Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-28

We had better not have begun the task
at all IL Is worse than idle TO say thal
We have no duty to perform, ana can
leave 10 their fates the islands we have
conquered Such "a course would be the
course of infamy, 1t would be follow
ed al once by utter chaos in the wret-
ched islands themselves. Some strong
er, manlier power would have 10 step
In and do the work, and we would have
shown ourselves weaklings, unable 10
carry to successful completion the la
bors that great and high-spirlted ma
tons are eager 10 undertake.
CANNOT ESCAPE.
The work must be done; We cannot
escape our responsibility; and II We are
worth our salt. we shall DE- glad Of the
chance to do the work-g'ad OF the
chance to show ourselves equal to one
Of the great tasks set modern ciViliza-
ton. But let us not deceive ourselves
as 20 the importance Of the task. Let
US not be misled by yaInglory into
Understanding the strain Ii will put
on our powers. Above an let US, MS
We value our own sef-respect, face the
responsibilities with proper seriousness,
courage, and high resolve. We must
demand the highest order Of integrity
and ability in our public men who are
to grapple with these new problems,
We must hold 20 a rigid accountability
those public servants who show UNI
falthfuness 60 the interests Of the ma
ton or inability 10 rise 10 the high
level of the new demands upon our
strength and our resources
BE CAREFUL or BLAME.
OF course we must remember not to
judge any public servant by any one
act aud especially should we beware
Of attacking the men who are merely
the occasions and not the causes Of
disaster. Let me Illustrate what
mean by the army and iho navy IL
twenty years ago we had gone 20 war;
We should have found the navy as alb.
solutely unprepared as the army. Al
that time our ships coul. n"t have en-
cou,ncrde with success the ilects OF
Spain any more than nowadays we can
put unframed s0diers. No matter now
brave. who are armed win archaic
blatk powder weapons. against Well-
drilled regulars armed with the high
est type OF modem repeating rifle, iut
In tho early eighties Che attention ot the
nation became directed GO our naval
needs Congress most wisely made
series OF appropriations 60 build up q
new navy and under q succession oi
abe ana patriotic secretaries, OF both
political parties. the navy was gradual
in built up. 0uul its material became
cqu1l 10 its splendid personnel Win
tha result that iu thc summer OF lsaS
h learad 10 its proper place as che OF
the most brilliant and formidable ught-
inp poviog in the entire Wori1 we
rrbtlv nay an honor io the men con-
trolling the navy 90 The time u won
tb.ea rraat deeds honor to Secretary
Long and Admiral Dewey 20 the cap
tains who handled the ships IN acuen.
to the daring heutenants VINO pfaNep
daofh I'm the smaller craft and 90 me
beods Of bureaus 40 Washington who
saw that the ships were so commanded
La armed. SO edupre1. 20 Wen enslneL
sq 10 insure the best results but ict
ms also keen ever IN mind that ail OF
fhis would not have awaited n II had
moi heer COR the wisdom ~ the men
who during the preceding fifteen years
rad huilt an the navy Keep IN inihd
me secretaries Of the navy during those
wears keep ln mind the senator's ana
congressman who By their votes gave
the money necessary TO build ana 70