Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-02-28
Pincree.s Valedictory.


"After eleven years of continuous ser
vice have no desire for further political
preferment," he announced. His speech
dealt almost exclusively with his we'll
known ideas upon taxation. In the course
of it he took occasion TO deny that he
would ever bolt the Republican party
IF my declaration of independence, he
said, apropos of his announcement that
he would run on a ticket of his own
should Ferry be nominated, "has called
attention to the real issue Of taxation, it
is good thing"
Gov. Nash of Ohio was warmly re-
ceived and his address on Washington
and the Northwest Territory" made an
excellent impression.
Lieut.. Gov. Woodruff of New York
was decidedly the orator of the evening.
His subject was washington, the Ex-
pansionist." 1t was an eloquent tribute
to the policy of the national administra-
ton. and his references to the efficiency
of Secretary of War Alger brought forth
great cheering.
Referring to the expansion policy of the
Government Mr.. Woodruff said:
''The expansion. of the United States
has been unparalleled in the history of
nations. Three hundred and fifty thou
sand square miles and 100000 people
constituted the area and population of
the thirteen colonies. The territory has
increased ten-fold and the population
twenty-five fold.
1.-THE acquisition, after the war of
American independence, of tie Northwest
terrtoryof which Michigan was part
increased by two and half times the
original domain of the nation. This again
was doubled by the purchase of the Lou
isiana territory, at an expenditure of less
than the cost of three irst-class cruisers
of our modern navy. The acquisition of
Florida by purchase of the Oregon terri
tory by partition, of Texas by annexa-
ton, of parts of Mexico by cession, a .
of Alaska by purchase, again doubled
our domain.
"The addition of Hawaii, Porto Rico
and the Philippine Islands-although
equal to the territory of the British ISL
ands-increased by only one-thrtieth the
area of the United States. which was
already nearly equal to the whole of
Europe. From Boston as the Hub. with
the Carolinas and the Appalachian noun
tains as circumference. we had, by the
acquisition of Alaska. carried the geog-
raphical center of the nation westward
step by stcr, beyond the Colder Gate,
until it matters not to-day whether, in
setting forth for the furthermost frontier
of the republic. we turn our faces toward
the rising or the setting SUM-"
On the subject of the Nicaragua canal
he said:
"The independence of Cuba and the
possession of Porto Rico will be of ines
timable value TO the maintenance of the
canal across the isthmus of Central
America, by which we viii combine our
vast Atlantic and Pacific commerce of
the future into one grand and concrete
whole. This canal will be constructed
and controlled by American enterprise
and American capital!'
Other speakers of the evening were
Gen II " Boynton, Washington. ID. g.,
on MEN of Michigan in the Footsteps of
Washington Gov Shaw Of Iowa on
What and How Much We Have Ae-
complished," (" and Gen. Shafter, who was
most enthusiastically greeted. The senti-
ment was patriotic and enthusiasm great
whenever President Mckinley and the
administration policy were mentioned.