The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-11-27
A NOTABLE SPEECH.

/ No recent speech in this country
has been received with more cordial
praise than the one that Secretary
Hay delivered at the New forh
Chamber of Commerce banquet last
Tuesday night. az
The secretary was fresh from tne
consummation of the new treaty Wlth
Great Britain, as far as that WORK
can be completed by our state oepar1-
ment and the British ambassador.
This treaty is justly regarded as a
great diplomatic triumph for Secre-
tarv Hay, and the enthusiasm Whlcn
greeted him at the gathering OF re-
presentaiye business men of the coun-
try,s metropolis was prefectly natural.
The speech that followed his hearty
reception was so admirable IN
thought, feeling and expression tna5 IL
called forth another and fuller demon
stration of the admiration IN which
Secretary Hay is held.
His address abounds in declarations
of patriotic and saluta-y principles OF
national conduct.
It portrays the great advantages
that are secured to us by our
geographical isolation and superb
Strength, and gives this assurance that
our might will be wisely and justly
used. These are noble words: -,
ssNo wontonness of strength will
ever induce Us to drive hard bargain
with another nation because it is weak,
nor will any fear of ignoble criticism
tempt US to insult or defy a great
power because it is strong, or even
because il is friendly"
Secretary Hay spoke of "our sister
republics to. the SOUTH IN a manner
calculated to allay apprehensions: that
have been aroused, not lliog!cal!y,
by our recent conquests and terrlJorla al
extension and declared that we are IN
honor bound not to interfere further
in their affairs than we may go IN
disinterested friendship. He said:
"We are grieved and distressed when
there are differences among them, but
even then we should never think of
trying to compose any Of those diner
ences unless by the request OF both
parties to it's
Those. who heard this sentiment
greeted with repeated cheers. and they
will be echoed by the people, OF this
whole country without regard to par
tisan politics.
The true line of our national policy
was finely set forth as follows:
''The attitude of our diplomacy may
be indicated in text of Scripture
which Franklin-the first and greatest
of our diplomats-tells Us passed
through his mind when he was pre-
sented at the court of Versailles. 1t
was text his father used to quote to
him in the old candle shop in Boston
when he was a boy: 'Seest thou a
man diligent in his business? he shall
stand before kings Let us be dill,
gent in our business and we shall
stand-stand, you see, not crawl nor
stand as friend and equal,
asking nothing, putting up with moth
ing but what is right and just, among
our peers in the great democracy OF
nations
That sentence is worthy to live in
our craftsmanship and our literature.
Secretary Hays notable address
contains many others that we would
like to quote. Every word of it should
be read and every thought of it pom
dered by the nation, it is ali so true
and timely.
Il is, from its first word to its last.
a speech of which every American
should be proud as rejecting the best
principles and highest aims of his
country.-Atlanta Journal.