The times., 1899-05-26
SPEECH oR SHELBY M. cULLoM.
The Illinois senator Talks of the
Worid-Power Republic.
Senator Cullom said in part:


Senator Cullom said in part:
Mr.. President and Fellow Citizens; The
hundred years which have interviewed be-
tween 1893 and 1899 have been years of
growth. development, ard expansion.
They lave not been merely years of eX-
pertinent in the career of a nation. but
have been full of experience in every prac-
teal question which could affect the his
tory of a wise system of government, es-
tablished and maintained on earth for the
first time in all ages. The development
and growth of the republican idea. eX
emplitied in the progress of the United
States for the century now closing, have
been uneXampled and simply marvellous. A
history Of its progress would be a tory
of wonder and astonishment almost 'mpos-
sible to believe or even to conceive Of.
If the eighteenth century gave birth
to the immortal declaration that the reo-
pie were the source of governmental power.
surely the saineteenth century has seen the
progress of its complete establishment upon
the Western Hemisphere. The American
continent is the home of the great Republic
of the world. The United States has en-
bodied in its very fundamental law the
system which has become the model and
pattern for all libertyloving peoples. The
armies and navies of the United States,
inspired by the high purposes of humanity
and justice, have swept like cyclones of
immeasurable power. alike over the stab
lishments of monarchial usurpation and Of
anarchy and misrule The American pa
triot, securely seated in the home of pros
perity and happiness, witnesses the
progress of liberty in its course from
horizon to horizon. and declares with a
voice that reaches the uttermost ends of
the earth. mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord"
"A world-power Republic. indeed, Well
can Uncle Sam, as he proudly calls to
his side his stalwart champions on land
and sea, and marshals them in their prop
er places TO receive the salutation and ac-
claim of admring nations. announce:
These are American soldiers and sailors.
These are mine and in their hands my
honor rests secure There have been pre-
dictions of an alliance between the United
States and certain European powers. which
ii is claimed would tend to add to the
prestige of America. in the rivalry between
the great powers of the earth. The his
tory OF the United States has shown to the
world how unnecessary such alliances have
been to our welfare and progress in the
past: Our fathers deprecated vigorously
frcm the very beginning all ideas Of enter
ing into an alliance with any European
power, even when this country was in its
infancy. 1t has always been cardinal
principle of American policy to oppose
leagues and political partnerships with
other countries, and under this rule we
have grown from a small nation of thir-
teen colonies. numbering but two or three
millions Of people. to be great continent
al empire, comprising half a hundred sep
arate Commonwealths with eighty millions
of population, and more than twenty-three
hundred million acres of territory.
1t is with no feeling of braggadocio that
/ emphasize the assertion that we need no
political alliance with any foreign nation.
While our people come from all the ma
ticns, and while We propose, if We can, to
maintain the most friendly relations with
all, we desire no political alliance with
any. The nation which seeks a foreign al
lance for any supposed advantage or tenn
porary aid, ~eakens its claim to national
identity. and endangers its right to the en-
joyment of governmental autonomy.