Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-07-05

| iioueeb nave not Deen opened Dy INT
DaSonet. they owe their existenc,
largely to the moral influence which
neighborlng nations exert upon eacl
other. And the spread OF popular
government during the same period
how rapid! Constitution after consti
tnt:on has been adopted and llmita
ton after limitation has been placed
upon arbitrary power until Russia
yielding to public opinion, establish
es legislative body and China sends
commissions abroad with n view to in
Wiling the people to share the respon
sibillties of government.
While In America aud In Europe
there Is much tn he corrected and
abundant room FOR Improvement thn-c
has never been so much altruism in
the world as there is today--never
SO many who acknowledge the ind;s
soluble tic that binds each to every
other member of the race. have felt
more pride in my own countrymcl
than ever before rs have visited the
circuit of schools hospitals and
churches which American money! has
built around the world. The example
of the Christian nations, though bit
fcehly reflecting tho light of the Mas,
ter, is gradually reforming society.
Entering Upon a New Era.
Society has passed through rc.
ROD of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, the naii1as
taking what they had tho strength to
take and holding what they hid The
Eowcr To hold. l'ut we already arc
entering second cra-an cru In
which the nations discuss not merely
what they can do, but what they
should do. considering Justice To !,c
more important than physical prov
cSS.
In tribunals like that OF rhc
Hague the chosen representatives of
TIC nations weigh questions or right
and wrong and give small nation IN
equal hcnring with a great ono, anal
Il decree according to conscience :.
This marks an unreasonable nd
vance. But another step Is yet To he
taken. Justice. after all, is power
less and pulsclcss-a negative virtue.
Heipfulness Needed.
The world needs something warm.
cr-mnro generous. Ilarmlcssnrss is
better than harmfnlncss. But posi-
tive hclpfuncss Is vastly. superior 10
harmcssncss and we still have before
us larger higher destiny of service.
Even now there arc signs &C tho
approach of this third era. not so
much In the actions of governments;
as In the growing tendency Of men
and women In many lands to give
their means, In some cases their livcy,
To the intellectual and moral awak
oning of these who sill I'M darkness.
Nowhere arc those signs more abnnd.
AMI IMAM In our own beloved Ian /.
Before the sun sets on one of .hc;
new centers of civilization ii arises
upon another.
Kings Are Not SO Cruel.
On the walls Of the temple at Kar.
max All ancient artist carved a pic.
tnre of an Egyptian King. he Is repre-
scented as holding a group of captiv IS
by the hair-one hand raising u cIu.,
as If To strike them. No king word
he willing To confess himself so cruel
today. In some of the capitals of Gu.
rope there are monuments built from,
or ornamented with, cannon taken, in
war. that form Of boasting is still to.
Grated but let us hope that 1t will In
time give way to some emblem of vic.
tory less suggestive Of slaughter.
AS we are gathered tonight In Eng
lands capital, permit me to conclude
with thought suggested by II Dienc
OF statuary at Windsor Castle. II
represents Victoria beside her con
sort. One of his arms Is about her
ana the other points upward The
sculptor told in marble an eloquent
story of strength, coupled with n srn.
dcrness, love revered by trust. SIR
row frightened by hope. He told the
story SO plainly that 1t was hardly ne.
ccssary to chisel the words:
"'Allurcd to brighter worlds and led
the way
Conception is Beautiful.
1T is beautiful conception-more
beautiful than that which gave the
world the Greek slave, the dying Ella.
diator or the Goddess Athcne. 1t
embodies the idea which. with the cx.
pending feeling of comradeship, MAKES
applicable the association of nations
as well as the relations of husband
and wife.
Let us indulge in the hope that
our nation may SO measure up to its
great opportunities and so bear It's
share In the white mans burden as
to earn the right to symbolic It's pro-
gress by n similar figure. If 1t has
been urged by Providence to a higher
ground, may IL lead the way In WIN
ming the confidence of those who fol
low 1t, and in exhibiting the spirit Of
Him who said:
I" If am ..fted up will draw all men
unto me. -"