Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-19
Editors In
St. Louis

JPN uone VI tne arts or profess
sions has the tremendous accelera-
ton Of progress in recent years had
more effect than upon that Of which
you are the representatives. We
easily grow used to miracles; 1t will
seems mere commonplace when i
say that all the wonders of the magi-
clans. invented by those ingenious
Oriental poets who wrote the Aribian
Rights pale before the stupendous
facts which you handle in your daily
lives. The air has scarcely ceased
to vibrate with the utterances of kings
and rulers in the older realms when
their words are read in the streets
of st. Louis and on the farms of Ne
braska. The telegraph is too quick
for the calendar; you may read in
your evening paper a dispatch from
the antipodes with a date Of the fol
lowing day. The details of a battle
on the shores of the Hermit Kingdom
Ia land which a few years ago was
hidden in the mists of legend-are
printed and commented on before the
blood of the wounded has ceased to-
flow. Almost before the smoke nf
the conflict has lifted we read the
obituaries of the unsepultured dead.
And not only do you record with the
swiftness Of thought these incidents of
war and violence but the daily VIC
tories Of truth oyer error, Of light over
gAarkness, the spread OF commerce in
distant seas, the inventions Of indus
ny, the discoveries of science, are all
placed instantly within the knowledge
of millions. The seeds of thought,
perfected in one climate, blossom and
frlctify under every sky, in every ma
tionality which the sun visits.
With these miraculous facilities,
with this unlimited power, m also
an enormous responsibility in the
face Of God and man. | am not here
TO preach to you a gospel whose les
sons are known to you far better
than to me. am not calling sinners
to repentance, but | am following 4
goodEtradition in stirring up the pure
minds Of the righteous by way Of re.
memArance, Il Is well for us to- re
fleet On the vast import, the endless
chain ofTesults, of that globe-eneircl|
ing speech you address each day to
the world. Your winged words have
no fixed flight; like the lightning,
they traverse the ether according to
laws Of their own. They light in
every CLINE; they influence a thous-
and different varieties of minds and
manners. Howsvastly important is it,
then, that the sentiments they con.
vey should be those of good Will rath,
er than Of malevolence. those of ma.
tional concord rather than Of prejp-
dice, those of peace rather than OF
hostility. The temptation to the con-
trary is almost irresistible. | aclnowl-
edge with contrition how often | have
fallen by the way, It is far more
amusing to attack than to defend, 70
excite than To soothe. But the high
est victory Of great power is thai Of
sslf-restraint, and ii would be a bene'
ficent result of this memorable meet
ing, this oecumenical council of the
press, il il taught us all-the breth.
rem Of this mighty priesthood THAI
MUTUAL knowledge of each other
which should modify prejudices, ~.
strain acerbity Of thought and e
preston, and tend in some degree TO
bring in that blessed lime
When light shall spread and man le
liker man
Through all The season oi hr Go'.
den Year.
What better school was ever seen
in which to learn the lesson OF mutual
esteem and ~forbearance than this
great exposition? The nations of the
earth are met here in friendly com
petition. The first thing that strikes
The visitor il the infinite diversity Of
thought and effort which character.
lies the several exhibits; buta closer
study every day reveals a resemblance
Of mind and purpose more marvellous
still. Integrity. industry, the intelii.
gent adoption of means to ends. are
Everywhere the indispensable coadi.
lions OF success Honest work, honest
dealing, these qnalitigs mark the win.
ner in every part Of the world. The
artist. the poet. The artisan, and the
stat sman they ever: where stand or
fan through the lack Or the posses.
sion III similar qualities. How shall