manhood. This is not, and in the nature of things it
cannot be imperialism. It does not mean a centralized
government, it does not mean a disregarded Congress,
it does not mean one-man power, it does not mean a
resort to European methods as contrary to our own-
it is patriotism-it is the voice of the man with his
hat in his hand.

JOHN IRELAND

[Extracts from a speech delivered at the Peace Jubilee, Chicago, October 18, 1898.]

I.

JUST WAR IS HOLY

WHILE we await that blessed day when embodied justice shall sit in judgment between peoples, as between individuals, from time to time conditions more repellent than war may confront a nation, and to remove such conditions the solemn dictates of reason and of religion impose war as righteous and obligatory. Let the life of a nation or the integrity of its territory be menaced; let the honor of a nation be assailed; let a grievous crime against humanity be perpetrated within reach of nation's flag or a nation's arm, reiterated appeals of argument and diplomacy failing, what else remains to a nation which is not so base as to court death or dishonor, but to challenge the fortunes of war and give battle while strength remains in defence of "its altars and its hearth-stones?" War, indeed, is dreadful, but let it come; the sky may fall, but let justice be done. War is no longer a repudiation of peace, but the means to peace-to the sole peace a self-respecting people may enjoy, peace with honor.

A just and necessary war is holy. The men who at country's call engage in such a war are the country's heroes, to whom must be given unstinted gratitude and unstinted praise. The sword in their hands is

the emblem of self-sacrifice and of valor; the flag which leads them betokens their country, and bids them pour out in oblation to purest patriotism the life-blood of their hearts; the shroud which spreads over the Idead of the battle-field is the mantle of fame and of glory. Happy the nation which has the courage of a just war no less than that of a just peace, whose sons are able and willing to serve her with honor alike in war and in peace! Happy the nation whose jubilee of peace, when war has ceased, is also a jubilee of victory.

Six months ago the Congress of the United States declared that in the name of humanity war should be waged in order to give to the Island of Cuba a stable and independent government. Magnificent patriotism of America! At once the people of the United States arose in their might. They argued not, they hesitated not; America had spoken; theirs was not to judge, but to obey. In a moment the money of America, the lives of America were at the disposal of the chief magistrate of the nation, whose sole embarrassment was the too generous response to his appeal for means to bring victory to the nation's flag.

America had spoken; partisan politics, sectional disputes instantly were stilled beneath the majesty of her voice. Oft it had been whispered that we had a North and a South. When America spoke we knew we were but one people, that all were Americans. It had been whispered that social and economic lines were hopelessly dividing the American people, and that patriotism was retreating before the growth of class-interests and class-prejudices. But when America spoke there was no one in the land who was not an American. The laborer dropped his hammer, the farmer turned from his plough, the merchant forgot his counting-room, the millionaire closed the door of his mansion, and side by side, equal in their love of country and their resolve to serve her, they marched to danger and to death.

America can never doubt the united loyalty of her whole population nor the power which such united loyalty puts into her hand.

And what may I not say in eulogy of the sentiment of humanity, which in union with their patriotism swayed the hearts of the American people and in their vision invested the war with the halo of highest and most sacred duty to fellow-men? I speak of the great multitude whom we name the American people. They had been told of dire suffering by a neighboring people struggling for peace and liberty; they believed that only through war could they acquit themselves of the sacred duty of rescuing that people from their sufferings. I state a broad, undeniable fact. The dominating, impelling motive of the war, in the depths of the national heart of America, was the sentiment of humanity. The people of America offered their lives through no sordid ambition of pecuniary gain, of conquest of territory, of national aggrandizement. Theirs was the high-born ambition to succor fellow-man..

What strength and power America was found to possess! When war was declared, so small was her army, so small her navy, that the thought of war coming upon the country affrighted for the moment her own citizens, and excited the derisive smiles of foreigners. Of her latent resources no doubt was entertained; but how much time was needed to utilize them, and meanwhile, how much humiliation was possible! The President waved his wand; instantly armies and navies were created as by magic. Within a few weeks a quarter of a million men were formed into regiments and army corps; vessels of war and transport-ships covered the seas; from one side of the globe to the other battles were fought, and victories were won. I know not of familiar feats in history.

The war is ended. It would ill become me to say what details shall enter into the treaty of peace which

America is concluding with her vanquished foe. I stand in the presence of the chief magistrate of the Republic. To him it belongs by right of official position and of personal wisdom to prescribe those details. The country has learned from the acts of his administration that to his patriotism, his courage, his justice, his prudence, she may well confide her safety, her honor, her destiny, her peace. When to the treaty with Spain is appended the name of William McKinley, America will be pleased, and the world will confess that, valorous in war, America is generous and highminded in peace.

II.

'AMERICA A WORLD POWER

WHAT I may speak of on this occasion is results of the war manifest even at this hour to America and to the world, transcending and independent of all treaties of peace, possessing for America and for the world a meaning far mightier than accumulation of material wealth, or commercial concessions, or territorial extension.

To do great things, to meet fitly great responsibilities, a nation, like a person, must be conscious of its dignity and its power. The consciousness of what she is and what she may be has come to America. She knows that she is a great nation. The elements of greatness were not imparted to her by the war, but they were revealed to her by the war, and their vitality and significance were increased through the war. To take its proper place among the other nations of the earth a nation must be known, as she is, to those nations. The world, to-day as never before, knows and confesses the greatness and the power of America. The world