The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-05
BEGINS SECOND TERM.
Continued from First Page0

demand the thought and quicken the con-
science of the country, and the respon-
sibility 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 I'm the
solution of which patriotism should eX-
clude craftsmanship. MagnifynS their dif-
hculties will not take them off our hands,
nor facilitate their adjustment, Distrus:
of the capacity, integrity and high pur-
poses of the American people
will not be an inspiring theme for
future political contests Dark pictures
and gloomy forebodngs are worse than
useless. These only becloud, they do not
help the point the way of safety and
honor. Hope maketh not ashamed" The
prophets of evil were not the builders of
the republic, nor in its crisis since have
they saved or served it. The faith of the
fathers was mighty force in its crea-
ton, and the faith of their descendants
has wrought its progress and furnished
its defenders. They are obstructionists
who despair and who would destroy con-
f1dence in the ability of our people to
solve wisely and for civilization the
mighty problems resting upon them. The
American people, intrenched in freedom
at home, take their love for it with them
wherever they go and they reject as mis-
taken and unworthy the doctrine that we
lose our own liberties by securing the en-
during foundations of liberty to others.
Our institutions will not deterioate by eS-
tension and our sense of justice will not
abate under tropic suns in distant seas.
As heretofore, so hereafter, will the ma
ton demonstrate it's fitness to administer
any new estate which events devolve up
on 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 dis
heartened, but the more earnestly dedi-
cate ourselves to the task 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 eff
fort and sacrifice and are not those we
| serve lifted up and blessed?
Has Always Been Opposition.
We will be consoled too. with the fact
that opposition has confronted every on
ward movement of the republic from it's
opening hour until now, but without sue
| cess. The republic has marched on and
on and it's every step has exalted free
the same ordeal as did our predecessors
| nearly century ago. We are following
| the course they blazed. They triumphed.
| Will their successors falter and plead or
| ganic impotency in the nation? Surely,
| after 125 years of achievement for man
| kind we will not now surrender our
| equality with other Powers on matters
fundamental and essential to nationally.
With no such purpose was the nation ere
In ri haC
| its full and independent sovereignty. We
| adhere to the principle of equality among
| ourselves, and by no act of ours will we
| assign to ourselves subordinate rank
in the family of nations.
| MY fellow-citizens, the public events of
| the past four years have gone into his
| tory. They are too near to justify re-
cital. 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
| honoraby in the thrilling scenes in China,
while new to American life, has been in
! harmony with it's true spirit and best
traditions, and in dealing with the results
it's policy will be that of moderation and
fairness.
The United States and Cuba.
| We face at this moment most import
| ant question-that of the future relations
of the United States and Cuba. With our
near neighbors we must remain close
friends. The declaration of the pur-
poses of this government in the resolution
| of April 90 1898, must be made
| good. Ever since the evacuation
of the island by the army Of
Spain, the executive with all practicable
speed has been assisting its people in the
| successive steps necessary to the estab-
| lishment of a free and independent gov
eminent prepared TO assume and perform
| the obligations of international law, which
now rest upon the United States under
the treaty of Paris. The convention elect
| ed BY the people to frame a constitution
is approaching the completion of its la
| bors The transfer of American control
to the new government is of such great
| inheritance involving an obligation result
ing from our Intervention and the treaty
of peace that l am glad to be advised by
the recent act of Congress of the policy
which the legislative branch of the gov
eminent deems essential to the best in
terests Of Cuba and the United States.
The principles which led to our inter-
vention require that the fundamental law
unon which the new government rests
| should he adapted to secure a govern
ment capable of performing the duties and
| discharging the functions of a separate
| nation. of observing its international OBJ
LEGATIONS, of protecting life and property,
insuring order, safety and liberty, and
conforming to the established and histori-
cal policy OF the united states III lts re-
lation 10 Cuba.
The peace which we are pledged to
leave TO the Cuban people must carry
with Il the guarantees of permanence.
We became sponsors for the pacification
of the island and we remain accountable
10 the Cubans, no less than to our own
country and people, for the reconstruc-
tion of Cuba as a free commonwealth on
abiding foundations of right, Justice, lib
ortv and assured order Our enfranchise-
ment of the people will not be complet-
"a until free Cuba shall abe a reality, not
a name: a perfect entity, not "a hasty eX-
periment bearing within itself the ele'
ments Of failure"
The Philippine Islands.
while the treaty OF peace with Spain
xvaa ratified on the 9th of February 1899
and ratincations were exchanged nearly
two years ago, the Congress has Indicated
ma form OF government for the Philippine
Islandg. IL has. however, provided ar
army 10 enable the executive to suppress
Iustlrrectlon. restore peace, give security
10 the inhabitants, and establish the au'
,horlty OF the United States throughout
the archipelago. II has authorized tho
organization OF native troops az auxiliary