The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-18
DESTINY OF A NATION
Capt. Hobson Makes q Strong I'm.
promptu Address to the Mime
sofa Legislature.
"The Nation Destined by Heaven to
Be the Champion Of Free In
situations" 1880

Captain Richmond eParson Hobson, late
OF the United States navy, who lectures In
Minneapolis this evening. got q hearty
Minnesota welcome at the state capitol
to-day. He was escorted to the building
by Professor Wye of the state agricultural
school. Learning Of his presence, the
house sent a committee, consisting Of
Messrs. Fulton, Armstrong and w. I.
Nolan, to invite the naval hero to deliver
an address before a joint assembly Of the
two houses. They escorted hin, to the
house chamber, where the members re-
ceived him standing and with volley of
applause. Governor Van SAINT and Lieu
tenant Governor Jones took seats beside
him on the speakers dais and the sena-
tors filed in.
Speaker Babcock then introduced Cap
tain Hobson, who spoke in part as fol-
lows:s
Il can hardly express the very keen
appreciation feel for the great honor you
are doing mel scarcely know what to
say to such an august body as this, unless
refer to train Of thought that has been
,uppermost in my mind for some time.
While the earnest able men Of this ma
ton are working over and solving as they
arise the problems that come up In this
transition period of our history, while
they are doing this important work in
| relation to our internal affairs, we must
also feel taIlt there are external prob
transformation going on to-day among the
nations, as there is within them. The old
EZRA of militarism is giving way to an era
! OF industrialism, to an era or peaceful riv-
airy. for commercial supremacy. The
United States Is the mighty power of the
:new world, and the chosen exponent Of
this new era of industrialisnn.
What I wish to impress on you to-
day is that the fight is now on. This
generation is to see militarism checked,
repulsed and thrown back, and Americans
are the fighting nation that will bring
about this result. The reign of brute
force, in which the tsrong nations may
weak, must cease among the nations as
highway robbery has within them.
America, as the leader In this new
movement, must prepare herself to meet
the situation. America should take a
hand in the settlement Of the Chinese
question. In these world problems she
| should not satisfy herself with a voice
less than that of all the force Of mill
tarism combined. '.Going about the
earth as I have done, spending years in
other climes and civilizations, and see
| Ing the panorama Of the nations, I have
been profoundly impressed with the idea
that this nation is destined by heaven
to be the champion Of free institutions
and Of peaceful settlement of ,interna-
SASAAe1A eAAAe1Aios ~ pay IAAlS Pc1 We Illus
demand the attainment of naval SUI.
premacy for America, which will make
Eus strong enough to cope with the ma
tons of the world, and work out the
problems that face u.s.
The Governors Response.
/ Governor Van SAINT replied, express.
ing the thanks Of all present for Captain
Hobson's patriotic Words and for chi
splendid service to the country II,
said:
1.-THE state Of Minnesota has Away.
done her part and you can be sure sh,
will stand by the principles you have Sc
forth to us. Your presence here mean
. to us that with the north and soutl
united, edo not need to fear any powe
on earth. tesE4 g5ss,a
America always has man for ever
occasion, as she had that day in TIN
, harbor OF Santiago. To my mind, gentle
men, the man who has addressed us thi
morning is as great a hero as this coun
!. try has ever produced Gmt=
+ After adjournment Of the joint session
an impromptu reception was arranged
and the members all filed past the visito
and gave him a hearty grasp OF the hane