become a nation of shopkeepers and that we cannot stand the hardships and trials of battle. The fears are not justified by events. There is iron, plenty of it yet in the American branch at least, of the Anglo-Saxon race. war. II. We must enter into closer relations with all liberty loving peoples. One blessed result is coming out of this We are one people, and when the war ends there will be no North, no South, no East, no West. In these days of trial and battle we have felt the thrill of life running through the hearts of the American people, and we have learned that we are brothers, with one flag, one hope, one destiny. Not only so, but we must enter into closer affiliations with all liberty-loving and progressive peoples of the wide earth. This war has made us know that the Anglo-Saxon race is one. Out of this war will come closer affiliation with England. With all its faults-and they are many-the great British Empire stands for liberty, for justice, for education, for Christianity. To this race on both sides of the sea has been committed a great and splendid work. We are the missionary race; the progressive and expansive race. England and America are one people, with one language, one religion, one blood, one hope, and destiny. In 1867 Tennyson wrote to Longfellow: "We English and Americans should all be brothers as none other among the nations can be; and some of us, come what may, will always be so, I trust." And our own Whittier has voiced the common life: O Englishmen-in hope and creed, We too are heirs of Runnymede; And Shakespeare's fame and Cromwell's deed Thicker than water in one rill, Through centuries of story Our Saxon blood has flowed, and still The shadow and the glory. We do not want an alliance with England offensive and defensive, for that would be both unwise and danger ous. No, we want something better and more vital; a closer co-operation, a fraternal sympathy, in which each will inspire the other to nobler and higher living and doing. The prospect of these two great nations linked together in the bonds of sympathy and co-operation in behalf of liberty and Christianity is enough to warm the heart and to thrill the brain. Such a fraternal bond or league to deliver the oppressed and to lift up the fallen will be the most splendid achievement of the twentieth century. Such a league let us hope and pray may be consummated, not for conquest, not in behalf of trade, not in order to extend territory, but in behalf of truth, and righteousness and peace. These two nations in close sympathy can speak the masterful word in the world's politics and diplomacy. III. And we must purge our own life of the things that poison our blood and sap our vitality. There are many things sadly and tragically amiss with us, and these evils we must take resolutely in hand. Some would tell us that we had better not undertake the deliverance of the oppressed abroad till we have delivered the miserable at home. Others tell us that we must not think of undertaking the responsibility for other peoples till we have proved our fitness for the task. Still others tell us that we must purge our own land from some monstrous evils, otherwise we shall but compass sea and land to add new peoples to our flag, only to make them ten-fold more the children of hell than ourselves. These things should cause earnest heart searching and should summon us to resolute endeavor. tremble as I think of the future. Thus far we have not shown as a people any high sense of the great responsibilities of our citizenship. The better class of citizens have been engaged in money-making, and have given little attention to affairs of State. We have turned over to the groundlings and jobbers the sacred responsibilities of our citizenship. There is not a large American city that has a half decent municipal government. Many things ought to be done by our cities and States that must go undone, I for the simple reason that the quality of men in public office forbids. It is probable that we as a nation may be educated into greatness and manhood by the increasing weight of responsibility thrust upon us. Let us pray that this may be the case. And we must remember, whatever may be the outcome of the war and the relation of these new lands to us, that we are charged with their moral and civil welfare. We must therefore take them-everything that is good in our national life and keep from them all that is evil. The dealer in the strong drink stands waiting to enter these new lands with his accursed traffic. Now we must put the whole power of our nation under bonds to prevent the introduction of this evil into these islands. If we begin to exploit these peoples for the sake of gain, if we carry to them our vices and keep from them our virtues, the curse of God will fall upon us. The curse of God will fall upon the Administration, or the party, or the nation that opens the floodgates of intemperance in these islands. Send them our Bibles, our schools, our books and papers; but in the name of humanity keep our rum, our greed, our corruption at home. The name The perversion of the best good is the worst evil, says an old proverb. Opportunity to the last atom means responsibility. Honesty of heart, steadiness of will, a love of fair play, a passion for righteousness-these are the things that make nations great and enduring. Great ideas are to be the forerunners of great souled men. of America is a trumpet-call to high thinking, and great living; it is an inspiration to unselfish citizenship and patriotic service. Let me close with these magnificent words of Washington, uttered in the dark and trying days of our early history: "It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the people we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our works? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the event is in the hand of God." CHAPTER V. “YOU CAN FIRE WHEN YOU ARE READY, GRIDLEY.”— COMMODORE DEWEY, AT MANILA. WAR MEETINGS. Held in A. T. A. Torbert Post Rooms, Washington Street, Morristown, N. J., on April 23, and April 25, 1898.— Speech of Rev. J. M. Buckley, D. D.. at the Convention of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. THE HE war between the United States and Spain virtually commenced April 21, 1898, when the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs at Madrid prematurely thrust into the hands of General Stewart L. Woodford, the American Minister at Spain, his passports, thus rudely breaking off diplomatic relations between the two countries; but war was not formally declared by the United States Congress until April 25, 1898, when it was announced to have existed since the 21st inst. On the 23rd of April, President McKinley, acting under authority of the United States Congress conferred by act of April 22, issued a call for 125,000 volunteer troops; and in response to which 750,000 applications for enlistment were promptly received. anticipation of the call for volunteers the following announcement appeared on April 22 in the Morristown newspapers: A CALL TO ARMS! In "All men desirous of forming a Military Organization in Morristown are invited to meet at the G. A. R. Hall, Washington Street, on Saturday evening, April 23, at 8 |