Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-14

talns, have been followed and laid
by iron rails. carrying across con-
tinent the greatest inland traffic eXer
possessed by Il people. Rivers have
been lTidSed that the Widest mag
nation of engineers never conceived
possible. While subduing nature our
fathers were In continuous conflict
with the war-lilic savages of the for.
eSts' solitIdcs. Almost all that re.
man of these fierce and applicable
foes are the names of rivers and
mountains and the designation of
places. Every stop of advance made
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific has
been through danger ana difficulties;
almost every spot Sanctificd by cour-
age; almost every place made sacred
by sacrifice and privatlon. In three
centuries the ono hundred and five
colonists who settled here have
grown into almost as many millions
FrGm petty ana dCspiscd lcpendants.
vainly petitionmg parliament and
! kings we have become Il great power
most potential in the affairs of the
world. courtcd ana respected by all
We have become strong enough to
announce and maintain the great
Monroe doctrine, which extends our
protection to- the Western Hcmis.
phcre and defends ii from foreign ag-
Srcssion ana conquest. When this
colony was planted here Spain ruled
with an iron hand moro than half
the world. But n few years ago this
nation. which grew from this small
beginning, drove Spain from the
Western World and destroyed her
colonial empire. The history of this
tintt len L.
of Pckin I'm China indicates an heroic
achievement, Il growth In greatness
and power, uncXccllcd From suffer
ing and poverty We have grown to
comfort and wealth. Our wealth TO.
day is greater than that of any other
nation. From an agricultural people
we have become the greatest manu-.
featuring people in the world: the
products of factories exceeding those
Of Britain and Continental Europc
combined. Our mines now furnish the
world more than half it's mineral
products and wealth Rich plains
and prarics over which herds of wild
huffalocs wandered are now the
granarics of the world Cotton has
become king of plants and the worlds
comfort and clothing are dependent
unon the white fields of the South.
In mechanical appliances and inven-
TONS our people have achieved won
ders. more astounding than any of
which alchemists ever dreamed In
miles of railroads, in navieahlc riv-
crs. in facilities and means of trans
pGrtatiGn. we are unsurpassed We
occupy today the foremost places in
the worlds commerce. our exports
now exceeding those of Britain. Re.
Gently We have become supreme in
finance, our linking capital being
the crcatest of any nation. The
worlds financial henr5 now throhs
in New York and It's pulsations affect
the world. Instead of three small |
ships-Susan Constant. God-Specd and
which landed the colunists
here, VIC have now navy second only !
to that of Great Britain, and which
we propose to increase until It shall
equal that of any.
Development of the Nation.
Our phenomenal development has
not been confined to material things.
The pioneer rs he advanced across
the continent constructed the log
church and schoolhouse cuntcmpor-
ancous!y with his rude cabin lGdu.
cation and Christianity have kept pace
with our wonderful Industrial pro-
cress. We have created Il vast sys-
tom of public education generously
supported by government, extending
from primary schools 10 splendid uni
vcrsties which bring the blessings
and benefits Of education within the
reach OF all. Here education is more
generally diffused than elsewhere
To-day, in the United States, there
are more schools, more scholars.
more fine colleges and universities.
mere good libraries, larger cxpend!-
lures and endowmcnts for education
than in any nation Of tho world. We
have created n national literature,
distinctive and crcdtable. and which
in the same length Of time has never
been cTallcd We have furnished
poets. historians. essayists. novclists.
scientists. whose productions are
read and priced tho world over. II is
true we have not yet reached tho
highest elevation, but with time and
natiencc We will climb the dizzicst
heights of learning and genius. Free
dom of action and opportunity have
brought us "a wonderful material
wealth. freedom of thought and on.
pcrtunity will in time give us an
amazing, intellectual wealth. Our
lnnnmcrable free asylum, hospitals
and charitable institutions, our vast
contribution TO churches ana mis-.
sions, lear testimony that our wealth
and Christianity have advanced hand
in hand. We have made national
history. every page of which is il.
lunined with courage, hcroism. sue.
cess and hope. We have furnished
iuristS orators stn.psnCn vhocn
genius and achievements have placcd