Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-18
Gen. Joe Wheeler at Charleston.

History for all time will record that
it was under southern presidents that
we have wrested from the wild Indians
the greater part of the S22,3SS square
miles, which lay between our thin lines
of settlement on the ocean and the
Mississippi river; and under southern
presidents that we have added to this
domain area nine times as great as the
present area of the original thirteen
states.
While the various negotiations were
being had, and our dominions were be-
ing enlarged, adding to the glory of the
country, chiefly through the influence
of the southern element, most bitter
opposition was developed in other parts
of the Union.
1t is matter of which the southern
people may well take pride, that during
all the great progress and advancement
of our country, including the armed
contest of last year, and which l am
glad to say now appears to be happily
ended, no section of our land has been
more devoted to the case of our coun-
try and to upholding its honor and
prestige than the people of the south
ern states.
Those upon whom rests the cares,
duties and burdens of this government
have encountered no embararassments
or complaints or criticism from south
ern states. None of their brave volun-
teer regiments have asked to be return
ed from fields of active duty, and when
the request has come from governors
of other commonwealth, volunteers
from the southern states have prompt
ly begged for the honor of filling their
places in the front of battle.
The position in which the American
people find themselves to-day was not
sought by them but is the logical re
suit of conditions thrust upon the
country by course of events beyond
our control. If it is said they were
forseen and predicted, it must also be
admitted thst no power in our grasp
could have stayed the tide, and now we
stand before the gaze of civilization
confronted by grave responsibilities
The supreme test of American institu-
tons is involved and the Americ an
system of government is on trial.
1t is said by some that while England
Holland, France and other nations
may extend a protecting hand to peo-
pies and lands separated from the
home country benefiting both the pro-
tector and the protected, that we shall
be utterly unable to accomslish such a
purpose. TO admit this proposition
is to admit that our system of govern
ment is lacking in the essential quail
tications which every sovereign power
should possess. In one year we have
risen to the first place in the family of
nations; to make the smallest retro
grade step, would be at the expense of
the prestige we have won. To return
to the starting point of o year ago,
would be to lose what it would take n
century to regain. In answer to those
who say that the policy of our fore
fathers FORBADE the extension of terri
tory | would point to jefferson and
the Louisiana purchase. Monroe and
Florida, Polk and Texas, and the vast
territory acquired from Mexico. and
the latter to Andrew johnson and the
acquisition of Alaska
If there be any who contend that we
should not permit the island of Cuba
to become part of the United States
and its people if they desire it, to en-
JOY all the rights of American citizen
ship, l have only to point to the official
declarations of our great statesman
commencing with Thomas Jefferson
running through almost the entire
period of the first half of this century.
During all that period our honored
statesman and presidents from Jeffer-
son to Buchanan laid down in their
messages and state documents the i'm
perative necessity of making the Pearl
of the Antilles a part of the United