Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-02-21

/, 1907. 3sa5
sons and prophecies OF the recent Il. Pan
american conference. and I have put
before you the brightest points see
in the future Of our union. did not
suggest the word ''pro phe cies;; ~" YOU
chose it for me, perhaps, | am afraid.
on the principle that old people see
better at a distance. Dante in his
poem makes those who saw much in
advance Of their time look and walk
backwards. It is not only in after life
that prophets pass through that
change, we see. every day eminent
men receding in the same retrogade
manner from their bold prophecies;;
but those who prophecy peace and
good will among men, even il their
present outlook proves false, need not
fear having to look and to walk back
wards in the road fof human destiny.
Still the future of Panamericanism,
under its present voluntary, spontan-
eous, even effusive form, depends
above all on the permanency of the
spirit now ruling the governing sphere
Of. this country; that lis a spirit Of
sympathy towards the other republics,
| a sentiment which combines your ma
| tional chiyalrousness with your sense
| Of continental kinship. No greater ex-
ample of it could be pointed out than
that of your sitting together with our
republics at council where your vote
is every day neutralized by one OF
theirs. call that an ambition of
! building for the future on the most
perfect level, Of bringing about be-
tween us that highest kind Of mutual
I good will, which the Greek philoso-
pher SO beautifully called unanimity,
being of one mind z..% Il n. #.ss
All Washington's Children. A 4.
Gentlemen, it is commanding posi-
! ton that which you occupy in the
! world, but more than of the respect of
the strongest you may feel proud Of
the confidence with which the nations
of this continent cluster around you
i Last year had the honor to speak at
Grand Rapids, near the shore OF an
other Of your lakes, on Lincoln's day;
4 this time was asked to address you
on Washington's day. L regret thai
the date had to be changed, but any
{ day in your year is appropriate tt
place a great cause under Washing
! toms patronage. No greater glory
L, could be conceived than his Of having
resuscitated in the modern world the
I, tradition Of national rulers, magis
trates, not masters, Of the people
which since the days Of Cicero ha6
i entirely disappeared for nearly two
4 thousand years. 1t is Washington who
Il at the end of the eighteenth century
n opens the second renaissance, that Of
a freedom, and more fortunate than the
great artists of the italian renais
3 sance, who could not equal the mas
Iterpieces they copied, he surpassed his
great models by making of moder1
\ liberty much loftier structure thar
, any that could be raised on the mar
Y, row foundations Of ancient democracy
: 4 He thus became the founder of th,
I modern political era; he breathed thu
!. spirit of freedom upon all our cont
I nent. In that respect we, the people
/ Of America, are all as much Washing
tons children as we are Columbus
: children. These are the two figure
that ought to stand in Washington a
) the entrance Of our future Hall o
: American Peace, to keep clear In on
, minds the recollection of a commol
l inheritance and the hope of common
5 destiny. .4 #
3 rejoice, therefore, in seeing tina
you feel interested in the work Pres
: dent Roosevelt has committed to MI
Root, and that you hail the future 70
!, which we are working together, i
q spite Of receding indifference on on
side and of defeated prejudices, her
s and there, on another. To that futur
q I raise my glass hoping that all ou
e nations will bring to the seeding (
/ the new policy the heartiness nece
9 sary at this tentative period to insur
g its full growth throughout the Amer
e can continent.
IL S Ii. .55I 53
Il