The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-22

! quence, the sentiment to which l have
| the great honor to respond on this occa-
| sion, might well afford a theme with which
! TO move mons souls. The first citizen
of the republic the potential executive
of eighty millions of freemen. not as the
leader Of political thought, but as the
chief magistrate of the nation, such is
the figure, ennobiing i'm its simple majes>
ty, which we may contemplate in honor
and in patriotic reverence. OF the man
| himself il is freely conceded by those who
were his foemen in war and who are his
opponents in peace that his is the highest
type of the American citizen. In his per-
sonal characteristics, he is. of Washing
ton, the noble and serene, of Madison, the
persuasive and indefatigable, of Jackson,
the fiery and fearless, of Lincoln. the
mighty souled and humane, of Grant. the
stern and silent in battle, and the gem
TEST to the Yanquished in victory. Of
Arthur, the exquisite charm Of whose
graceful and gentle manners viii linger
ever in the memory Of those who knew
him. of these inustrious Presidents, this
unpretentious American gentleman by all,
save an occasional crafty and ungenerous
partisan, is deemed the worthy and mer-
ttorious successor.
I'll is said by the historian that no mem
Der of the human race even possessed a
Washington. In this high attribute our
living President can match the Father
of his Country, when it comes 10 the Sc
lection of on admiral Perhaps l may be
pardOned when l add that if we may Judge
from the testimony of the Savannah ladies'
who have met her, the president exhibited
no better judgment in the choice of our
admiral, perhaps not so good, than our
admiral evinced in his surrender to that
| fair conqueror. who has accomplished
what all the Spanish fleets could not do
and subdued the hero himself"
In this nomination the President was in
accord with the country. In fact from
his countrymen, he does not stand aloof
He is not wrapped in the solitude of an
original and unaccommodating authority
He appreciates what all do not perceive
that ours are not the institutions nor
these the times which require in the ex-
ecutive chat startling and predominant
superiority above his fellowmen which
compels undertaking pursuit of what are
termed policies. This is sometimes de-
nominated Roman frmness." 1t has
been occasionally suspected to be the
manifestation of executive pride and some
times stubborn resistance to enlightened
public opinion. To the hand of such an
executive the great constitutional weapon
of the veto is unfamiliar. He is indeed
happy that the intelligent Informed Amer
lean mind will aid him in the duties. and
share with him the responsibilities of the
executive station. This is a modern priv
llege and power of the President The
universal spread OF education and the ON.
ipoteRt modern press which marshals the
same informa ton, and the same thought
before millions of minds at the same mo-
ment impart value and spontaneity 10
public opinion. which makes 1t day by
day practical referendum for the guild
ance Of the government
While the administration of the Pres
ident more than any ether save that Of
Lincoln will afford to the historian ma
terlal at once to attract to instruct and
to thrill the students and readers of the
Iuture, II is nevertheless true that his
Amerfcanism, while prompt and purpose
full in conviction and decisive in action.
has been cautious and conciliatory at
home and abroad He did not seek to lead
the nation into the war with Spain. He
exhausted every eXpedient of a benignaut
ana forbearing nature every alternative
which humanity or religion could sug-
gest and not until the fell and cruel hand
of treachery hurled the mangled forms
of our seamen to a barbarous death, cid
ne loose the army and navy on that
march Ger the pillows of mighty oceans
and Ger the mountains of tropic chimes,
which was never arrested until the Stars
and Stripes streamed above Moro Cas-
tie, and fioated proudly in The perfumed
breezes of the Orient when on a famous
morning in May, the guns Of the Olympia
booming across Manila bay proclaimed
to the ages that the genius of America
attended by tolerance, justice and liberty
had come to stay. Nor has his subsequent
action with regard to our insular con
| quests been in less accord with enlighten-
| ed public opinion. The war was inevitable.
It's results have followed in inevitable Sc
| quence. Many Of us recall the terse and
/ IL.
! tered in this chamber little more than a
| year ago. 1T is not" said he. "a question
| of keeping the islands OF the East but
| of leaving them. Dewey and Merritt took
| them and the country instantly and uni.
versally applauded.
Having now done all that in the line of
| duty, is there any less duty to remain
! there and give to the inhabitants protec-
! ton and also our guidance to a better GOV
| crnment which will secure to them pea q
| and order and security in their life an /
! property and in the pursuit OF happiness 3"
! At tho time Of this decarat ton by the
| President, the treaty of peace had not
| been ratified. Soon It received the redui-
| site constitutional majority of two-thirds
| in the Senate. Now what says the organ-
| ic law Of our country? "This constitution
| and the laws of the United States which
| shall be made in pursuance thereof and
! all treaties made or which shall be made
| shall be the supreme law of the land -
| Then by the supreme law of the land the
| Philippine Islands became the territory OF
| the Cnited States, with a title as clear as
| that which We have to Florida or to any
| foot of that marvellous empire TO the west .
ward Of the Mississippi acquired by the
| Louisiana purchase or by treaty with
! Mexico Who will say that the President
| had The power or the right to ignore his
| duty TO the American people and 10 man
|. kind In territory thus acquired. Blu.
| even then he proceeded with the utmo e
| forbearance. Our forces holding the city
| Of Manila were confronted by the armed
| bands Of Aguualdo. While truce was ex .
| listing, in the language OF the President.
the first blow was struck by the iusir-
gents and IL was foul blow. Our kind
ness was reciprocated with cruelty our
mercy with a Mauser. the flag of truce
was invoked only 70 be dishonored, our
soldiers were shot down while ministering
10 the wounded Fnipinos, our dead were
m4tllatedl our humanity was Interpreted