Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-03-14

dS "tIl as lOI untlE lRlbCouS SCbilC-
ment rests upon us all-no more
upon me than upon you. There are
some national questions, in the solu-
tion of which patriotism should eX-
clude partisanship. Magnifying their
difficulties will not take them off our
hands, nor facilitate their adjust
ment.
Distrust of the capacity, integrity
and high purposes of the American
people will not be an inspiring theme
for future political contests. Dark
pictures and gloomy forebodings are
worse than useless. These only be-
cloud, they do not help TO point, the
way of safety and honor. Hope
maieth not ashamed" The prophets
of evil were not the builders of the
republic, nor in any crisis since have
they saved or served it. The faith
of their descendants has wrought its
progress and furnished it's defenders.
They are obstructionists who despair
and who would destroy confidence in
the ability of our people to solve
wisely and for civilization the mighty
problems resting upon them.
The American people, intrenched
in freedom at home, take their love
for it with them wherever they go,
and they reject as mistaken and un-
worthy the doctrine that we lose our
own liberties by securing the endur-
ing foundations of liberty to others.
Our institutions will not deteriorate
by extension and our sense of JUS
tice will not abate under tropic suns
in distant seas. AS heretofore, SO
hereafter will the nation demon
strate its fitness to administer any
new estate which events devolve upon
it and in the fear of God will take
occasion by the hand and make the
bounds of freedom wider yet" If
there are those among us who would
make our way more difficult, we must
not be disheartened, but the more
earnestly dedicate ourselves to the
task upon which we have rightly en-
tered. The path of progress is sell
dom smooth New things are often
! found hard to do. Our fathers found
them so. We find them so. They
are inconvenient. They cost us some
| thing. But are we not made better
| for the effort and sacrifice, and are
| not those we serve lifted up and
| blessed?
on and its every step has exalted
| freedom and humanity. We are un-
| dergoing the same ordeal as did our
predecessors nearly century ago.
| We are following the same course
| they blazed. They triumphed. viii
their successors falter and plead or
ganic impotency in the nation? Sure
| ly after 125 years of achievement for
L.. 4 Il
our equality with other powers on
matters fundamental and essential to
nationality. With no such purpose
was the nation created. In no such
spirit has it developed its full and
independent sovereignty. We adhere
to the principle of equality among
ourselves, and by no act of ours will
we assign to ourselves a subordinate
rank in the family of nations.
My fellow citizens, the public
events of the past four years have
gone into history. They are too
near to justify a recital. Some of
| them were unforeseen; many of them
momentous and far reaching in their
| consequences to ourselves and our re-
lations with the rest of the world
The part which the United States
! bore so honorably in the thrilling
scenes in China, while new to Amer
lean life, has been in harmony with
its true spirit and best traditions,
and in dealing with the results it's
! policy will be that of moderation
and fairness.
We face at this moment a most i'm
portant question-that of the future
relations of the United States and
Cuba. With our near nc.ghbors we
must remain close friends. The dec
laration of the purposes of this gov.
ernment in the resolution of April 20
1888, 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
its people in the steps necessary 10
the establishment of a free and in
dependent government prepared TO
assume and perform the obligations
of international law which now rest
upon the United States under the
treaty of Paris. The convention
elected by the people to frame a con-
stitution is approaching the compile
tion of its labors. The transfer of
American control to the new govern
/
volving an obligation resulting from
our Intervention and the treaty of
| peace, that | am glad to be advised
by the recent act of congress of tie
policy which the Legislative branch of
the government deems essential to
the best interests of Cuba aad the
| United States.
The principles which led to our in
tervention require that the funda-
mental law upon whi.n the new gov
ernment rests shoull be adapted to
secure government capable of per-
forming the duties AMI discharging
the functions of Sc 2arate nation, OF
observing its international obliga-
tions, of protecting life and property,
insuring order, safety and liberty,
and conforming to the established
and historical policy of the United
States in its relations to Cuba.
The peace which We are pledged to
leave to :he Cuban people must carry
with it the guarantees of perform
ance. We became sponsors for the
| pacification of the island and we re.