Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-12-01
THURSDAY, DECEMBER l, 1904
A RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENTS.


returned. 1t came in fuller measure than
or people had ever known.
1t matters not what had been the pro-
ducing cause of the unhappy conditions
that prevailed during Mr.. Cleveland's last
administration, no one Of ordinary intelli-
gence could dispute the fact that McKin-
ley's election bad restored confidence to
the business world, where apprehension,
even decentralization, had previously ex-
listed. Tnis confidence, which came even
before McKinley's Inauguration, was
strengthened and made more complete by
a restoration of the economic policy of
the Republican party and the establish
ment of the gold standard.
When these things had been accom-
plished it was reasonable to think that the
party could rect on it's achievements and
that it would need no additional record TO
secure the perfect and continued conf
dence and support of the people. But
new and important questions and condi-
tons we're thrust upon the administrations
of both President Mckinley and President
Roosevelt. 1t was in the settlement of
these matters that our party and Presi-
dents have possibly made their greatest
achievements.
Under President McKinley's admins
tration the Hawaiian Islands were annexed
by treaty and became permanent territory
% of the United States. Their possession for
the protection of the trade of this coun'
try on the Pacific Ocean and the extension
of our trade in the Orient is now SO gen.
orally conceded that we hear no more of
the hostility to their annexation that was
30 rampant when President Cleveland had
the American flag pulled down in those
islands. This was followed by the Span
ish-American War, which was quickly
fought to successful conclusion in favor
of our Government, the results being the
freeing Of Cuba and the acquisition of
Porto Rico and the Philippines as terri
tory of the United States. No more
serious public questions were ever forced
upon any Administration than were those
which followed as results of our war with
Spain. Though President Mckinley had
done everything be could do, possible and
consistent, to avert the war, he bad the
courage, patriotism and craftsmanship
necessary to conduct that war to splendid
victory for his country and to grapple in
diligently with the troublesome fruits that
were thrust upon him.
In the solution of these questions 1t be-
came necessary to greatly revolutlonize the
foregn policy of the United States. But
this vas done in way to meet changed
conditions without in any degree impair
ing our constitutional form of republican
government. Before the wisdom ef bis
policy in connection with Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines had been fully
demonstrated President Mckinley was as.
sassinated, but Theodore Roosevelt, as his
successor, gave an earnest pledge that
President McKinley's policy should be
faithfully adhered to and executed. Pres.
idsnt Roosevelt has kept that pledge, and
the vote of the American people, recorded
on the Sth of November, was trium-
plant vindication of the Philippine policy
of Mckinley and Roosevelt.
Our relations with Cuba have been agree
ably settled by treaty, in conformity with !
our pledge to give to that island indepen-
dence. A satisfactory territorial govern
ment has been established in Porto Rico;
and conditions in the Philippines have
been so greatly improved that future pros
perity, stable government, intellectual and
moral advancement, and contentment for
the inhabitants of those islands are now
considered assured.
Ia addition to his faithful adherence to
Mr.. McKinley's foreign policy, President
Roosevelt has settled the dispute with
Great Britain over the Alaskan boundary
line in manner that is satisfactory to
both nations, and has gotten rid perma-
nently of that question which SO long
threatened to disturb our friendly rela-
tions with Great Britain and Canada. He
% ade the treaty with Panama which ac-
urired for the United States the long
sought privilege of building canal across
The Isthmus, and with terms more liberal
than the most sanguine could ever have
looked for. His partisan enemies strived &.
by Misrepresentation to impugn his meth
Dds in connection with the securing of the
ireaty, but the great vote Of confidence :
siyen by the American people pronounces /
his Panama acquisition as one Of the very Z
greatest achievements of any administra- b