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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1906)
VTfP J ifw HJ VtyMfipR f ?w " p "' SEPTEMBER 14, 1906 act, a measure which wo think will add greatly to our national prestige as well as our commer cial development. The passage of the pure food bill is also an upward step and moans infinite betterment of the great army of consumers who have long been the victims of the cupidity of un scrupulous manufacturers of food products. These and many other enactments unerringly indicate that the day of better things is upon us and wo are glad to challenge your attention to the im provement Nor is Nebraska lagging in the pro cession of progress. The public pulse hero is keenly alive to every element entering into the attainment of just and equitable laws and the only discordant note is that sounded by the pro fessional 'reformers' whoso creed is self interest and whoso sincerity is a minus quantity. All parties are afflicted with these unique characters, but fortunately by their fruits we know them. The pendulum swings over a described arc but it is not at the extreme ends that the real work is performed. The middle ground is the real center of energy and from that point proceeds the accomplishment of genuine, practical results. "I am pleased to note that the first message our friend brings to this country is a "message of peace." With interest I have read his utter ance regarding the progress of the cause of in ternational arbitration and I am glad to have his assurance that the day is fast approaching when force and violence will give way to a peaceful solution of vexed questions. In this connection it is especially pleasing to recall the very practi cal and efficient action of President Roosevelt in connection with the drafting and adoption of the Portsmouth treaty, which ended the war between Russia and Japan and determined the final differ ences existing between those belligerent nations. In the face of the extreme difficulties presented, and which you will remember, the efforts of the president of this republic were heroic and to him largely belongs the credit for the restoration of peace. This is an indication of the trend of popu lar sentiment in America along peaceful lines and I believe the time is coming, and not far dis tant, when pacific diplomacy at Washington will dissipate the war clouds, no matter on what hori zon they appear. "We all bejieve that the ultimate destiny of America Is to become the dominating influence in. the- control of thq world's affairs. There are many evidences that wo have arrived at that state of development already, but if so we believe our pre-eminence will become more marked as the years pass by. Such a national attainment brings with it an infinite responsibility. It is a responsibility which all citizens must share. If we are, or are to become, the great national ex emplar of power, dignity and enlightenment each individual must live well his part and make some substantial contribution to the fund of national excellence. Our personal tasks and duties can not be discharged by others. It is only as we as sume and perform the individual obligations of citizenship that the condition of the body politic can be raised to the highest plane. We must have leaders, but it ought not to be necessary for these leaders to live far in advance of public opinion. Rather It should be their happy lot to crystalize public thought into definite action in stead of educating the popular mind to the neces sity for such action. It is not possible for us all to see alike and there are honest differences of opinion affecting every great question. Tho best assuranco we have of continued progress is that all national problems are studied from more than one view point All virtue is not confined to one political party, nor Is all ovil bound up in the other. We need more of the spirit of tolerance and reason in our mutual relations. It would be a blessing If we could have less of politics and more of patriotism. "But we are here to briefly welcome our dis tinguished gudst back to the 'simple life though we doubt if we can hold him to it very long. Speaking from the standpoint of my party he has caused us a good deal of uneasiness in the past and has strong symptoms of continuing to do so in the future. There is that breadth, vir ility and emphasis about him which must find expression and it is but natural .that his party looks to him as its leader. We hope that the l inspiration of this formal home-coming, expres sive as it is of tho confidence, devotion and es teem of those who know him best, may give him renewed courage for the discharge of his arduous duties and strengthen him in the advocacy ot all principles which makeJfor the national good.7 Mayor Blown then presented Mr, -Bryan, and sheertss lasting one minute followed. Mr. Bryan ": to . .-, . Mr.7 Mayor, Governor, Members ot tne -lie- The Commoner. ceptlon Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen: In tho Arabic language there are some six hundred words which mean 'camel,' and for tho last few days I have been wishing that thoro were that many words in the English language that meant thank you.' I have had occasion to uso the old familiar term 'thank you' a great many times since I lauded in New York. In London I had occasion to regret that I could speak but one language in that meeting where tho representa tives of twenty-six nations were assomblcd, but if I could speak all the languages known to man I would not bo able to express the gratitude which my wife and I feel for tho generous welcome that has been extended to us on our return home. Tho home folks met us in tho harbor of New York, and I never looked Into the faces of a group of friends more gladly in my life. They took charge of us, and they have floated us on tho stream of welcome 1,500 miles long, several leagues wide, and of immeasurable depth, until that stream has emptied itself in this ocean of good will. To come 'home to those among whom we live and find this kindly feeling touches our hearts; to find those who differ from us in political opinion vic ing with those who agreo with us to 'make our reception delightful, more than pays us for any thing that we have been able to do. "It was kind of our dear old minister to offor the invocation and my heart joins his in Its ascent to the throne of God in gratitude for that providence that has kept us from the dangers of foreign lands and brought us safely from the perils of the deep. It is kind in the chief execu tive of the city to welcome us to this, his rich domain; and it Is kind in the governor of this great state to join In giving us a greeting as we come home. The fact that this man, with whom I have not always been able to entirely agree, has overlooked the opposition that has sometimes arisen, only shows how much there Is in life that we can enjoy together, and how little after all political differences ought to count between men. I might describe it thus, that the things that we hold in common are like sunshine of the day, while partisan differences are like the clouds that come and in a moment pass away. "I am glad to be here with you, and I speak for my wife and children as well as for myself, when