Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-19
National Gathering Assemblies at Philadelphia at Moor
Still Roofing for Roosevelt.
SENATOR WOLCOTT IN THE CHAIR
Colorado Man. Temporary Custodian of the GaveI Devers
His Speeeh--.Committees Named.

his genius has directed us. He has
shown an unerring mastery of the
economic problems which confront
u, and has guided Us out of the
! slough OF financial disaster, impaired
credit and commercial stagnation, up
to the high and safe ground of ma
tiOnaI prosperity and financial sta
| bility. Through the delicate and try
ing events of the late war he stood
! firm, courageous and conservative.
and under mis- leadership we have
emerged triumphant, our national
honor untarnished, our credit unas-
sailed, and the equal devotion of
every section of our country to the
welfare of the republic cemented for
ever"
The speaker then went on to sum-
Marie the various acts of Legislation
enacted at the suggestion of President
Mckinley, all of which contri buted to
the betterment of industrial condi-
tions. The international monetary
conference having failed to accom-
plish its purpose, the republican par
" was playing safe" and sticking to
the gold standard. Before the expi-
ration Of McKinley's first term il was
promiset a law would be passed re
Iieving certain articles from a portion
of the burdens they now carry be-
cause of the war revenue act, and
meanwhile the government had, out
OF surplus revenues. paid and called
in for cancellation $4,000, 900 of out
standing bonds. The coming winter
would see enacted into law legislation
that would revivify and upbuiId ocean
merchant marine and enable us to
compete on fair terms with the subsi-
died ships of foreign nations which
now so largely monopolize the car
riage of American goods.
War Expenses Sot Felt.
Mr.. Wolcott claimed no industry
felt the strain of the extraordinary
expenses attending the SPanish-Amer- /
lean and Philippine wars, nor had
they affected the general prosperity. |
He said it was realized that TO have |
relinquished the Philippine archiPela-
70 to Spain would have been to con- |
sign the Inhabitants again to a condi- |
zion worse than slavery. The gov
ernment OF America had put its hands |
to the plow. A universal demand |
arose over the country, the speaker |
held. that we should retain our hold |
upon those islands, afford their peo- |
pie the protection of our laws, lift |
them out of their unfortunate condi- |
ton, and fit them if possible, for self
government. Any agreement by our |
commissioners to give back the Phil |
ippines to Spain, reserving for our
selves an island or a coaling station, |
tional Indignation, and would never |
have been ratified by the representa- !
tives of the people"
Referring to Cuba and Porto Rico. |
Senator Wolcott said the latter island |
was given Just and equitable form
of free government, and until the peo- |
pie there shall devise proper and effi-
cient methods of revenue and taxation !
needed funds shall be raised by pay
ing upon imports Is per cent of the
present tariff rate governing importa-
tions into the United States. On the |
1st day of March. 1902, all these |
duties shall cease in any event, and |
sooner IL before that time the people /
of the island can arrange for needed |
revenues of the island. The speaker !
said the holding of municipal /
elections in Cuba June IS, WAS .
the first step toward the establish
ment of national government |
and the adoption of a constitu-
tion. The speculations and frauds
committed in Cuba by subordinate
officials had made every American
blush with shame, and until the last
of the guilty men was arrested and
convicted and senten ced that shame
would know no abatement
The United States had never covet-
ed the possessions of foreign princi-
palities, said Mr.. Wolcott. and land
lust was unknown among us. We
would fight TO the death to pro-
tect that which was right
fully ours: TO avenge a wrong sought
to be perpetrated against us. and TO
guard this hemisphere from any at
tempt of foreign powers to further
extend their rule over its soil. This
had been our creed, and we had
looked forward with hope and with
confidence TO the time when these
United States. living between the two
oceans. should lead among the na-
tions of the earth, not by the right of
the sword, but because the character !