The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-30


tual defense. Into deeds that great thought
has gradually grown, as all vital thoughts
do grow. and must until Pan-American
congresses actually convene beneath the
stars and stripes and the Bureau of Ameri
can Republics is part of the machinery
of our progressive government.
FRAUGHT WITH BLESSINGS.
Senators. growing influence in South
America is. fraught with blessings to the
Republic second only to the trade of the
golden Orient. This great advantage. this
Iong-fostered influence in South America
we propose to foster STILL We have appro-
priated the 100000 ready money suggested
by the President. We will adopt civil
government and reciprocal trade. And
thus, by a generosity without precedent,
we establish forever our friendship with all
Latin-America, which Republican states
men have so long, so patiently and so pain
fully been erecting. We heed the past; we
open our eyes to the future: we accept the
lamp for our feet which Gods great good
ness has given us.
Why will Americans be pleased by
the course? Why. senators. think of the
circumstances. This island of beauty and
natural wealth came to like a bride to
the arms of her beloved. Where Luzon re-
sisted Porto Rico submitted-no, she did
not submit: she welcomed US. Where Cuba
was and is quarrelsome and turbulent.
Porto Rico was and is tranquil and meek,
and utters no protest even in her hunger.
we do not remind Porto Rico of her unfit
ness for self-government; she asserts 1t
herself and asks our instruction. With
sweet humility that melts the hearts of the
American people she asks our protection
and even kisses our Christening hand. Sir,
where our flag is fired on my voice is for
war, overwhelming, relentless, decisive
war till resistance is utterly exterminated;
but where our flag is welcomed my voice
is for mercy and loving kindness for the
very same reason that IL is for war when
that flag Is opposed. Bullets for bullets,
but bread for blessings. Porto Rico came
to us like Ruth, saying: "Entreat me not
to leave thee or to return from following
after thee; for whittier thou goest i will
go and where thou lodgest l will lodge;
thy people shall be my people and thy God
my God; where thou diest L will die, and
there will / be buried; the Lord do SO to
me, and more, also. If aught but death
part thee and me- Thus comes this little
land asking, like Ruth. only that she may
CLEAN in the harvest after the reapers, ac-
knowledging her shortcomings and asking
not to be exalted neither Wanting her ex-
cellence nor speaking of her rights. And,
senators, she is hungry; we will feed her.
She is naked; We will clothe her. She asks
only for the liberty to live; We Will free
the hands of her industry She Is bruised
and wounded and weak; we will soothe her
bruises, heal her wounds, strengthen her
weakness. The American people will have
it so. Call 1T sentiment If you will. but
est quality of the American char
acter. 1t is this sentiment that
has inspired all the heroism of
our heroic history, and written on the
statute books of the Republic every law
that will. i'm the worlds great future, be
the justification for our existence. And
when the noblest sentiment of the soul and
the most practical wisdom of the mind
write out the same conclusion, we must
accept it the highest revelation known
TO man of the will of that Providence that
rules the world and raises up and casts
down principalities and powers. For
Righteousness eXalteth q nation" saith
the Word.
If. then, we give reciprocity of trade to
this faithful little island 1t will inspire con-
fidence throughout Latin-America. 1t will
create that friendship which is the basis
of all genuine international understandings.
1t will encourage other peoples to welcome
our perfection whenever it may be to our
interest to extend IL. And Ii Will be the
unmpeachable witness at the bar of
nations and of history to our fidelity to
our national pledges, and to the purity of
national purposes
FAVORS IMMEDIATE RECIPROCITY.
For these reasons / favor immediate rec
iprocity and / shall go on record as voting
for amendments giving immediate and I'M
restricted free trade to our islands of Porto
Rico. But if wes in the Senate, who be-
lieve that Porto Rico should have reciproc-
ity at once, are not able to so amend the
bill here, 1 shall. after voting for recproc-
ity amendments, vote for the civil govern
ment bill as modified by the committee,
but we must not deny civil government
to the people of Porto Rico moment
longer, and because the bill, as modified
insured free trade with Porto Rico as soon
as the civil government of that island pro-
vides a system of taxation of its own. So
that the sooner Porto Rico gets civil gov
eminent, the quicker it will get free trade
under the notifications which the COM
mittee have made to the bill. 1 should be
glad if the bill could be separated that we
might vote for civil government without
the revenue feature, although the commit
sure early freedom of trade. But as the
bill stands, unless We can amend Ii, we
must vote for ii as modified by the COM
mittee. or else vote against civil govern
ment altogether. and civil government must
no longer be denied to the people of Porto
Rico. Delay of civil government TO these
people is denial of justice. And so L shall
vote for the civil government bill because
il does establish civil government at once,
and because, under the modification by the
committee, il also establishes absolute rec
iprocity in the near future 1t ought to
establish unrestricted trade instantly, and
IL may be that the House will so amend
it. IL we should not so amend 1t here. But
if we are not able to so amend it here. and
If the House SnOulu not SO dmeHu IL, Dul
adopt the modified civil government bill.
the committees modification does give ii
the absolute certainty of unrestricted trade
at no distant date. The BILL as a whole,
while not what 1 would have 1T, in its fail
IRE to give immediate and unrestricted
trade to Porto Rico, and in other particu-
lars nevertheless does establish civil gov
eminent which may not be delayed an
other moment, and does insure early rec
iprocity and so is a step in the right d.
rection i'm our progress as an administering
nation, and is recognition OF those great
principles on which that progress depends.
Mr. President, the great movement on
which the American people have en-
barked is a movement of conscience as well
as of power; of civilization as well as of
commerce. Directly or indirectly, 1t af-
fects all humanity. We go forth on a
world career; we must conduct 1t with a
world statesmanship-a craftsmanship that
considers the effect of every law we pass
is extending, and upon the world at large,
as we'll as upon ourselves.
Sir administration of government means
more than balance sheets; more than
weights and measures. 1t means this, but
il also means the weighing of the hearts
of men and the balance sheets of the af
fections of the governed people. The
American masses, in whose breasts dwell
the purity, power and hope of the Republic
and of the world. understand this well.
They feel and deeply know that we are
henceforth the master people of the world.
They doubt not that human progress is
one vast and swelling harmony which not
even all the discords of history can destroy,
and they mean that In all that divine and
splendid composition, the noblest, highest,
prrest, tenderest note shall be that struck
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