The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12
DIsHoNoR AND DISASTER.

DISfONOR AND DISASTER.
This is as true now as four years ago.
We dld not take the Philippines at will.
ANY sbsnson%sppp nDt pa, y, them me oS aside at Will
have steadily pursued In the islands
would be fraught with dishonor and dis.
astef. and TO such dishonor and disaster
| 90 not believe that the American people
vii! consent.
Alarm has been professed lest the Fill
pihos should not receive all the benefits
guaranteed 10 our peopie AT home by the
lith amendment 10 the oopstitution. AS n
matter OF fact the Fflipiuos have already
secured the substance OF these benefits
This government has been true to the
spirit OF the l4th amendment In the
Philippines.
Can our opponents deny that here at
home the principles OF the 14th and 18th
amendments have been in effect nullined?
In this, as In many other matters, we at
homo can well profit by the example OF
those responsible for the actual manage
ment OF affairs in the Philippines. In
our several commemorative here in tho
United States we as people now face the
complex problem OF securing fair treat
ment 10 each man regardless OF his race
or color. We can do 30 only II We
approach the problem In the spirit OF
courage, common sense. and h-minded
devotion 10 the right. which has enabled
Gov. Taft. Gov. Wright and their asso-
clates. 10 do so noble a work In giving
the true principles OF American liberty.
TO ALL GOOD CITIZENS.
Our appeal is made to all good citizens
who hold the honor and the interest Of
the nation close 10 their hearts. The
great issueF which are at stake, ana upon
which have touched, are more than mere
partisan issues, for they involve much
that comes home TO the individual pride
and individual well-being OF our people
Under conditions as they actually are,
good Americans should refuse, for tho
sake of the welfare OF the nation, TO
change the national policy. We. who are
responsible for the administration and
legislation under which this country, DUR
ing the last seven years. has grown so
greatly In vell-being at homo and in
honorable repute among the nations of
the earth abroad. do not stand inertly
upon this record. do not use this record
as an excuse for failure OF effort 20 meet
new conditions. on the contrary, we
treat the record OF what we have done I'm
the past as Indictment 20 do even better
In the future. We believe that tho
progress that we have made may be taken
as measure OF the progress we shall
continue 10 make II the people again On
trust the government OF the nation to our
hands. We do not stand still
We press steadily forward toward the
goal OF moral and material well-being for
our own people, OF just and fearless deal
ing toward all other peoples, in the inter-
est not merely OF this country but OF
mankind There IL not a policy foreign
or domestic. which we are now carrying
out. which il would not be disastrous to
reverse or abandon.
II our opponents should come In ana
should not reverse our policies, then they
would be branded with the brand of
broken faith, OF false promise of insin-
cerity In word and deed: and no man can
work to the advantage OF the nation
with such a brand clinging TO him. II.
on the other hand they should come in
and reverse any or all OF our policies,
by just so much would the nation as a
whole be damaged. Alike as lawmakers
and as administrators OF the law we have
endeavored TO do our duty in the In
terest OF the people as a whole. ~
We make our appeal TO no class and
TO no section. but to all good citizens,
In whatever part OF the land they dwell.
and whatever may be their occupation
or worldly condition. We have striven
both for civic righteousness and for ma
tional greatness; and we have faith to be-
heve that our hands will be upheld by
all who feel love OF country and trust in
the uplifting of mankind. We stand for
enforcement Of the law and for abedience
10 the law; our government is a govern
ment Of orderly liberty equally alien to
tyranny and to anrachy: and its founda-
tion-stone Is tho observance OF the law.
alike by the people and by the public
servants We hold ever before us as the
all-important end OF policy and admins
tretion the reign OF peace at home and
throughout the world; Of peace. which
comes only by doing Justice.
Faithfully yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.