Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-06-27


profound. You have come from every
state and territory in this vast do
main. The country and the town have
Wed with each other in sending here
their contributions to this splendid
throng. Every highway in the land is
leading here and crowded with the
members OF that great party which
sees in this splendid city the symbol
of Its rise and power Within the un-
exampled multitude is every rank and
condition of free men, every creed and
occupation. But today a common pur-
pose and desire have engaged us all,
and from every nook and corner OF
the country rises but a single choice
TO fill the most exalted office in the
world. He is no stranger waiting in
The shade to he called suddenly into
public light. The American people
have seen him for many years and al
ways where the fight was thickest and
the greatest need was felt. He has
been alike conspicuous in the pursuits
Of peace and in the arduous stress of
war. No man now living will forget
the spring of 'gS, when the American
mind was 50 inilamed and American
patriotism so aroused; when among
all the eager citizens surging to the
front as soldiers, the man whom this
convention has already in its heart
was among the first to hear the call
and answer to his name. Preferring
peace. but not afraid OF. war; faithful
10 every private obligation, yet first
10 volunteer at the sign of national
peril; leader in civil life and yet SO
quick TO comprehend the arts of war
fhat he grew almost In a day to meet
The high exactions of command. There
is nothing which so tests pan as
great and unexpected dangers. He may
pass his life amid ordinary scenes, and
what he IL or does few will ever know
but when the crash comes or flames
break out. a moments time will single
lut the hero in the crowd. flash
II lightning in the night will reveal
what years OF daylight have not dis
covered to the eye. And so the flash
If the Spanish war revealed that lofty
courage and devotion which the Amer
ican heart so loves and which you
nave met again to decorate and recog-
dizc His qualities do not need to be
retOld. for no man in that exalted place
since Lincoln has been better known
N every household in the land. He is
not conservative. II conservatism
means waiting till it is too late. He Is
not wise, if wisdom is to count thing
hundred times when once will do.
There is no regret so keen, in man or
country as that which follows an op-
)ortunity unembraced. Fortune scars
with high and rapid wing, and who
ever brings it down must shoot with
accuracy and speed. Only the man
with steady eye and nerve and the
'ourage TO pull the trigger brings the
lrgest opportunities to the ground.
lie does not always listen while all the
sages speak. but every day at night
iall beholds some record which, II not
7pmplete has been at least pursued
with conscience and intrepid resolu-
ion. He is no slender flower sway
ing in the wind, but that heroic fibre
which is best nurtured by the mount
aims and the snow He spends little
lime in review, for that he knows can
he done by the schools. A statesman
srappling with the living problems Of
the hour. he gropes but little in the
1ast. He believes in going ahead. He
believes that in shaping the destinies
If this great republic. hope is high
rr impulse than regret. He believes
hat preparation for future triumphs
is more important duty than the
inventory of past mistakes. A pro
ound student of history. he is today
the greatest history maker in the
world, With the instincts of the
scholar, he is yet forced from the
scholars pursuits by those superb
gree for those great world currents
now rushing past with larger volume
and more portentous aspect that for
many years before. The fate of ma
tons is still decided by their wars.
You may talk OF orderly tribunals and
learned referees; you may sing in
your schools the gentle praises of the
quiet life; you may strike from your
books the last note of every martial
anthem and yet out in the smoke and
thunder will always be the tramp of
horses, and the silent. rigid. upturned
face. Men may prophesy and women
pray, but peace will come here to
abide forever on this earth only when
the dreams of childhood are the ac-
cepted charts to guide the destinies
lt men. Events are numberless and
mighty, and no man can tell which
wire runs around the world. The ma
lion basldng today in the quiet of re
pose and contentment may still be on
he deadly circuit and tomorrow be in
Ihe tolls of war. This is the time
when great figures must be kept in
front. Ii the pressure is great, the
material to resist IL must be granite
md iron. Whether we wish 1t or not
America Is abroad In this world. Her
interests are in every street, her name
is ON every tongue. Those interests
so sacred and stupendous should be
trusted only to. the care OF those
whose power, skill and courage have
been tested and approved. And in the
man whom you will choose. the high
est sense of every nation in the world
beholds a man who typifes as no 9TH