Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1904 — EXALTED SERVICE [ARTICLE]

EXALTED SERVICE

Has Been Rendered to the Country by t Republican Leadership. t 60LDEN AGE OF THE REPUBLIC Mat Been the Period Covered by the Party’s Period of Supremacy In National Affairs—We Stand at the Morning of • New Century That Is Bright With the Glow of PromiseSenator Fairbanks Delivers a Notat ble Address on an Historic Occasion. At the celebration of the semi-cen-tennial of the Republican party, held at Jackson, Mich., on July 6th, Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, candidate for vice president on the Republican national ticket, was one of the distinguished speakers. The able and •loquent address delivered by Indiana’s senior senator on this occasion created great enthusiasm among his tbousands of hearers. Senator Fairfttnka tali: "We are vet to BMamemorato m •rdinary event, for here, a half ee» fury ago, American patriots solemnly fledged thomselvea to rladicete th# frst principles of republican goverv Eent, to ehaßenge the tggresstecs 4 e slave peeper. Hew vee iseeetf eecond declaration of freedom. Here eras taken the initial step which led to the overthrow of slavery and the establishment of the government upon truly national lines. We freely pay the tribute of our grateful appreciation to the memory of those who raised here the standard of Republicanism. "The Republican party was born of lie conscience of the people, and it ras here dedicated to as high and loly a service as ever summoned men o heroic duty. "The appeal to the people of Michgan which was issued by Zachari&h chandler, that stalwart among -stalwarts, and his associates, was like a clarion call to exalted service. It was conceived in the same spirit which inspired our fathers in the morning of the American revolution. "The resolutions here adopted were put upon a high plane. Differences of Individual opinion upon all other subjects of state or domestic policy were subordinated to the one overmastering question of the hour. It was solemnly •Resolved, That, postponing and suspending all differences with regard to political economy or administrative policy, in view of the Imminent danger that Kansas and Nebraska will be grasped by slavery, we will act cordially and faithfully in unison to avert fed repeal this gigantic wrong and shame.’ Integrity of the Nation. “Thus consecrated, the Republican party was here ’christened, and sent forth to accomplish a more vital mis •ion than ever challenged the consideration of the people since the foundation of the government. "To the Republican party was committed, in God’s providence, the stupendous responsibility of preserving the integrity of the nation itself. We would not here kindle anew the fires of past hates or reopen the debate of long buried differences, which divided section against section, for we stand reunited under the acknowledged supremacy of one flag and one constitution. But we may appropriately recall the history of a great generation in which American contested with American for the triumph of opposing theories. In that contest the Republican party stood for the national solidarity. It stood for the nation above the state, and the victory it achieved blessed both the victor and the vanquished. American opposed American with titanic power. American met American upon the field of glory and the God of battles was with the cause espoused by the Republican party. The hates and the enmities which ignorance and false teaching engendered have happily perished and perished forever. "The memory of the valor of those who fought for conscience sake beneath opposing flags remains as a rich national inheritance. The impartial verdict of history is that the Republican party was everlastingly right, and Its further verdict is that no American ever surrendered his sword, aave to an American. Every grave/ Whether It is tenanted by -the heroic youth who wore the blue, or by him who wore the gray, is an enduring pledge of the solidity and unity of the republic. "Out of the unhappy divisions which followed quickly upon the accession to power of the Republican party, eame a new national birth; a fusing •f national strength beyond the dreams of our fathers. Amidst Stirring Events. "Fifty years is a brief period when eompared with the life of the older nations, yet it embraces the entire life •f the Republican party, a party whose achievements are among the most lasting and luminous of the deeds done by any party since the beginning •f the government. It has not lived the life of repose and inactivity,' for its •areer has been characterized by restleas energy and serious work. Its Bnes-have been cast amidst stirring •vents, when great problems were to be solved and mighty deeds were to be done. It has mot upon a high level domestic questions of far-reaching Bigniflcance, and it has Increased our aatlonal prestige abroad. Our printer among the nations of the world

la generally acknowledged. It la a cause for congratulation to us that the orator of this historic occasion should be one who done more than any other to establish our prestige among foreign courts, the wise, able, modest, loyal, trusted friend of Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt—the Hon. John Hay. "The span of the last fifty years Is, indeed, the golden age of the republic. During the greater part of this period the Republican party was in the ascendancy. 118 principles and its policies were in full operation in its nation and our country advanced as never before. Its growth during the existence of the Republican party verges on the marvelous. While the tremendous progress that has been made cannot be ascribed, of course, entirely to the wisdom and beneficence of its policies, yet it has contributed immeasurably to the results which have been attained.

Human Liberty Extended. “It has given security and protection to capital and labor. It has been the wise and loyal friend of each, for it has realized that our greatest development must come through their harmonious co-operation. It has fh* spired confidence among the people in the integrity and soundness of its administration, all of which is essential to the highest development and progress. No duty has been laid upon it, no matter how sudden or grave, but that it has met it wisely and bravely. It has never capitulated to mere expediency or made a truce with wrong. It has taken the moral side of every great question and has confidently trusted in the sober and ultimate judgment of the American people. It has taught the utility of the republic, the oneness of the American people, and their interdependency. It has stood against socialistic teachings which would establish - dasA -distinctions, which are the very i.ie of monarchical institutions and which are baneful to the republic.

“The country of fifty years ago stands in marked contrast to what we behold today. Then there were 32 states with some 25,000,000 of people, part slave and part free. Today we have 45 states, wild 80,000,000 of free mem Then there was division among the states. Today there Is unity of sentiment. Then there was slavery. Today it is dead and buried beyond the possibility of resurrection. The zone of human liberty has been extended beyond the limits of our borders by the valor of our arms, and established among alien peoples in the distant seas.

Worthy of Our Fathers. “The progress of our people has been manifest’in every avenue of human effort. It has been marked in art and science; in philanthropy and charity; in school and church; in industry and commerce. While we have developed in the material world beyond the most optimistic dreams of those who, fifty years ago, assembled here beneath the historic oaks, we have expanded in all of the higher and better qualities which excite the pride and admiration of the most advanced people. “We stand at the morning of a new century which is to be greater than the past with all of its glorious achievement. It is a happy augury that we enter upon it with the Republican party in the ascendency, under Republican policies which are suited to the largest national growth. “The Republican party has given to history many statesmen of great eminence, whose names have become a part of the Immeasurable glory of the republic. We will enter upon the half century which opens before us with such hopeful promise, a brave, patriotic, wise American, whose Ideals are in harmony with the best traditions of the republic, and whose ambition is to lead our countrymen and our country in the paths of peace, prosperity and honor Theodore Roosevelt. “Let us take hence new inspiration from this hallowed spot and prove ourselves worthy of the virtue and courage of our fathers.’’