its radiance? Don't you know that the past is for ever behind us, that
we have passed many kinds of evils no longer possible, that we have
achieved great ends and have almost seen their fruition in free
America? Don't forget the road that you have trod, but, remembering it
and looking back for reassurance, look forward with confidence and
charity to your fellow men one at a time as you pass them along the
road, and see those who are willing to lead you, and say, "We do not
believe you know the whole road. We know that you are no prophet, we
know that you are no seer, but we believe that you know the direction
and are leading us in that direction, though it costs you your life,
provided it does not cost you your honour."

And then trust your guides, imperfect as they are, and some day, when
we all are dead, men will come and point at the distant upland with a
great shout of joy and triumph and thank God that there were men who
undertook to lead in the struggle. What difference does it make if we
ourselves do not reach the uplands? We have given our lives to the
enterprise. The world is made happier and humankind better because we
have lived.

At the end of this memorable and touching speech old Senator James Smith,
seated alongside of me, pulled me by the coat and, in a voice just above a
whisper and with tears in his eyes, said: "That is a great man, Mr.
Tumulty. He is destined for great things."

It did not seem possible on this memorable night that within a few days
these two Democratic chieftains would be challenging each other and
engaging in a desperate struggle to decide the question of Democratic
leadership in the state.