Page:The New England Magazine 1891, 5.1.djvu/13

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A PAN-REPUBLIC CONGRESS.
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at all clear sailing and harmonious co-operation for the good of humanity, There will be ambitions and conflict of opinions with no little prejudice, and undoubtedly a large amount of "spread eagleism." There will be out of the inchoate beginnings certain clear-cut ideas and purposes brought to the sur face; and men of clearest intellectual power and moral determination will finally come to the front and shape internationalism into a world-wide democracy. There is little doubt but that the history of previous centuries will be, in great measure, repeated. The Franklins and Jeffersons and Hamiltons will agitate with characteristic and distinctive form, each from his own standpoint; and the end will be, as it always is, the triumph of judicious democracy. Extreme and revolutionary measures will find advocates; conservatives will wax eloquent over the grooves of the past. There is sure to be a clash with the relics of absolutism, the dei gratia in Church and State. Anarchy and Nihilism will manage sooner or later to be heard. Those who now lead may retire in alarm before the third triennial session of the Congress. We may be sure that the day is approaching for measures as startling as those of 1776 and 1800. The one need now is enthusiasm and faith. These alone have carried the world's greatest ideas forward to realization.

That such popular and special enthusiasm is not lacking, the letters and speeches of the ablest men in this land and in Europe attest. Cardinal Gibbons writes, "It will strike down the barriers that separate nation from nation and race from race. I look with satisfaction upon the first steps to be taken in this direction by the assembling of the Pan-Republic Congress." General Sherman wrote, "America is only on the threshold of her history. The whole world turns to us to see the result of our experiment." Ex-President Cleveland writes, "I assure you I am in accord with this movement which has for its object the drawing of the republics of the world into closer bonds of sympathy." Professor Geikie of Edinburgh writes, "I am in hearty sympathy with the objects of the Congress, although I am a loyal subject of this old monarchical country." John Boyle O'Reilley wrote just before his death, "If popular liberty is good, and enthusiasm a virtuous force, such a congress ought to be held. The nineteenth century could not close with a nobler work." Bishop Potter writes, "I wish success to every wise effort to draw closer the republics of the world." Bishop Cheney responds, "Taught by the policy of the kings let republics of the world unite, not by the alliance of ruling families or conjunction of great armies, but by such conferences as may lead to a wider spread of free principles, and a concerted action in all that tends to advance the rights of men." The grandson of Patrick Henry, Hon. Wm. Wirt Henry, writes, "I am in full sympathy, and consider the movement most timely." Miss Frances Willard responds, "It is in the air,—the great word fraternization." Professor Winchell wrote, "It fires my enthusiasm to think of such a gathering for the practical recognition of the fraternity of nations." These are but a handful of the responses, cordial and glowing, that have come in, indicative of the popular sentiment. Our century will forever be known for our great deed, the obliteration of the principle that it is right for man to be held as property by man. This was an inevitable consequence of the principles promulgated in the Declaration of Independence. But the destruction of slavery only cleared the ground. We are now free to lead on. We have as yet done nothing in the way of establishing new and broader principles, such as our forefathers thought out, felt out, and established at the close of the last century. Our opportunity is at hand.