Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1901-03-06

Of president, | enter upon it's ad-
min stration appreciating the
great responsibilities which at
tsch to this renewed honor and
commission, promising unre-
served devotion on my part to
their faithful discharge aud rev
erently invoking for my guild
ance the direction and favor Of
A mighty God. ] should shrink
from the duties this day assumed
If did not feel that in their T er
formance l should have the CO
operation of the wise and pa
triotic men of all parties. 1t en-.
courages me for the great task
which | now undertake to be.
lave that those who voluntaril Y
committed to me the trust i'm
posed upon the chief executive
of the republic will give to me
generous support In my duties
to preserve, protect and defend
the constitution of the United
States,' and to care that the laws
be faithfully executed The
national purpose is indicated
through a national election. 1t
is the constitutional method of
ascertaining the public will.
When once it is registered 1T is
a law to US all, and faithful OBJ
servance should follow it's de
crees
My fellow citizens, the public
events Of the past four years
have gone into history. They are
too near to justify recital. Some
of them were unfol eseen; many
of them momentOus and far
reaching in their consequences to
ourselves aud our relations with
the rest of the world. The part
which the United States bore SO
honorably in the thrilling scenes
in China, while new to American
life, has been in harmony with
true spirit and with beat tradi-
tions, and in dealing with the re-
suits it's policy will be that of
moderation and fairness.
We face at this moment a most
important question-that Of the
future relations of the United
States and Cuba. With our near
est neighbors we must remain
close friends. The declaration of
the purposes of this government
in the resolution Of April 2, 1898,
must be made good. Ever since
the evacuation Of the island by
the army of Spain, the executive
with all practicable speed has
been assisting the people In the
successive steps necessary TO the
establish ment of a free and inde-
pendent government prepared to
assume and perform the obliga-
tions of international law which
now rests upon the United States
under the treaty Of Paris. The
convention elected by the people
to frame a constitution Is ap-
preaching completion. The
transfer of American control to
the new government is Of such
great Importance, involving an
obligation resulting from our in
tervention and the treaty Of
peace, that / am glad to be ad-
vised by the receLt act congress
of the policy which the legislative
branch Of the government deems
essential to the best interests OF
Cuba and the United States.
The peace which we are pied.
ged to leave to the Cuban people
must carry with it the guarantees
of permanence. We became spon-
sOrs for the pacification Of the
island and we remain accountable
to the Cubans, no less than TO our
own country and people, for the
reconstruction of Cuba as a free
commonwealth on abiding foun
dations of right, justice, liberty
and assused order. Our en-
franchisement of the people will
not be completed until free Cuba
shall be reality, not a name; a
perfect entity; not a hasty eXper-
iment burning within itself ihe
elements Of failure.
The settled purpose, long
ago proclaimed, to afford the
inhabitants Of the island self
government as fast as they were
ready for it will be pursued
with earnestness and fidelity.
Already something has been
accomplished in this direction.
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