The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-04-24


but still more in upholding its honor
BY unwcaried labor for the establish
ment of ordered liberty - OF law
creating, law-abiding, civil govern
| ment--under its folds.
The progress which has been made
under Gen. Wright and those like
him has been indeed marvellous. In
| fact, a letter of the Generals the
other dav seemed to show that he
considered there was far more war
fare about the Philippines in this
country than there was warfare in
the Philippines themselves! 1t is an
added proof Of the completeness Of
the reunion Of our country that one
Of the foremost men who have been
instrumental in driving forward the
! great work for civilization and hui
manity in the Philippines has been a
man who in the Civil War fought
with distinction in a uniform Of Con-
Tolerate grey.
II ever the need comes in the future
the past has made abundantly evil
dent the fact that from this time on
NOrtherner and Southerner will in
war know only the generous desire to
strive how each can do the more
effective service for the flag OF our
common country. The same thing is
true in the endless work of peace,
the never-ending work Of building and
keeping the marvellous fabric of our
industrial prosperity. The upbuild-
ing Of any part of our country is a
benefit to the whole, and every such
effort as this to stimulate the re-
sources and industry Of particular
section is entitled to the heartiest
support from every quarter OF the
Union. Thoroughly good national
work can he done only if each Of US
works hard for himself and at the
same time keeps constantly in mind
that he must work in con junction
with others.
You have made a particular effort
in yohr exhibition to get into touch
with the West Indies This is wise.
The events OF the last four years have
shown us that the West Indies and
cupy far larger place in our national
policy than in the past. This is
proved by the negotiations for the
purchase of the Danish Islands, the
acquisition of Porto Rico, the prepa-
ration for building an Isthmian canal
and, finally, by the changed relations
which these years have produced be-
tween us and Cuba. AS a nation we
have an especial right to take honest
I Il bat Il for N .,
Our critics abroad and at home have
insisted that we never intended to
leave the island But on the goth OF
next month we turn over to the
islanders the control of their own
government. 1t would be very diff
cult to find a parallel in the conduct
OF any other great State that has oc-
cupied such position as ours. We
have kept our word and done our
duty, ust as an honest individual in
private life keeps his word and does
his duty.
Be it remembered, moreover, that
after our three years occupation of
the island we turn it over to the
| Cubans in better condition than it
ever has been in all the centuries OF
Spanish rule. This has direct bear
ing upon our own elfare Cuba is
SO near to us that we can never be in
| different to the misgOvernment and
disaster within its limits. The mere
fact that our administration in the
island has minimiZtl the danger from
the dreadful scourge of yellow fever,
alike to Cuba and to ourselves, is
sufficient to emphasize the commun-
| lty of interest between us. But there
are other interests which bind us to-
gether. Cuba's position makes it
necessary that her political relations
with us should differ from her politi-
cal relations with other Powers
This fact has been formulated by us
and accepted by the Cubans in the
Platt amendments. It follows as a
corollary that where the Cubans have
thus assumed a position Of peculiar
relationship to our political system
they must similarly stand in a
peculiar relationship to our economic
system.
We have rightfully insisted upon
Cuba adopting toward us an attitude
differing politically from that she
adopts toward any other Power, and
in return. as matter of right, we
must give to Cuba a dfferent-that
is. better-position economically in
her relations with us than we give to
other Powers. This is the course
dictated by sound policy, by a wise
and far-sighted view of our own inter
est. and by the position we have taken
during the past four years. We are a
wealthy and powerful country. deal
ing with much weaker one, and the
contrast in wealth and strength
makes it all the more our duty to
deal with Cuba, as we have always
dealt with her, in i spirit of large
generosity.
This Exposition is rendered pos
sible because of the period of indus
trial prosperity through which we
are passing. While material we'll
being is never all sufficient to the life
of nation, yet it is the merest
truism to say that its absence means
ruin. We need to build higher life
upon 1t as a foundation; but we can
| build little indeed unless this founda-
ton of prosperity is deep and broad
The well-being which we are now Ell
| Joying can be secured only through
general business prosperity, and
such prosperity is conditioned upon
the energy and hard work, the sanity
and the mutual respect of all classes
OF capitalists, large and small, of
wage workers of every degree AS is
inevitable in time of business pros
perlty. some men succeed more than
others, and it is unfortunately also
inevitable that when this is the case
some unwiss people are sure to try to
appeal to the envy and jealousy of
| those who succeed least. 1t is GOOD
thing when these appeals are made to
remember that while it is difficult to
increase prosperity by law. it is easy
| enOnOh tn min ,Lo+