The St. Louis Republic., 1902-09-23
Speech at Detroit Declares That
All Americans Are Affected
by Deeds of Each.
CUBA'S NEEDS EMPHASIZED.
Close Relation of Infant Republic
With United States Made the
Basis of a Vigorous Plea
for Reciprocity.

Detroit. Mich. Sept. 22.-President Roose-
velt's two days visit to Detroit came to
an end this evening. at the close Of a
banquet rendered him in Light Guard Arm
ory by the Spanish War Veterans. the open
ing Of whose third annual reunion he at
tended this morning.
1t was a brilliant event Nearly 500 men
sat at tables on the floor of the big Arm
ory. and the galleries were crowded to their
utmost capacity by brilliantly -gowned wom-
en- and their escorts.
The Armory was decorated In green and
white maple branches, and electric lights
were everywhere.
When the President rose to begin his ad-
dress. which was the first OF the evening.
he received an ovation. The President said.
In part:
"A SMALL WAR"
IN. with Spain. though from :, .uc,
great consequences have followed. was itsels but
q small war.
YET. though the actual deeds done were trivial
Ehen measured with the giant struggle IN which
Graus and Sherman and Thomas and Sheridan
and Fs--usut and Porter won imperishabie re-
novn. IL stiil remains true that the way in which
these deeds were done was OF good omen to the
country.
1t broush, homo to Us what should be the ever
present fac; In our minds that a good done by
- AAncAASAu II put GOWN 10 the Credlt OF al
Americans. and that therefore conversely no act
OF vrongdo!ng can be performed by any Of our
number without the evil effects being felt to q
greater or less degree by all of Us.
TASKS ARE HARD.
The war Itself was an easy one.
Tie tasks left behind Us though glorious. have
been hard.
You. the men OF the Spanish war. you and
your comrades In arms. who fought IL Cuta
and Porto Rico and in the Philippines. won
renosn Tor the country. added TO its moral
grandeur and 10 Its material prosperity. but you
also len duties to be done by those who came
AFTER you.
In Porto Rico the duty has been merely ad-
uinistrative. and 1; has been so well done that
very little need be said about IT.
In the Philippines the problem OF
extreme difficulty But after three years OF
bitter fighting peace has been won by the vaior
OF our soldiers. and civil government has been
introduced. SO that the islanders have now great
er opportunities for life liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness than they have enjoyed
before during their recorded history.
Last week 1 ordered a taking OF the census OF
the islands. and two years hence. according TO
the law of Congress. the first steps will be taken
IN the direction Of giving the Philippine people
q legislative assembly.
No other Oriental country IN the possession OF
an alien power-indeed no Oriental country at
ALL save only Japan-has any such measure Of
SELF government and personal freedom rs We
have already given to the F1lipinos.
PLEDGE TO CUBA.
Win cuba the matter Is cnerent We pledged
ourselves solemnly at the outbreak Of the war
with Spain to give TO Cuba Independence.
The world AZ large sneered at the pledge. and
even some Of own people seorfed at the
thought that intended 70 keep it. But we
have kept it In good faith and WITH . keen re-
gard for the welfare OF the Cllbans ~ 'i,- N.-
We did not turn Cuba loose to sink into q
velter Of anarchy. We first Administered the
Affairs Of the island until order had been
brought out Of chaos. until the cities had been
cleaned the courts purired. educational sys-
tenn started. and a just and efficient government
introduced
Then We turned the new republic over to
the hands Of those whom its people had elected
IT. servants. and bade 1t god-specd on its
journey OF Independence.
But neither our duty to. nor interest In
the island. have come to an end with the estab-
nshment Of Its Independence cuba's imme-
ciate proximity to the United States rendered
Its well being Of such interest 10 that We
vere forced TO interiors In Its interest by force
Of arms.
For the same reason Its future welfare cannot
but be a matter OF grave concern to We
do not desire Cuba to stand toward any other
nation In the relations OF intimate friend
ship and alliance that We desire to see It ADOPT
toward US.