Middletown transcript., 1901-03-09

by securing the enduring foundations Of
liberty to others. Our institution will
not deteriorate by extension, and our
sense of justice will not abate under tropic
suns in distant seas. As heretofore, OF
hereafter will the nation demonstrate its
fitness to administer any new estate which
events devolve upon it, and in the feal
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 entered.
The path Of progress is seldom smooth.
New things are often found hard to do.
Our fathers found them SO. We find
them So They are inconvenient. They
cost us something. But are we not made
better for the effort and sacrifice, and are
not those we serve lifted up and blessed?
We will be consoled, too, with the fact
that opposition has confronted every on
ward movement of the republic from its
opening hour until now, but without sue
cess. The republic has marched on and
on, and its every step has exalted free
dom and humanity. We are undergo
ing the same ordeal as did our predeces-
sors nearly century ago. We are fol-
lowing the course they blazed. They
triumphed. Will their successors falter
and plead organic impotency in the ma.
ton? Surely after 125 years of achieve
ment for mankind we will not now sur
render our equality with other powers on
matters fundamental and essential to ma
With no such purpose was the
nation created. In no such spirit has it
developed its full and independent SOW
ert ignty.- 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 ma
tions.
My fellow-citizens, tile public events
of the past four years have gone into his
tory. They are too near to justify reci-
tai. Some of them were unforeseen;
many of them momentous and far reach
ing in their consequences to ourselves
and our relations with the rest of the
world. The part which the United
States bore so honorabiy in the thrilling
scenes in China, while new to American
ife, has been in harmony with its true
ipirit and best traditions, and in dealing
With the results its policy will be that of
moderation and fairness.
We lace at this moment most i'm |
,ortant question-that of the future re-
ations of the United States and Cuba.
With our near neighbors we must re-
main close friends. The declaration of |
he purposes of this government in the
esolution of April Goth, 1898, must be
ood. Ever since the evacuation of the
sland by the army of Spain the execu-
i've with all practicable speed has been
ssisting its people in the successive
teps necessary to the establishment of a
rec and independent government pre-
ared to assume and perform the obliga-
ons of international law which now
ssts upon the United States under the
'eaty of Paris. The convention elected
y the people to frame constitution is
the completion of its labors.
he transfer of American control to the
ew government is of such great import
nee, involving all obligation resulting
ON our intention and the treaty of
,ace, that am glad to be advised by
e recent act of Congress of the policy
hich the legislative branch of the gov /,
nment deems essential to the best in /
rests of Cuba and the United Suites.
le principles which led to our inter-
ntion require that the fundamental :
W upon which the new government !
sts should be adapted to secure gov /
nment capable of performing the duties
d discharging the functions of a separate !
ton, OF observing its international OBJ {
ations Of protecting life and property, D