The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1903-05-15
Optimistic Expanslonist.

Genefal MhCATlnuT Wds III Soih-
mand. The men marched past with
tho tread of veterans-infantry, artil-
lery and cavalry. Each arm Of the SER
vice made u most imposing spectacle.
The president complimented General
Macarthur and others on the excellent
showing of the men and the splendid
appearance of the garrison.
The party was then driven through
Golden Gate park to the Cliff house,
where lunch was taken with members
of the executive committee and other
invited guests. The return was
through the park. The party halted at
the Baker street entrance, where
large crowd was In waiting to watch
the president turn the first shovelful
of earth for the Mckinley monument
Many representatives of the Spanish
American War veterans, the Grand
Army of the Republic and the Pio-
neers were in attendance, and they
were referred to in eulogistlc terms
| by the president in his remarks.
At Mechanics pavilion the president
made the most important speech he
has delivered since he left st. Louis
His subject, Expansion aud Trade De-
velopment and Protection of the Coun-
try's Newly Acquired Possession in
tho Pacific" together with the ex-
pansion of the navy, was one that
made his discourse of particular inter-
est to Californians, and he aroused
his auditors to a high pitch of enthu-
siasm. 1t was mighty gathering that
listened to the president. M. II. De
Young, president of the peoples re-
ception committee, opened the speak
ing, and Mayor Schmitz formally in
troduced the president to the people
Of San Francisco. 1t was some min
utes before the cheering subsided and
the president was abel to make him.
self heard. He said, in part:
Before saw the Pacific slope was
an expansionist, and after having
seen it l fail to understand how any
man confident of his country's great
ness and glad that his country should
challenge with proud confidence our
mighty future, can be anything but an
expansionist. In the century that is
opening the commerce and the prog
ress of the Pacific will be factors of
incalculable moment in the history of
the world. Now, in our day, the great
est of all oceans, Of all the seas, and
the last to be used on large scale,
by civilized man, bids fair to be-
come in it's turn, the first in point Of
Importance. Our mighty republic has
stretched across the Pacific and now
In California, Oregon and Washing
ton, in Alaska and Hawaii and the
Philippines, holds an extent of coast
line which makes it Of necessity a
power Of the first class on the Pacific.
The extension in the area of our do
main has been immense, the extension
In the area of our influence even great
er Americas geographical position
on the Pacific is such as to secure our
peaceful domination of its
p waters in the future II we only grasp
with sufficient resolution the advant.
long strides in this direction; witness
the cables we are laying down and the
: great steamship lines we are starting
!, steamship lines some of whose yes
sells are larger than any freight car
9 riers the world has yet seen. We
S have taken the first steps toward dig
I ging an isthmian canal, to be under
: our own control, canal which will
r make our Atlantic and Pacific coas
lines to all intent and purpose contin
y uous, and will add immensely alike tc
our commercial and our military ant
naval strength, The inevitable marcl
= OF events gave us control of the Philip
pine islands at time so opportunt
that 1t may without irreverence b,
g called providential. Unless we shov
i ourselves weak, we must go on with tn,
o work that we have begun. earnest
ly hope that this work will always b,
a peaceful in character. We infinitel,
I desire peace, and the surest way t
D. obtain it is to show that we are no
II afraid Of war. We should deal in
'r spirit of fairness and justice with al
weaker nations; We should SHOW L
the strongest that we are able to mair
4. tain our rights. Such showing can no
n be made by buster, for buster mere
r. ly invites contempt. Let us spea
Is courteously, deal fairly and keep oul
"a selves armed and ready. If we d
Ia these things we can count on tn
peace that comes only to the lust ma
armed and the Just man who neithe
I. fears nor inficts wrong. We mus
T. keep on building and maintaining
r thoroughly efficient navy. 1t behoove
h all men Of lofty soul who are prou
Is TO belong to a mighty nation, to sc
to it that We fight ourselves 10 tax