The St. Louis Republic., 1900-06-20
which now so largely monopolizs the car

which now so largely monopolizs the car
riags Of American goods.
And above ell. we shall. having then be
fore us the report of the able commissioi
now ascertaining the most favorable route
pass 4 law under which We shall build anf
own and operate as property or the Unl,ee
! States. under exclusive American dom!nicr
| and control. ship canal connecting th'
Atlantic and the Pacific. Through IL In TIM
pass. II We shall be unhappiiy engaged ii
| war, the canal shall carry our warship,
and shall exclude those OF the enemy. ant
under conditions which shall violate n'
Porto Rico Tariff.
We assumed dominion of Porto Rico
Cuba and the Philippines for reasons dif
| 1erIns as TO each OF them.
We took to ourselves the little Island
| Of Porto Rico, because 1t lay under the
| shadow OF our own shores. and because It's
! continued occupancy hy Spain or by an!
| foreign Government would be a constant
| menace TO the States and TO that great IN
and own and operate as an American canal.
| Then We said to the Porto Rcans: You
shall pay upon your imports Is per cent OF
the present tariff rate governing inIporta-
tions into the United States And we,
| thereby. avoided precedents that might vex
us when We come 10 deal with the problems
! of cur Permanent relations toward the peo-
pie of the Phililpines;
| fOtfcy In CuDu.
| The circumstances associated with our
possession of Cuba are new and unpara
| leled In the history of conquests. The CRUEL
ties p1acticed upon It's people induced me
| ings. however. and that the world miyht
| know that our hands were clean and that
we were no. animated by lust for territory,
| We solemniy disclaimed any disposition or
! intention to exercise sovereignty. ju;isdie-
| tion or control over the island except for
| fits pacifcation, and asserted our determna-
| tiOn when that accDmnltShnf leave
| the government and control of the island Il:
its people, To this declaration We s:ili rig
| And in this connection it is fitting to
| say that the reculations and frauds COM
mitted in Cuba by subordinate officials have
ard until the last of the guilty men is
| arrested and convicted and sentenced that
shane .Im VIII know ns,, no ,,,is aha'emsnt .,.u
| not only OF fairness, but OF generosity ard
| OF absolute unselfishness. and whenever the
clare their ability to take over it's govern
ceive it.
! Involuntary Imperialism.
| and tradition TO peaceful ways. would ha ye
| continued the development OF our national
borders. content in the future. as through
, out the century just ending. with that path
We would fight to the death to protect
that which Il rishtfuliy ours: TO avenge a
wrong sought TO be perpetrated upon us.
and to guard this hemisphere from any at;
tempt by foreign Powers to further extend
their rule over Its soil This has been our
creed. We had. for more than hundred
complications. and sought to make our
selves strong from within, with no thought
Of colonial conquest.
future OF man. is hid from mortal vision.
ana. no more than man may nation choose
its own duties. When this war ended and
ness. We found eighty millions Of people Iiv-
ting upon uncounted islands delivered into
our hands No civilized nation In the world.
these people back to Spain.
The Philippines.
We are told that the islands are rich in
wealth. and in the possibilities of their fu-
ture development. So much the better. But
II they were az barren as the I.ibyan
same.
We haven't been there long. but long
enough TO reach two conclusions: One il
that the first thing we intend doing is to
suppress the Tagal insurrection and TO es
tabish law and order throughout the
shsl Sa And hsf ina as, - the me nFss thing ,S we
We intend doing. is 20 consider. even for a
moment. the question OF giving up or OF
abandoning these islan1s.
We are actually owners OF the Philip
pines by an undisputed and indubitahle title.
We are there as the necessary and logical
outcome of our victory over Spain.
THE obstacles TO the establishment Of q
civil Government in the islands are many.
but We shall overcome them. Mistakes Will
undoubtedly be made. but We ehall remedy
them. We shall in time extend over that
archipelago the aegis Of our protection and
but surely lifs % these % alien NJ and % savase % fans.
into the light of civilization and Christiani-
ty. Meanwhile. American enterprise and IN
genuity and push may be depended upon to
Gevelpn the the Islands and
make them an added source Of wealth to
our country.
and our able Secretary of State has already
brought from the countries of Europe
recognition Of our right to share In the
vast commercial advantages which will fol-
low the opening of the Chinese Empire to
foreign trade; the Nicaraguan Canal Will
be soCn constructed; Hawaii with its valu-
able harbor Is ours: We possess the best
of the Samoan Islands. with fits maEnif-
cent roadway: the Philippines are almost
at the door OF China. and IL counaels of fear
do not prevail this generation will see the
American ration girdling half the globe
with Its flag. extending its foreign com
merce to the uttermost parts of the earth;
and taking it's place among the great world
nations. a power for good. for peace and
for righteousness"
Audience Disappointed.
Senator Wolcott has clear. resonant
voice. which penetrated to the furthermost
recesses of the hall. He speaks. however.
with great rapidity and this. perhaps. some
what spoiled the effect of his speech. Eur
the thousands before hin. were IA thorough
sympathy. and he had no difficulty in strik-
ing a responsive chord. The convention
peateily broke into applause.
Senator Wolcott paced up and down along
the front of the platform as he proceeded.
and several times he consulted his notes.
He is not at his best In a prepared speech.
and his admirers WERE possibly. little dis
appointed.
He spoke an hour and ten minutes. and
as his brilliant peroration closed, there was
another enthusiastic demonstration Of ap-
proval. Delegates stood on chairs and
waved hats. fans, umbrellas AMI handker-
chief. while at the same time the band
added the enlivening strains of a patriotic
air.
Mr.. Wolcott received many hearty hand
shakes from those about him. and then
turned to the business OF the convention.
announced the temporary officials. pre-
viously agreed upon. as follows:
Temporary secretary-Charles W. Jonn-
son OF Minneapolis.
Assistant secfetaries-John r. M1lloy cf
Ohio. John r. Beam of New Jersey. Lu-
cien Gray of Illinois, Gardner p. Stickney
Of Wisconsin, James r. Burke OF Pennsyl-
vania w. b. Bochman of Tennessee, War
rem Bigier of Indiana, John F. Boyce Of
Kansas. F. 8. Gaylord of Connecticut.
Reading clerks-Dennis E. Award, Mchi-
gan: E. l. Lampson. Ohio; James H. Stone.