Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-19

onStrated that the republicans nominated
and elected man to the vice-presidency
who was big enough to be the President.
The administration during tho past few
years has been criticised from time to
time for the course 1t has pursued regard
ing Cuba There were those who insisted
that we never intended to carry out our
pledges, that we never intended to aid the
Cubans In establishing an independent gov
ernment. But the administration went
steadily forward transforming the island,
cleansing 1t of disease and pestilencc, thor
oughly renovating II throughout, filling it
with public schools and preparing the way
for independence, until finally on the 10Th
of May last our warship carrying with it
the last vestige of American occupation
steamed out Of Havana harbor her guns
booming their salute to the flag Of the now
republic.
And the administration in a similar way
has been and still is criticised for its
course respecting the Philippine islanus.
But II any mistake has been made in our
course toward those islands 1t was made
when the treaty of peace was ratified in
the Senate by the votes of both repub-
licans and democrats. When that treaty
was ratified we assumed international du-
ties, We undertook the task of protecting
life and property there. Whether any mis-
take was made in ratifying that treaty
from the standpoint Of the American peo-
pie Is a question upon which men may
honestly differ. But 1t seems TO me that
no fair minded man can claim for a mo-
ment that any mistake was made at that
time from the standpoint of the Philip
pine Islands. There are those who have
claimed and now claiming that we should
abandon the islands. that we should with
draw from them and leave them to their
tate but there has never been moment
since that treaty was ratified when any
political party in the United States would
have done differently, If in power. than
has the Republican party. If occasional
acts of cruelty have been committed the
American people deplore them, the admin
istration deplores them and the thorough
American in the White House deplores
them.
The American people have nothing but
Kindness for the people Of the Philippine
| Islands. Their earnest desire is to give
those islands the blessings of liberty pop
ular government and modern civilization.
| On the goth of May last a vast multitude
gathered in Havana harbor to celebrate
the birth Of the Cuban republic. AS the
hour of noon approached all eyes were
turned toward the flagstaff on MORO Cas-
tie where floated the stars and stripes. AT
| last came a moment OF supreme silence,
| the American flag was hauled slowly down
and in its place there floated the flag Of
| the new Cuba. AS it reached the top of
| the staff there arose from the multitude
the shout Long live the republic of the
United States" Above all the triumphs of
| the hour rose the gratitude of the people
to the four score millions of America Ms
who had poured out their blood and treas
lro in behalf of that people. And SO bye
and bye when peace and law and order
and popular government shall have beer
permanently established in the Philippine
Islands the people of those islands will
remember with love and gratitude the la
bors and sacrifices of the American people
| in their behalf and will carve in solid gran.
/ tie and enduring bronze the names OF
their friends and preservers-William Nc
l<inley ard Theodore Roosevelt
! In conclusion | have a very pleasant
task to perform. Just before leaving
Washington President Roosevelt person
ally commissioned me to extend to you hi:
cordial greeting and to say to you that h'
cherished among his most choice recolleC
IONS the memory of your reception to hin
on the occasion of his visit here last Sep
tember: that the events which transpire'
during that visit and which changed thu
whole story of his life constituted stron;
bond of union between him and our littl'
State and that he is anticipating anothc
visit to Vermont III the not distant futur
when he hopes to greet you all in person
. Again ! thank yOu my friends for tn
honor you have conferred upon me and still
more for your cordial reception and you
, generous expressions here and elsewher
, of appreciation and approval.
At the close of Mr.. Fosters remarks tn
committee appointed to report names 10
the district committee presented their lis
, which was adopted 1t was as follows: A
a. Fletcher of Addison county, j. w. Fow
Ter of Pennington county, DIR. r. r. Stod
dard of Chittenden county. r. o. Sturte
want of Franklin county, w. f. Parks o
Grand Isle county, c. w. Clark of La
mollo county and f. G. Swinington OF Rut
land county.
The convention then adjourned.