The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-01

lar route to the Pacific coast suggested
that all Of the plans should be first laid
before congress before action was taken,
and that the route that would do the
most good for all the interests Of the
people should be the one that ought to
be adopted (applause). Let me read
you the preamble of the second reso-
luton.
g Whereas; the attention of the people
and government of the United States
is now being directed to the improve
ment and practicability Of constructing
q route across the continent of North
America as the means of making the
United States. the great highway be-
tween Europe and the populous and
wealthy empire of Asia and of facilitat-
ing our own intercourse with those
regions, of connecting and binding Cali
fOrnia and the Pacific coast to our
union, and of developing our great agri-
cultural, manufacturing and commercial
interests and whereas this Stupendous
work, if accomplished by the aid of the
general government ought to be so con-
structed as to confer its inestimabIe BEN
etts as equally as possible upon the peo-
pie of the United States and to construct
the union of those states, as we'll as
those Of the states with the western ter
rltOry by making it the means of more
intimate and lasting connection of the
north and south, rendering the interests
Of each dependent upon and tributary
to this magnificent th0rOughfare of the
commerce of the world
That was the purpose. that was the
spirit of the people of Tennessee fifty
years ago. No question as to whether
It was to be the central line or southern
line or the northern line; the real ques-
ton was the connection of this great
north and south of ours with the Pa
clfic ocean, this leading us out to the
great markets in the Orient. What your
legislature a half century ago said
should be done has already been accom-
plshed- We not only have one, but we
have five lines, connecting the Atlantic
with the Pacific; the Union Pacific, the
Southern the Atchison. the Great North
ern and Northern Pacific. making five
great transcOntinentaI lines connecting
the two oceans (applause).
The government of the United States
assisted in the building of the roads. 1t
railway bonds and became responsible
for their payment and took a second
mortgage upon the property as security
terestinaS to note in this presence that
reaching one hundred and thirty millions
of dollars. principal and interest, belong
ing to the government of the United
States, one hundred aud twenty-fOur mill
lions has been paid into the public treas
AIRY and the balance secured. thus giving
US not only the principal Of the aid we
gave these roads, but the interest at more
than per cent.
SO We have our railroads to the Pa
more trade. and for a period Of years you
have been shipping your cotton TO China
This has been interrupted a little in the
last few months, but that interruption we
trust will be speedily removed and we win
have the open door to China on equal
terms with every power earth. And it
is not going to hurt this trade that we
have the Philippines
The president paid tribute to the ef-
hciency of General Luke Wright CT Mem
phis. one of the Filipino commissioners,
and continued.
Thank God no sectionaIism now mars
the map of the United States. Our Opin-
ions upon public questions of national in
rerest and national welfare do not rest
upon the color of uniforms we wore in
1861, but upon our constructions of right
and duty in 1901. And I rejoice tonight
to say in this presence that the happy
time has come and that.
THE north and the south together
brought
Now own the same electric thought
In peace a common flag salute
And with free and unresentful rivalry
Harvest the fields Whereon they fought