years, and the secondary and indirect effects we must expect to
experience for some time. But we are beginning to comprehend more
definitely what course should be pursued, what remedies ought to be
applied, what actions should be taken for our deliverance, and are
clearly manifesting a determined will faithfully and conscientiously to
adopt these methods of relief. Already we have sufficiently rearranged
our domestic affairs so that confidence has returned, business has
revived, and we appear to be entering an era of prosperity which is
gradually reaching into every part of the Nation. Realizing that we can
not live unto ourselves alone, we have contributed of our resources and
our counsel to the relief of the suffering and the settlement of the
disputes among the European nations. Because of what America is and
what America has done, a firmer courage, a higher hope, inspires the
heart of all humanity.

These results have not occurred by mere chance. They have been secured
by a constant and enlightened effort marked by many sacrifices and
extending over many generations. We can not continue these brilliant
successes in the future, unless we continue to learn from the past. It
is necessary to keep the former experiences of our country both at home
and abroad continually before us, if we are to have any science of
government. If we wish to erect new structures, we must have a definite
knowledge of the old foundations. We must realize that human nature is
about the most constant thing in the universe and that the essentials
of human relationship do not change. We must frequently take our
bearings from these fixed stars of our political firmament if we expect
to hold a true course. If we examine carefully what we have done, we
can determine the more accurately what we can do.

We stand at the opening of the one hundred and fiftieth year since our