Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-08
THE PRESIDENT
Addresses Fargo, N. D., People
on the Philippines.
Good Work Of the American Soldiers
Praise for Gov. Taft.
Several Thousand Children Join Elders
y in Greeting President.

Mandan, N. d., April 7.-PreSident
Roosevelt has been travelling through
| familiar country, today, and has receiv-
| ed hearty greetings wherever his train
stopped. At many places he recognized
| old friends and from his conversation
| it is evident that this has been one OF
| the most enjoyable days of his trip.
| At Fargo, jamestown and Bismarck he
made stops of from half an hour to an
| hour and discussed the conditions in
| the Philippines, the tariff and the gen.
eral prosperity of the country. Stops
| also were made at CaSselton, Tower,
| Valley City, the home of Gov. White
| Dawson. Dickinson and Medora.
| ~ Bismarck q number of Indian
chiefs were introduced to the Presi-
dent. Some of them had fought
against Custer. The President had
traded with two of these Indians IS OF
20 years ago and he instantly recog-
nized them. The chiefs presented an
address and pipe of peace to the
President. who had a few words OF
greeting and thanks for each man.
The most interesting ceremony of the
day occurred at Medora, where the
President at one time owned a ranch,
and which was his first post office ad-
dress 16 years ago when he was sheriff
of Billings county. Medora is small
place, but the ranchmen from the sur
rounding country had come into town
and they gave the President truly
Western reception. Joe Ferris, the
Presidents old foreman, and his broth
err S. M. Ferris, met the President at
Bismarck and rode with him to Medo-
"a.
Fargo, N. D., April 7.-Notwithstand-
ing yesterdays severe blizzard, the
weather. today, was clear and bracing
and the program for the reception and
address of President Roosevelt was
carried out according to plan. A spec
ial train arrived here during the early
morning and at $50 o'clock the local
reception committee waited upon the
President and after brief and infor-
NAL reception at the train, escorted
him in carriages through the business
portion of the city.
Several thousand children were as
sembled and greeted the President. The
President made his address from a
stand in front of the Waldorf hotel.
His subject was the Philippines.
The President spoke as follows:
My Fellow Citizens:
The Northwest, whose sons in the
Civil War added such brilliant pages
to the honor roll of the Republic, like
wise bore a full share in the struggle of
which the war with Spain was the be-
ginning; a struggle slight indeed when
compared with the gigantic death
wrestle which for four years stamped
to and fro across the Southern states
in the Civil War; but a struggle
fraught with consequences to the Ma
ton. and indeed to the world, out of
all proportion to the smallness of the
effort upon our part.
Three and a half years ago President
Mckinley spoke in the adjoining state
of Minnesota on the occasion of the re-
turn Of the Thirteenth Minnesota Vol
unteers from the PHILIPPINE Islands,
where they had served with your own
gallant sons of the North Dakota regi-
ment. After heartily thanking the re-
turned soldiers for their valor and
patriotism, and their contemptuous re-
fusal to be daunted or misled by the
cutlery raised at home by the men Of
little faith who wished us to abandon
the islands, he spoke of the islands
themselves as follows:
THAT Congress vii! provide for them
a government which will bring them
blessings, which will promote their
material interests as well as advance
their people in the path of civilization
and intelligence, I confidently believe
They will not be governed as vassals or
serfs or slaves. They will be given
government of liberty, regulated by
law, honestly administered, without
depressing exactions, taxation without
tyranny, justice without bride, educa-
tion without distinction of social condi-
ton, freedom of religious worship. and
protection in life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness
What he said then lay in the realm
of promise Now it lies in the realm of
positive performance.
1t is good thing to look back upon
what has been said and compare it
with the record of what has actually
been done. If promises are violated, if
plighted word is not kept, then those
who have failed in their duty should be
held UP to reprobation. If, on the other
hand. the promises have been sub
stantially made good; if the achieve
ment has kept pace and more than kept
pace with the prophesy, then they who
made the one and are responsible for
the other are entitled of just right to
claim the credit which attaches to
those who serve the Nation well. This
credit I claim for the men who have
managed so admirably the military
and the civil affairs of the Philippine
Islands. and for those other men who
have so heartily backed them in Con-
gress, and without whose aid and sup
port not one thing could have been ae-
complished.
When President Mckinley spoke the
first duty was the restoration of order;
and to this end the use of the Army of
the United States-an army composed
of regulars and volunteers alilse-was
necessary. To put down the insurrec-
ton and restore peace to the islands /
was duty not only to ourselves but |
to the islanders also. We could not |
have abandoned the conflict without |
Sinking this duty, without proving
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