Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-09

strenuousness for none. We do not derive
our power from the seats of the mighty, but
from the souls of the humble. We do not
ask for inane agreement springing from
faithless fire; but rather outbursts of dis
sension issuing from robust freedom
1--WE are not in executive session, but
rather in the committee of the whole. We
were sent here by the people to select a
candidate. We were not sent here by the
candidate to notify the people. Our adver-
saries, by dwelling tenderly on the sim
plicity of the lamented Mckinley, managed
to endure for three days the strenuos1ty
of Roosevelt. By recounting in affectionate
terms the achievements of the one they
evoked an enthusiasm which they 1mme-
diately credited to the other Through tears
that were shed for the noble dead they saw
o larger outline of the living Driven by
lash and lured by luck they called on all
the sacred dust to keep their spirits up. Set
to run for three full days the pendulum
petered out, the hands stuck fast and only
a strenuous shake could make the wheels
go round Spiritless in the sullen task they
worked uphill the grain and gravity of the
hour. Without the master whom they had
learned to love they fingered listless under
the whip of one whom they have learned
to fear. Stripped of premediated pomp and
shorn of soothing phrase the occasion
meant no more or less than an era OF
boots and spurs.
Take away the tribute TO the dead and
all that is left is horseman on the slopes
of San Juan. Remove the reVered black
that tells of a nations grief and underneath
Is khaki uniform. Withhold the record
made by hands and hearts now stun and all
that is left is usurpations bold account.
Pull off the mask that wears the kindly
smile of peace and see the grim and firm
set teeth of war 1t was the change from
sure and certain ways to the shifting, ed
dying currents of the wild unknown. 1t was
a leap in the darkness of republican eclipse
and four years hence will find them vainly
looking for the light. 1t marks the place
xuyhn arfN " n
forsC ok the beaten path and went on
wind ng way of untraveled roads 1t marks
the gap between the era Of the conservative
and the radical. 1t looks good now because
they do not see where the old force ends
and the begins But as they drive
away 10 sea the widening span twixt
craft and land will set many a life boat
toward the shore.
Talk of the Times.
''There is much talk of twisting tendons
in the race of life. of running out of breath
toward the open grave. The old and honor
ed way is still the best; but not so strenu-
Gus as To strain yourself nor yet simple
as to fall asleep. There is much said by
those who sit on cushioned chairs about
towards and weIklings in the nations life.
The sun-burnt farmer is Just as brave as
the star-crowned soldier. The man of nat
ural peace is hcrO hundred times to where
the of artificial war is hero once.
Somehow OF late the atmosphere of our ma
tional life is filled with a spray of blood:
somehow the march of progress sounds OF
hammered steel somehow, although the
sunlight of peace is all about us there is
now and then the CLEAN of bayonets in Its
radiant fire and flash of swords in its
silver beams; somehow, although the Con-
stitution is still in force. there Is a sense of
falling power and growing disrespect which
makes us feel that the venerable old man
so to Speaks halt and blind with years.
and burdens the strenuous household of his
grandchildren. Somehow, at times, there
runs sort of shock right down to the
foundations of this republic which makes
the structure trembIe. and all the country
pauses and listens and then returns to
work Somehow, although the future well
comes us il does with mailed hand.
somehow. although you cannot put your
finger on the cause, there is a universal
fear, the mother watching while her chill
dren sleep, now and then she hears the
bugle call. the tramp of soldiers and star
Ing IN the darkness of q dream she the
rigid upturned face The toiler turning
all his time and sinew to gain which others
get, begins to doubt that the government
is just. The man of means who puts it out
In the active currents of the tide and sees
the peril of this doubt and the govern
ments compromise with both begins to
feel that 1t is better boarded than en-
ployed.
THE north and south each wearing scars
that tell of war, almost forgiven and for
got, feel the fear again that a problem
which only time can settle right, will be
forced upon them wrongly Behind these
fears and doubts and startled dreams and
vague msgivings is many hidden cause
But over them Is one at least revealed For
Lincoln said In the sadness of his great
soul. with malice toward none, with char
ity for all, with faith in the right as God
gives us the wisdom to see IT. And Roose-
welt said. in the glory OF his self-contem-
plation, tread softly and carry big stick.
Republican Claims.
And between these beginning and the
end of republican growth, In time and tenn
per. Is all their wild descending flight
With all they know and feel of the coun-
trys question of their course, the republic
can party yet claim every fruit of soil and
sun. of brain and soul. They say that by a
wise administration of natures laws they
brought abundant harvest from the SOIL
They say that by careful direction of sci
entifc search they added untold volumes
to the store of common knowledge They
say that invention under their control has
lifted loads of labor from mankind They
say that religions long sleep was broken
by the stimulus of republican virtue, and
they point with pride to the churches all
over the land. They say that education
was unpopular until they took IL up, and