The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-06-05

4
while the sunlight flashes intelligence
to mid-ocean.
| We have seen mighty tide Of
humanity surging westward cross
| rivers and plain, over mountain ana
down to the pillows of western seas.
| We have seen vast empire spring
ing into life in the great northwest
and behold it peopled with civiliza-
ton that is the wonder of the world.
We have seen the last fetter of the
slave destroyed in the fervent heat
of patriotism. We have seen two ele-
ments, white and black struggling in
the race of life for supremacy, Crap
ping on land and sea for mastery.
| Through the valor, suffering and
matchless patriotism of American
soldiery we have seen the Spanish
| flag driven from the western world
and by that same valor and suffering
we have seen Old Glory planted in the
Philippine Islands, the gates of Asia
| opened to newer civilization and the
| power of Mahommed, Buddha and Con-
fucius lettering to their fall before
| the banners of the living Cod
We have seen the stars and bars go
| forever down and today that dear old
| nag, the stars and stripes that Wash
| ington unfurled, that Grant nailed to
| the stars, and that Lee, Hallelujah
| to the Most High, could not tear down,
| kissed by the morning sun, radiant at
MONDAY, redolent in sunset glow, float
! in triumph over one people dominated
| by common patriotism.
My countrymen, as we are gathered
beneath the root-tree of this memorial
| day we should take counsel of each
| other concerning the important query,
what shall our future be-"
Less than four years ago the sun
| babe that flag farewell at the golden
| gate of California while at our hour
of midnight its silken folds are filled
by the MONDAY breezes of the Philip
pine Islands where it floats as an EN-
blem of authority of protection to all
the people there.
The productions of our shops, looms
and factories, as well as of our fields,
forests and mines are found in the
markets of the world. Our ships ride
upon every sea, and wherever that flag
| floats, the hat of the passer,by is lifted
in recognition of its power. But my
friends it is meet that we remember
the words of Holy Writ, "He that
thinketh he standeth let him take
heed lest he fall"
There are grave yards of nations as
well as of men. The problems of the
present cannot be solved by the
achievements of the past. The battles
OF today cannot be won by pointing to
the victories of yesterday. Civil gov
eminent is never a perfect structure.
1t is never finished The moral and
commercial elements composing it
either develop it, or retard its pro-
gress. Human wisdom at it's best is
finite. The people in our republic
are its rulers, and the shapers of its
future. They may and should study
not only their past, but that of other
nations. But this will not suffice I'M
less there is obedience to established
law, recognition of duties to be per-
formed for the general good, and an
intense patriotism, we cannot hope to
build for others, much less for those
who come after us. The character of
a nation is measured by that of its
people. AS stream cannot rise higher
than its fountain head, neither will
the laws of a people rise above their
dhpil dllblSJ ltOpGS anu
Radicalism is moral and in politics
sometimes thrust laws upon the
statute books for which the public
conscience is not prepared.
Such laws speedily vanish and those
only live that are the result of labor
and thought at the fire-sides of me
people.
The true measurement of the oceans
depths cannot be ascertained when it
is storm-tossed and the waves run
high, neither can a great problem in
governmental affairs is properly
solved when the public mind is
agitated by great public excitement
thereon. From the calm dead level
of mature thought and consideration
are safe conclusions reached
Within the past three or four years
there has developed in our commercial
life danger to our institutions more
deadly than human slavery, more
paralyzing to patriotism than ignor-
ance and superstition. This evil and
danger is what l shall call the murder
of competition by the unlawful com.
bination of capital.
1t is an economic sentiment familiar
70 all civilization that competition is
the life of trade. If by any means
this is abridged or lesesned, to that ex
tent Will activity and endeavor be
paralyzed. What class of men are fill
ing the public minds at this hour?
The most brilliant statesman, the most
finished orator, the sweetest singer re-
ceives but passing notice. 1t is the
kings of commerce, such as the Nor.
gans, Goulds, Rockafellers and Van
derbilts that receives the most atten-
ton from the people. 1t is not art,
song, literature nor state-craft that abb
serb public attention. Commercialism
is the ruling spirit of the age Hanni-
bal, Caesar and Napoleon bathed the
world in blood, filled 1t with heart
aches, signs and tears to satisfy the
ambition of conquerors. Ambitious
spirits in every age have sought for
dominion over their fellows. Some
times many years elapse before their
power is broken, but at last the de-
spairing cry ''and thou too Brutus''
comes from dying Caesar, and call
is lost cries the crushed Napoleon
at Waterloo.
History but repeats itself in the
conditions of today. Competition las
been the leading spirit in our de.
velopment. 1t has led the way of all
progress.
SO long as Morgan, Armour, Car.
negie, Rockefeller and their associates
confined themselves to the develop:
ment Of their various enterprises in
natural way, there was no anxiety on
the part of the general public at the
rapid growth of their fortunes. But
when watered stocks were issued, when