The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-04

a battle which he did not expect to
win. and which everybody else did
not expect him to lose. He has never
gone into a battle knowing exactly
now much he would win, but has al
ways believed that he would win
something
The American has had occasion for
oeIeying in himself. No man can ac-
complish things who does not believe
| IN himself. The tight rope walker and
| the man who loops the loop would
fall If he did not have confidence in
himself.
The American has succeeded SO
many times where others have failed
| that he no longer reckons on defeat.
he defeated the greatest nation of the
world in his early manhood and the
| confidence thus early established has
| Deen growing. History has told that
story and for more than a century it
mas been an inspiration to the brave
| hearts OF young Americans.
| For a century the American has
sought no Quarrels. He has only in
! sisted on other nations attending to
their own business. Now that he is
| strong, he has no disposition to seek
a quarrel with his interiors. Being
underestimate for a century, he has
| not received the respect which has
been his due. Now that his prowess
| is no longer questioned, he has no
occasion either to assert or to DEM
onstrate his courage. Now when our
state department sends the battleships
to an alien harbor to demand the re-
lease of an American subject. he is
released.
The American does not shoot from
the hip nor in voIIeys; he shoots from
the eye to get the enemy. He has
been the best soldier living and the
bravest, and is the noblest soldier
dead.
Has the American just cause for
belief in himself in the business
world? Look at the record. The
commerce of the world amounts to
ST, 200, 100000; of Great Britain,
$4,000. 100000; of the United States,
$2,600yOOO, 900; of Germany, $2,40O,-
100000. But the home commerce of
the United States-the internal trade
of Americans with Americans,
amounts to s22,00O,00O,000 per an
mum, sum greater than all the for
eign commerce of the world.
We have a greater railway mileage
than all Europe combined. We are
larger in territory than any of our
commercial rivals except Russia We
have grown from 100000 to SO,0O0,-
600 in population in a century; from
six persons to the square mile to
twenty-six to the square mile.
Has the American the right to brag
about the Louisiana purchase. That
purchase embraced 375,O25 square
miles; 560,016,00O acres. President
Jefferson paid $15,000,O00 for the
tract which would make it cost two
cents and six mills per acre. This
great state of Missouri alone contains
44,425,6OO acres. If these Missouri
lands were sold at 81 per acre the
state of Missouri alone would bring
nearly three times the cost of the en-
tire Louisiana territory.
This country would have been great
without the Louisiana purchase. the
American would have been indomitable
then now, but we can not make our
selves believe that without this great
purchase the republic would have been
more than a second rate power. WITH
out this great middle west slavery might
have continued and who knows what else
might have been in the way.
Has the American cause for pride in
other respects? A century ago our Gus
tom receipts were million dollars per an
annum. Then our international revenue
was 500 thousand dollars. Now it is 271
million dollars. Then our imports in
merchandise amounted to 81 million dol
lars, now 500 million dollars. Then our
net exports of merchandise amounted to
70 million dollars now 1881 million dol
lars Then the receipts of our postoHice
department were $50 thousand dollars:
now over 100 million dollars. Then there
was no recorded amount expended for
dollars annually in teachers salaries
alone. Has the American any cause for
his self-csteem and reorganization?
broad, new land is the best home for
liberty. The freest atmosphere comes
from the mountain tops and the pratr1es-
Americans did not have to be taught lib |
erty The pilgrims were educated In I'D |
erty on our lonely shores. Every move |
ment west has taught greater freedom |
New thoughts, new ambitions and new |
an untrammeled people, possessing plenty |
of room. America could not be other |
wise than free. Our men could not be |
otherwise than brave and strong.