Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-11

dependent upon them, but they recognized
that there were yet other and even loftier
dutes-duties TO the nation and duties to
the race.
We cannot sit huddled within our borders
and avow ourselves merely an assemblage
OF well to do hucksters who care nothing for
what happens beyond. Such a policy would
defeat even its own end, for as the nations
grow to have ever wider and wider interests
and are brought into closer and closer con-
tact, IL we are to hold our own in the etrug-
gle for naval and commercial supremacy
we must build up our power without our
own borders. We must build the Isthmian
canal and we must grasp the points OF van
tage which will enable us TO have our say in
deciding the destiny of the oceans of the
east and the west.
Duty to Dependencies.
So much for the commercial side. From
the standpoint OF international honor the
argument Is even stronger The guns that
thundered off Manila and Santiago left us
echoes OF glory but they also left us a
legacy of duty. II we drove out medieval
tyranny only to make room for savage
anarchy we had better not have begun the
task at all. 1t is worse than idle to say that
We have no duty to perform and can leave
to their fates the islands we have conquered.
Such a course would be the course of in
fanny. 1t would be followed at once by utter
chaos in the wretched islands themselves,
Some stronger manlier power would nave
to step in and do the work, and we would
have shown ourselves weddings, unable to
carry to successful completion the labors
that great and high spirited nations are
eager to undertake.
The work must be done. We cannot escape
cur responsibility, and IL we are worth our
salt We shall be glad of the chance to do
the work-glad of the chance to show our
selves equal to one of the great tasks set
me dern civilization. But let us not deceive
ourselves as to the Importance OF the task.
Let us not be msled by vain glory into
Understanding the strain it will put on
our powers. Above all, let us, as we value
our own selt-respect, face the responsible
ties with proper seriousness. courage and
high resolve. We must demand the highest
order of integrity and ability in our public
men who are to grapple with these new
problems, We must hold TO rigid account
ability those public servants who show un-
faithfulness to the interests Of the nation
or its ability to rise to the high level of the
new demands upon our strength and our
resources.
Regarding the future of the army, Gov
ernor Roosevelt said:
Our army has never been built up as it
should be built up. | shall not discuss with
an audience like this the puerile suggestion
that a nation of 70000,0 900 freemen is in
istence of an army of 100000 men, three
fourths of whom will be employed in certain
foreign islands, in certain coast fortresses
and on Indian reservations. No man of good
sense and stout heart can take such propo-
sition seriously. II we are such weaklings
as the proposition implies then we are un-
worthy of freedom in any event. To no
body of men In the United States Is the
country so much indebted as to the splendid
officers and enlisted men of the regular army
and navy; there is no body from which the
country has less to fear. and none of which
1t should be prouder. none which 1t should
be more anxious to upbuild.
Our army needs completer Organization
not merely enlarging-and the reorganza-