The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-07-12

The memory OF the evening spent I
with the American Society, Thanks |
giving day two and half years ago,
is such pleasant one that ! esteem
mysel: fortunate TO be able TO accept
the invitation SO kindly extended by
our distinguished ambassador Hon
Whitelaw Reid, to be your guest on
this occasion Our English friends,
under whose flag We meet tonight,
recalling that this is the anniversary
of our nations birth, would doubt
less pardon US IL our rejoicing con-
tanned something of f-congratula-
tion, for 1t Is at such times as this
that we are won't to review those
national achievements which have
given to the United States its pfomi-
nence among the nations. But |
hope l shall not he thought lacking
in patriotic spirit II, instead Of draw
ing picture Of the past, bright with
heroic deeds and unparalleled in pro-
gress, | summon you rather TO ser
/ ious consideration Of the responsible
ity resting upon those nations which
aspire to premiership. This line OF
thought Is suggested by sense OF
propriety as well as by recent expert
cnces-by sense OF propriety be-
cause such subject will interest the
! Briton as we'll as the American, and
recent experiences because they have
| impressed me not less with our na-
tional duty than with the superiority
OF western over eastern civilization,
"Asking your attention To such a
theme IL is not fitting TO adopt a
phrase coined by poet to whom
America as well as England can lay
some claim. aud take for my text
The White Mans Burden.
Take up the White Mans burden
In patience 10 abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show OF pride.
BY open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain,
To seek anotbers profit,
And work anotber's gain -
Thus sings Kipling and, with the
exception of the third line (of the
meaning of which ] am not quite
sure the stanza embodies the
thought which Is uppermost in my
mind tonight. No one can travel
among the dark k-skinned races OF the
Orient without feeling that the
white man occupies an especially
favored position among the children
of men and the recognition OF this
fact is accompanied 10y the convic-
tion that there is duty inseparably
connected with the advantages en-
loved TteIe Is a white mans bur.
den-a burden which the white man
should not shirk even II he could. a
burden which he could not shirk even
if he would. That no one liveth unte
himself or dieth unto hinself has q
national as well as an individual ap'
plication. Our destinies are so in
tprwoyeu that each exerts an influ
ence directly or indirectly upon al
Others.
Sometimes this influence Is un
consciously exeTted as when, for in
stance, the good or bad precedent sci
by one nation in dealing with III
own asairs is followed by some othel
4 nation. Sometimes the influence Il
incidentally exerted as when. for ex
ample, a nation in the extension o
its commerce int reduces its Language
and enlarges the horizon of the peo
pie with whom IL trades. This Incl
dental benefit conferred by the open
ing Of new markets must he apparen
10 any one who has watched tn
stimula ting influence % the ne'
ideas which have been introduced H.
to Asia and Africa through. the medi
uu of the English language. Thi
is not the mother tongue Of yer
many OF the worlds leaders in relig
ion, statesmaDShip, science and litel
q ature. bat it has received throug
. translation the best that has lee
4 written and spoken In other cour
9 tries. lie who learns this Language
q therefore. Is like one who lives epo
& great highway where he CONES int
g daily contact With the world. witt
8 out disparaging other modern Lar
& guags II may be said vith tTui h tbs
q whether one travels abroad or studi'
Z at home there is 10 other lsngual
so useful at the present time as thi
G which we employ at this baDqn'
. hoard. and the nation which Is il
z strumental in spreading this lar
g guage confers an inestimable boc
- even though the comforting OF IL