Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-04-25
TAZEWELI VA, THURSDAY APRIL %, 1901.

"Our people understand that it is not
actual territory or dominion over people
that we seek, but the exp ansion of Amer
lean thought, ideas of government, COM
merce and civilization.
"Political leaders might as well learn
that the law of progress will sweep away as
chaff those who would place barriers
against the mighty tide which is destined
to spread the democratic idea Of govern
ment to the uttermost boundso the earth.
My definition of democracy is liberty for
man, formulated into a theory of govern
ment. 1t means mans inalienable owner
ship of himself, it means free thought and
free speech.
In the dim night of the past some poor
slave raised bis bowed head and caught
inspiration from Gods free air, Gods free
sunlight and the glad song of Gods free
birds, that he also of right was free, and
ever since, that vision of liberty has been
an undying revelation for every age and
all cimes.
"They aimed to create giant not Il
pieny.
"For century the nation has been con
tent to grapple with questions of internal
development, but suddenly in the evou-
ton of our national destiny, We have be-
come one Of the great powers of the world
and can no longer move in a acircumscribei
continental orbit. If we would maintain
our supremacy or even equality among
the nations of the world, the shackles
forged by narrow, sectional prejudices
must be broken.
"The question of the hour is not wheth-
er this republic is what its founders with
it, lights before them) intended to make
it; not whether this is theoretically an
ideal democratic government, at all times
in exact conformity to the technical re-
ouirements Of written constitution, but
whether with the spirit rather than the
letter of that constitution we are making
the most of our national opportunities and
meeting the political and economic con-
ditions growing out of the constantly
changing needs of the people. No form
of government was ever chosen out OF
hand, and it is historically true that no
form of government ever did result from
deliberate choice; it has always been the
logical result of conditions.
"The nation is nothing out the type of
individual life, and as from childhood to
manhood we outgrow garments and duties
they are put aside, so it is in the evolu-
tionary development of a nation, social,
political, and industrial systems that have
had their day are thrust aside for new
methods and new systems to meet
changed and higher state Of existence.
We have reached stage in the South
where it is Improbable to rake the dead
ashes and charred embers of the past and
where we must look forward rather than
backward. True statesmanship, while Wig.
liant as to the present, looks with prophetic
eye to the future.
"The people have right to expect their
leaders to be in advance Of the thought of
the age, and not tamely drift with the
current. In an era of translation and
change like this, without some such fore
cast, political parties will cling to dead
issues, and finally founder in the mael-
stron Of factiona divisions and greed for
Office.
"When Louisiana, Florida, Texas and
California were acquired the great leaders
of Democracy acted upon this doctrine,
and SO when this war with Spain produced
certain results it would have been the
part Of wisdom to have made party plat
forms and policies correspond with exist
ing conditions and their natural and in
evitable consequences.
"The administration is doing a great
deal towards improving our commercial
opportunities in the East, by showing
some regard for the inalenable rights of
China, while protecting the legitimate de
mands of foreign interests. Dewey's VIC
tory first established American prestige
along the Asiatic coast. 1t was then that
eight hundred million yellow, brown and
black people learned respect for the United
States and saluted us as first.class power.
The attitude of the United States since
in the field of diplomacy in China has
given confidence and increased that re-
spect. The United States from the first
took the lead, and even the war-llke EN-
peror of Germany has had to yield to
"Unce Sans" friendly admonitions. We
now occupy the vantage ground, because
we are on friendly terms with all the
powers.
81 make the assertion that the South
has more to gain than any other section
from the foreign policy now pursr ed by
the administration particularly when the
Isthmian canal is constructed, as it will
be. have read extracts from the speech
of my amiabe and distinguished friend,
His Excellency, Minister WI, recently
Continued to column s, this page.)