Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-21

The Speechmaking was briefly opened
hv President Jrsup He then proposed
:, toast To the memory of Mr.. McI<in-
ley. f, was drunk with al standing
and in silence President Eooseveit's
health was then toasted. while the OF
chestra played. and at the next toast.
that Of King Edward of England. the
British national anthem was played.
In introducing Secretary Hay. Presi-
uent Jesup proposed a toast to our
Diplomacy" The secretary was warm
" welcomed by the guests and his
speech at various points met with great
enthusiasm. The applause was deafen
ing when in his peroratiOn he said:
NO wantonness of strength will ever
induce US to drive a hard bargain with
another nation because it is weak, nor
VIII any fear of ignoble criticism tempt
LIS to insult or defy Il great bower be-
cause it is stronger or even because it
is friendly
MIR. Chairman and Gentlemen: | need
not dwell upon the mournful ami tragic
event by virtue OF which ! am here.
When the President Jay stricken IN
Buffalo, though hope beat high in all
our hearts that his life might be- spared
for future usefulness TO his country, II
was still recognized as improbable that
he should be able to keep the engage
ment he had made to BE- with You, to-
night, and Your committee did M the
honor to ask me TO come in his place.
This I have sometimes done III his lie
time, though always with diffidence
and dread, but how much mere am
daunted by the duty of appearing be
fore you when that great man loved
and revered above all even while liv
ing has put on the august halo OF inn
mortality-who could worthily come in
TO your presence as the shadow Of that
illusTiouS shade.
II am asked to say something about
our diplomacy. You want from ne
nothing but the truth; and yet if |
confine myself to the truth, | cannot
help fearing l shall do my profession
wrong in the minds Of those who have
been in the habit Of considering diplo-
macy an occult science. as mysterious
as alchemy, and as dangerous To the
morals as municipal politics.
In my experience of diplomatic life
which now covers more years than
{ like to look back upon. and in the far
greater record of American diplomacy.
which l have read ana studied. can
say without hesitation that we have
generally told suualely what We want
ed, announced early IN negotiation what
We were willing to give and allowed the
other side to accept or reject our terms.
''The briefest EXPRESSION of our rule of
conduct is. perhaps, the Monroe doe
trire and the golden rule. With this
simple chart we can hardly go far
wrong.
Il think | may say that our sister re
publics to the south of US are perfectly
convinced OF the sincerity of our atti-
tude. They know we desire the pros
perity of each Of them and peace and
harmony amOung them. We no more
want their territory than we covet the
mountains of the moon. We are grieV-
" ed and distressed when there are diff
cultles among them but even then We
should not think Of trying to compose
any of those difficulties urless by the
request of both parties to it. Not even
our earnest desire for peace amony
them VIII lead us to any action which
might offend their national dignity OF
their Just sense of independence
AS to what we have tried TO do
what we are still trying to do-in the
general held of diplomacy. there is nc
reason for doubt on the one hand or re-
ucence on the other. President Nc.
hihley in his messages during the las
!our Years has made the subject per
iecty clear. We have striven, on the
INES laid down by Washington. to cuI
uNate friendly relations with all pow
ers out not to take part in the for
niauon OF groups or combinations
among them. \ position of complet,
h,aependence is not Incompatible wit,
relations involving not friendship alon
"ut concurrent action as well in i'm
portant emergencies.
we nave Kept always in view the fac
'"a' We are re-eminently peace ,oyin.