is so linked in
history with that of the Irish people
You invite me to speak upon the
United States" said Mr.. Smith,
turning to President Meldrim, land
yet warn me to avoid politics. Still,
l ask you to review with me some of
the past, that we may consider ques-
tions of the present and the future.
Less than a century and a quarter
ago we won our national freedom, yet
no country to-day equals ours in ma
terial wealth, or in percentages of
growth, in manufactures and com
merce. From 1870 to 1890 Great Brit
ain, France and Germany gained in
wealth $30,000,000000, while the United
States alone during the same period
gained $4,000, 100000. The growth of
our country as compared to that of
others since 1890 is even more as
founding. There were, it is true, thir-
teen states which formed at first the
Union and they claimed territory
stretching from the Atlantic ocean to
the Mississippi river. But the set
Elements were chiefly along the coast
and little even was known of the in
terror. Their entire population was
then but little more than that Of the
state of Georgia now, and where to-
day are the great cities of New York
and Boston, with their millions of
people and marvellous trade reaching
to the limits of the globe, two small
towns were located, not so large as
many we pass on the lightning ex-
press trains of the present east, with
out even knowing we have reached a
way station"
A Nation of Resources.
OF the resources of the country, Mr..
Smith said Until recently our
manufacturers were content to rely
chiefly upon home consumption Now
their growth and strength has be-
come such that they seek to control
every foreign market.
THE United States between the At
lantic and Pacific, will soon furnish
contiguous homes to 100, 900 free
citizens " said Mr.. Smith, land are
capable of giving support to ten times
that number.
Beginning with a fixed purpose to
form no entangling alliances, the
United States, with a century and a
quarter of their union, will easily be-
come the first world power among ma
tions, and already our foreign diplo-
macy has gone too far to permit us
to cease exercising the influence
which our position gives.
How are these great changes from
poverty to abnormal wealth among in
dividuals to effect our citizens, and
how is the growth in strength and
power to influence the conduct of our
nation?
Shall the possession of wealth be
esteemed preferable to a noble, I'M
selfish, patriotic manhood; or shall it
be considered only Of value as it is
used to carry universal knowledge,
and to elevate the human family in
recognition of the holy doctrine that
we are our brothers keeper? Shall
a greed for foreign soil control our ma
TONS conduct, or shall we borne full
armed into the arena of nations, prac-
tice the glorious principles of our De-
claration of Independence, and do
gladly unto others as we have forced
others to do unto us?
The,-Country's Development.
Il do not underestimate the natural
resources of our country" said Mr.
Smith but l maintain that the
Transformation of almost wilder
ness, during but little more than a
century, into forty-five states throb-
blllS MiOIl dCllN1ty ana commercial
power, has been due chiefly to the train
ing school of self denial through
which our ancestors passed, and to
the form Of government which they
wisely established. For many years
we of the South were not in position
10 do full part OF the maintenance
of the highest purposes of the repub-
lie. But, thank God, that day has
passed. The aid which our country
gave to the Queen of the Antilles fur
nished Eastern, Western and South
ern men the opportunity to mingle !
their blood upon the battlefield be-
meath the Stars and Stripes. And to
prove to each other and to the ma
tions Of the world, the indissoluble |
love and patriotism which cement our |
bonds of union. That love and pa
triotism does not complete it's work |
by standing against a foreign foe. |
1t must show itself in devotion to the |
principles for which our ancestors |
spoke in 1776 and for which they sur !
fered in the seven years war that fol- |