Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-06-28

lican party have declared in favor of the use OF
gold and silver money. The logic of recent
events, together with the attempt of the dem
ocracy to drag down the question from its in
ternational character Ito associate IL with
every vagary of populism and socialism, and to
drive this country to an alliance with Mexico
and China, exclusively Silyer-uSing
country, has impelled our people to this settle
ment of this problem. and the recent action Of
congress has eliminated the danger which It's
further agitation menaced.
Through the wisdom of republican admin
istration, we have not only made stable and
permanent our financial credit, at home and
abroad, are utilizing more silver as money
than ever before in our history, but we have
left the populistic democracy dead issue
they can never again galvanize into life, and
compelled them to seek to create new issues
growing out of which they were most
eager to precipitate.
The coming winter will see enacted into law.
legislation which shall revivify and upbuild
our ocean merchant marine, and enable us to
compete on fair terms with the subsidized
ships of foreign nations which now so largely
monopolize the carriage OF American goods.
And above all, We shall pass law under
which We shall build and own ship canal con-
Meeting the Atlantic and the Pacific. Through
it in time of peace the commerce of the world
shall pass. If we shall be unhappily engaged
in war, the canal shall carry our warshi ps and
shall exclude those of the enemy, and under
conditions which shall Violate no treaty Stpu-
lations.
During the weeks and months preceding the
outbreak OF hostilites with Spain the presi-
dent of the United States stood firmly upon
the ground that a peaceful solution could be
found And when that awful occurrence took
place in the harbor of Havana, and a hot
frenzy of indignation swept over our people,
he faced popular clamor and still believed that
the wrongs of Cuba could be redressed without
IN IN . han n nitrofp pnntn nfNy
The folly OF Spain and the Indignation of the
American people forbade a peaceful solution.
Then the president. seconded by republican
congress. before gun was fired, declared to
the world the lofty and unselhSh motives that
alone actuated the nation.
In August 1898 preliminary protocol was
executed at Washington, followed by the seS-
sions of the peace commissioners of the United
States and Spain, in Paris commencing in
October of that year Public interest in this
country concerning these negotiations was in
tense.
The Treaty of Paris was ratified by the vote
of two-thirdS of the senate, and the territory
we acquired under it became lawful and legal
possessions of the United States. The respon-
sibility for the war rested upon us all; the re-
Sponsibility for the treaty rests chiefly upon
the republican party, and that party avows the
wisdom of the treaty and declares it TO be the
policy of the party to adhere to its terms and
to accept the responsibilities 1t imposed
We assumed dominion of Porto Rico, Cuba
and the Philippines for reasons differing to
each OF them.
We took to ourselves the little island OF
Porto Rico because it lay under the shadow of
own shores, and because its continued occu-
pancy by Spain or by any foreign government
would be constant menace to the states.
There has been much discussion during the
past few months in respect to the extent OF the
power Of this country to deal with Porto Rico
and our other possessions, and it has been fire.
quently contended by the democracy that as
soon we became the owners of any of these
islands the constitution OF the United States
at once extended over them, or in the orator
ical but misleading phrase, The constitution
follows the flag" The argument is Specious
but it will not bear investigation. The same
question was raised in 1903, at the time of the
Louisiana purchase and the doctrine then eS-
tablshed by congress that we could acquire
foreign soil by purchase, that congress had the
right to establish there such government as it
saw fit, and that the constitution did not of its
own force extend over such territory.
We are dealing with Cuba in Il spirit not
only of fairness but OF generosity and Of alb
solute unselfShneSs and whenever the inhabi-
tantS of that island evince and declare their
ability to take over its government and control,
that day they shall receive it.
The insurrection against our legitimate
thority, which for the time impedes our
efforts to establish government for the Fill
pinos, involves in sacrifice of lives and
of treasure. The difficulties encounter in
the island of LuZon are many, but the chief in
SpiratiOn and encouragement of the Tagal in
surrection come from the democratic head
quarters in the United States PartiSanship
has proved stronger than patriotism, even
while soldiers are being murdered by ma
rauding bandits, and if it were not for the hope
held out to Aguinaldo by American sympa-
thiZerS the insurrection in the Philippines
would long ago have ended.
The wise craftsmanship OF the president and
our a Bile secretary of state has brought from
the countries of Europe recognition OF our
rights to share in the vast commercial advan-
tages which will follow the opening of the
Chinese empire to foreign trade, and If coun-
sells OF fear do not prevail, this generation will
the American nation girdling half the
globe with its flag.
In the readjustment of word-conditons,
where we must take our place with the other
great nations of the earth, we shall move with
caution but not with fear. We seek only to
lift up men to better things, to bless and not to
destroy. The fathers of the republic accepted
with courage such responsibilities as devolved
upon them. The same heavens bend over
and the same power that shielded them will
guard and protect us, for what we seek is to
build still more firnly, always upon founda-
tions of probity and of virtue, the glorious edi-
flee of the republic
or decay. the republican party which for forty
years has been identified with everything en-
nobling and uplifting in our history was never
as vital, as yirle and vigorous to-day,
And the heritage we shall transmit to the new
century, to the coming generation and to their
children, and to their children'S children, shall
be record clean and untarnished an un-
quenchabe faith in free institutions,
alterable belief in the patriotism of the people,
and an undying love OF liberty and OF country.
Senator Wolcott's speech was fre-
quently interrupted with enthusiastic
applause.
The convention then proceeded to
its temporary organization, the chair
man naming Hon. Charles w. John
son. of Minnesota. as secretary. He
also named "A number of assistant sec
retaries. clerks, etc. The chairman
then recognized Gov. Taylor. of Ken
lucky, and invited him to the plat
form. He was loudly cheered as he
proceeded to the platform and sec
onded the nominations of the yarious