Gilpin observer., 1901-03-07

maps of 1861. These old differences
less and less disturb the Judgment EX-
listing problems demand the thought
and quicken the conscience of the coun-
try and the responsibility for their
presence as well as for their righteous
settlement rests upon us all-no more
upon me than upon you. There are
some national questions in the solution
Of which patriotism should exclude
partisanship. Magnifying their diff
culties will not take them off our hands
nor facilitate their adjustment. Dis
trust Of the capacity, integrity and
high purpose of the American people
will not be an inspiring theme for fu-
ture political contests.
Dark Pictures Useless.
Dark pictures and gloomy forebod-
ings are worse than useless. These
only becloud, they do not help to
point the way to safety and honor.
Hope maketh not ashamed" The
prophets of evil were not the builders
of the Republic, nor in its crises since
have they saved or served it. The faith
of the fathers was a mighty force in
it's creation and the faith of their de-
scendants has wrought it's progress
and furnished its 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 rest
ing 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 unworthy the doctrine that we
lose our own liberties by securing the
enduring foundations of liberty to
others. Our institutions will not de-
teriorate by extension and our sense of
justice will not abate under tropic
suns in distant seas. AS heretofore, so
hereafter will the nation demonstrate
its fitness to administer any new es-
tate which events develop 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 disheart-
ened, but the more earnestly dedicate
ourselves to the task which we have
rightly entered. The path of progress
is seldom smooth. New things are Of
ten 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 bet
ter for the effort and sacrifice, and are
not those we serve lifted up and
blessed?
Always Opposition.
We will be consoled, too, with the
fact that opposition has confronted
every onward movement of the Repub-
lie from it's opening hour until now,
but without success. The Republic
has marched on and on and its every
step has exalted freedom and humani-
ty. We are undergoing the same Or
deal as did our predecessors nearly
century ago. We are following the
course they blaZed. They triumphed.
VIII their successors falter and plead
organic impotency in the nation?
Surely after 125 years of achievement
for mankind we will not now surren-
der 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 independ-
ent sovereignty. We adhere to the
principle of equality among ourselves
and by no act of ours will we assign
to ourselves n 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
recital. Some Of them were unforeseen;
many of them momentous and far
reaching in their consequence to our
selves and our relations with the rest
of the world. The part which the
United States bore so honorably in the
thrilling scenes in China, while new to
American life, has been in harmony
with its true spirit and best traditions
and in dealing with the results its pol
icy will be that of moderation and fair
ness.
We face at this moment n most i'm
portant question-that of the future re-
lations of the United States and Cuba.
With our near nelghbors we must re-
main close friends. The declaration
of the purposes OF this govern
ment in the resolution of April
20, 1893, must be made good. Ever
since the evacuation of the island by
the army of Spain, the executive, with
all practicable speed, has been assist
ing its people In the successive steps
necessary to the establishment of n
free and Independent government, pre-
pared to assume and perform the OBJ
legations of international law, which
now rest upon the United States un-
der the treaty of Paris. The conven-
ton elected by the people to frame n
constitution is approaching the com
plction of Its lnbors. The transfer of
American control to the new govern
mcnt is of such great Importance. in
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 the pol.
Icy which the legislative branch of the
government deems essential to the best
Interests of Cuba ana the United
States The principles which led to
our intervention require that the fun
damental law upon which the new gov
ernment rests should be adapted to So.
cure n government capable of perform
ing the duties and discharglug the
functions OF n separate nation. of OBJ
L..