Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-10-20

~ At''Aohh' W ii1lS II lldS Ilot given
us perfect peace, it has brought us
constant and ever-increasing bless
ings, and imposed upon us no
humiliation or dishonor
I'VE have had wars with foreign
powers: and the unhappy one at
home-but all terminated in no
loss of prestige or honor or terri
tory, but gain in all.
''The increase of our territory
has added vastly to our strength
and prosperity without changing
our republican character. 1t has
given wider scope to democratic
principles and enlarged the area
for republican institutions.
II sometimes think we do not
realize what we have, and the
mighty trust we have committed
to our keeping.
"The study of geography and
history have now more than a
passing interest to the American
people. 1t is worth recalling that
when the federal union was formed
we held 909,765 square miles of
territory. and in less than 100
years we have grown to 3,S45,5l5
square miles.
In the last year we have added
to the territory of the United
States the Hawaiian islands
of the gems of the Pacific ocean
containing 6,74O square miles;
Porto Rico, containing $500 square
miles; Guam, containing so square
miles, and the Philippine archi-
pelago, embracing approximately
l43.O00 square miles. This latest
acquisition is about one-sixth the
size Of the original states. 1t is
larger than the combined area of
New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina and the District of Col
umbia. 1t exceeds in area all of
the New England States. 1t is
almost as large as Washington and
Oregon combined, and greater
than Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
united. Three times larger than
New York, and three and one-half
times larger than the state of Ohio.
1.-The future of these new pos
sessions is in the keeping of the
congress, and congress is the SER
want of the people. That they will
be retained under the benign SOW
ereignity of the United States
do not permit myself to doubt.
That they will prove rich and
valuable heritage I feel assured.
"That congress will provide for
them a government which will
bring them blessings. which will
promote their material interests as
we'll as advance their people in the
path of civilization and intelli-
gence, [ confidently believe.
''They will not be governed as
vassals or serfs or slaves they
will be given a government of lib
erty, regulated by law, honestly
administered, without expressing
exactions, taxation without tyr
amy, justice without bribe, educa-
ton without distinction of social
condition, freedom of religious
worship and protection in life, lib
erty and pursuit Of happiness.
IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
The president at Redfeld, South
Dakota:
"And there has never been a
moment Of time, my countrymen,
when we could have left Manila
bay or Manila harbor or the archi-
pelago Of the Philippines without
dishonor to our name. We did
not go there to conquer the Philip
pines. We went there to destroy
the Spanish feet. that we might
end the war, but in the providence
of God. who works in mysterious
ways, this great archipelago was
put into our lap, and the American
people never shirk duty. (Cries Of
tNever.)
"And the flag now there is not
the flag of tyranny, it is the flag of
liberty, and wherever the flag goes,
character, education, American in
telligence, American civilization
and American liberty CO."
/ A N:nh4 of Tosso~