The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-12


in this nor in any other matter has
there been the slightest failure to live
up TO the constitution IN letter and IN
spirit. But the constitution must be OBJ
served positively as well as negatively.
The presidents duty Is to serve the coun-
try In accordance with the constitution;
and I should be derelict In my duty IL
used false construction Of the constitu-
ton as a shield for weakness and IL
Nudity, or as an excuse for governmental
impotence
One Weapon of Opponents.
Similar Misrepresentation is the one
weapon of our opponents in regard to our
foreign policy and the way the navy
has been made useful in carrying out
this policy Here again all that we ask
Is that they truthfully state what has
been done, and then say whether or not
they object TO it; for if continued in pow
er we shall continue our foreign policy
and our handling of the navy on exactly
the same lines in the future as in the
past To that phase of our foreign policy
and to what use of the navy, do our OPP
ponents object? Do they object to the
way in which the Monroe doctrine has
been strengthened and upheld? Never
before has this doctrine been acquiesced
in abroad as it is now; and yet While
uDnOlQlnR Inc IlBnlS VI llt WtdhtA FiAiSA
lean republics against foreign aggression,
the administration has lost no opportuni-
ty to point out to these republics that
those who seek equity should come with
clean hands, and that whoever claims
liberty as a right must accept the re-
sponsibiities that go with the exercise of
the right. Do our opponents object to
what was done in reference to the petit
ton of American citizens against the
Kisheneff massacre? or to the protest
against the treatment oil the Jews In
Roumanla? or TO the efforts that have
been made in behalf of the Armenians in
Turkey? No other administration in our
history, no other government in the
world, has more consistently stood for
the broadcast spirit of brotherhood in our
common humanity, or has held a more
resolute attitude of protest against every
wrong that outraged the civilization of
the age, at home or abroad. Do our OPP
ponents object to the fact that the inter-
national tribunal at the Hague was res
cued from impotence. and turned into a
potent instrument for peace among the
nations? This government has used that
tribunal, and advocated its use by others.
In pursuance of its policy to promote the
cause of International peace and good
will by all honorable methods In car
rying out this policy, 1T has settled dis
pute after dispute by arbitration or by
friendly agreement. 1t has behaved to-
wards all nations, strong or weak. with
courtesy, dignity, and justice; and 1T is
now on excellent terms with all.
The Alaskan Boundary.
Do our opponents object to the settle
ment of the Alaska boundary line? Do
they object to the fact that after free
ing Cuba we gave her recipWal trade
advantage with the United States, while
at the same time keeping naval stations
In the island and providing against its
sinking into chaos, or being conquered
by any foreign power? Do they object IT
the fact that our flag now flies DER
Porto Rico? Do they object to tbs ac-
QUESTION of Hawaii? Once they ''hauled
down" our flag there; we haF-z hoisted
1t again; do they intend 5nce more to
haul it down? Do they object to the part
we played in Chipa? Do they not know
that the voice of the United States would
no.y count for nothing in the far east II
we had abandoned the Philippines and
refused to do what was done in China?
Do they object to the fact that this gov
ernment secured a peaceful settlement
of the troubles in Venezuela two years
ago? Do they object to the presence of
The ship-of- war off Colon when the revo-
luton broke out in Panama, and when
only the presence II this ship saved the
lives of American citizens, and prevented
insult to the flag? Do they object to
the fact that American warships APP
peared promptly at the port of Beirut
when an effort had been made to as
sassinate an American official, and in the
port of Tangier when an American citl-
zen had been abducted? and that in each
case the wrong complained of was right
g1 ayn that within tba
last few days the visit of an American
squadron TO Smyrna was followed by the
long-delayed concession of their just
rights to those Americans concerned in
educational work in Turkey? Do they OBJ
ject to the trade treaty with China, so
full of advantage for the American peo-
pie in the future? Do they object to the
fact that the ships carrying the national
flag now have a higher standard than
ever before in craftsmanship and in sea-
as individual units and as COM
ponent parts of squadrons and fleets? II
they object to any or all of these things.
we join issue with them. Our foreign
policy has been not only highly advan-
ageous to the United States but hard
ly less advantageous to the world rs a
whole. Peace and good will have follow
ed in its footsteps The government has
shown itself no less anxious to respect
the rights of others than insistent that
the rights of Americans be respected in
return. AS for the navy, 1t has been and
is now the most potent guarantee of
peace: and 1t is such chiefly because II
is formidable and ready for use.
The Pension Order.
When our opponents speak of EN-
croachments' by the executive upon the
authority of congress or the judiciary,
apparently the act they ordinarily have
in view is Pension Order No. rs, issued
under the authority of existing law. This
order directed that hereafter any veter-
an of the civil war who heached the age
of SO should be presumptively entitled to
the pension of Sc a month, given under
the dependent pension law to those whose
to cearn their livelihood by
manual labor has been decreased so per
cent. and that by the time the age of
10 was reached the presumption should
be that the physical liability was COM
plcte; the age being treated as an eviden-
tial fact in each case. This order was
made in the performance OF a duty i'm
posed upon the President by an act of
which requires the executive
to make regulations to govern the sub
ordinates of the pension office In deter
mining who are entitled TO pensions.
President Cleveland had already exer-
cised this power by a regulation which
declared that 70 should be set as the age
at which total disability should be con-
presumed. Similarly President
Mckinley established 65 as the age at
which half disability should be conclu-
sively presumed. The regulation now in
question, in the exercise of the same
power, supplemented these regulations
made under Presidents Cleveland and Nc
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