I thank you a thousand, thousand times. I don't know how I can repay you for the joy you have given us, unless you will permit me as occasion offers to bring such lessons as I am able to bring from what we have observed In other lands. When we conceived this trip around the earth it was with the belief that there would be education In It. We thought so highly of ,it that we were willing to take the children out of school for a year, and I believe that it was worth more than a year's education. But it has been instruc tive far beyond what we imagined, and wo have been able to store up Information that will not only be valuable in tho years to come, but will give us something to reflect upon In the closing years of our lives. I have for years appreciated the honor and the re'sponsibility of American cit izenship. Twenty-two years ago when I returned to my college to receive the masters' degree I took as the subject of my address, 'American Cit izenship and as I recall the language that I then used I am sure that even then I understood some what of the importance of our nation's position among the nations of the earth. During the nearly a quarter of a century that has elapsed my appreciation of my nation's greatness has in creased, but never so much as in the last twelve months have I grown in the pride that I have in my nation. "Following the sun in his course around tho globe I have noted everywhere the effect of American influence. Before I left home I had spoken at times of altruism and its part in tho world's affairs. But, my friends, I have learned something of altruism since I was last among you, and I affirm without fear of contradiction that there is no nation on earth which manifests such disinterested friendship for the human race as this dear land of ours. Not only do I affirm that our nation has no equal living, but I affirm that history presents no example like ours. In many ways our nation is leading the world. I have found in every land I have visited a growth of ideas that underlie our government A cen tury and a quarter ago certain political doctrines were planted on American soil, and those doc trines have grown and spread until there is not a .nation on earth that has not felt the impulse that was started in this country "At .that tinte. There is -toot a nation in the wrld i wfiicfer-the democratic idea is not moving and jmevteg pow erfully, today. Go into Japim' and "you will, find that .they, not onty Jiave afepV$nUtJye.pVenH ,, ment, but fiat they are cjo'ntlfaaljy'emaeavorhig; to make that government moro responsible to th wholo people. Go into China, that great nation that has slumbered for twenty centuries, and you will find that thoro is a stirring there and that her empress has within a year sent commission ers abroad to investigate tho institutions of other lauds for tho purpooo of granting a constitutional govornment to tho flowery kingdom. "Within a year public opinion in Russia has forced a reluctant czar to grant a douma, and wlillo that douma has boon dissolved it has boon dissolved with tho promise that another shall take ,ls place. Not only do you find tho demo cratic sentimentand I need not toll you that I uso the word in no partisan sonso for I think de mocracy means, tho rule of the people not only la this spreading, but oducation is spreading throughout the world. h of mminiBlLliVtri0,th,at mm,on8. yes, hundreds of millions, sit In darkness, it Is true that In ono of tho nations of tho Orient scarcely one In a hundred can read Intelligently a letter written to him. It is truo that in another Oriental na tion less than one per cent of tho women can read and write. It Is true that you And many places whore there Is groat intellectual darkness, but my friends, in every nation which I visited there Is growth, thoro is progress. A viceroy tho oldest ono of China, declared that in five years ho had established four thousand schools in his one district; that In a nation which until recently know nothing of tho public school. I found that even in Turkey they are beginning to realize tho necessity for education, and ono of tho governors of ono of tho Turkish states told me that It was necessary that tho people of Turkey should be educated if thoy wero going to hold any place among tho nations of tho earth. Not only are thoy establishing public schools, but, my friends, they are establishing private schools. Not only private schools, but schools supported by contributions from abroad. "All over tho Orient you will find schools established by Americans and supported by mon ey contributed each year by Americans Interested in the cause of education. And after having via ited those schools and churches which stand be side them we find similar schools at every poin at which wo stopped in tho Orient. When I reached Bombay and found thoro also theso schools supported by American philanthropists', I told them that if wo could not boast that tho sun never set on our possessions, wo could boast that it novor set upon American philanthrophy. I am proud of this work that my country Is doing, and none of us are wise enough to look Into tho future and boo what wonderful work may be done by these boys and girls who owe their Intellectual training to the benevolence of American citizenship. And in the presence of these ladles who grace this occasion let me say, that one who travels abroad, especially in the Orient, learns to appreciate what America does for the woman. There is no other nation in which woman stands as high as sho does In the United States. There is no other nation In which woman so nearly approaches tho position that tho Creator Intended her to fill. I have had some difficulty In bringing my countrymen to accept the double standard as applied to money. (Laughter). I think, however, they will agree with mo when I apply the double standard to man and woman, and they will forgive me if I consent to a change in the ratio of 16 to 1 to 1 to 1. (Laughter and applause.) "Another thought that has Impressed Itself upon me is the superiority of our religion over the religions of the east. When I visited China I had a high conception of the philosophy of Con fucius, but when I had seen Confucianism applied to human life and exemplified in Chinese society; when I had studied the words of Confucius I lost my admiration for the philosophy of Confucius, if you attempt to contrast it with the philosophy of Jesus Christ. I found that there were two points whero this system came into direct an tagonism. I have lieard it said that Confucius gave what was equivalent to the golden rule when he said: 'Do not unto others that which you would not have others do unto you.' But if you will examine tho difference you will find that there is a world wide space between the negative doc trine of Confucius and the positive doctrine of the Nazarene. Tho negative doctrine is not sufficient Life means something better than negative harmlessness; it means positive helpful ness loye for mankind. "Once when Confucius was 'asked what he thought of. the doctrine that ypu houm do,gKxi to those who 'injure you, hfg reply was Ihkt; ,yo should reoomRense good with. good,aad"ejJj with, justice-IwFjGfcrist says love 'your; ?ejemiefAan4 . '.- ' (Continued on Page ') '?" S" r