The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-11


pie loving peace, not only for our
selves. but for all the nations of the
| earth.
The display of great military arma-
oants NAV please the eye and, for the
moment excite the pride OF the citi-
zen. but it cannot bring to the
country the brains, Drawn and muscle
of a single immigrant, nor induce the
| Investment here of dollar OF capital.
| OF course such armament as may be
necessary for the security of the coun-
trv and the protection of the rights of
its citizens, at home or abroad must
be maintained. Any other course
would be not only false economy, but
instantaneous. / protest however,
| AGAINST the feeling now far too pre-
valent that by reason of the com
handing position we have assumed ia
| the world, we must take part in the
disputes and broils of foreign coun-
tries; and that because we have grown
| great we should intervene in every i'm
| oOrtant question that arises in other
| parts of the world. | also protest
| against the erection of any such mill
tary establishment as would be re-
CURED to maintain the country in that
attitude. We should cOnfine our inter
national activities solely to matters III
which the rights of the country or of
our citizens are directly involved.
| That is not situation of isolation,
| hut of Independence.
Patriotism Makes the True Soldier.
| The Government of the United States
was organized solely for the people of
| the United States. While it was con-
templated that this country should be
| come a refuge for the oppressed of
every land, who might be fit to dis
| charge the duties of our citizenship,
and while we have always sympathiz-
| ed with the people of every nation in
| their struggles for self-government
| the government was not created for
| a career of political or ciVilizing evan
| gelization in foreign countries or
| among alien races. The most efficient
| work we can do in uplifting the
people of other countries is by the pre-
| sentation of happy prosperous, sell
| governing nation as an ideal 10 pe
| emulated, a model to be followed.
| The general occupation of our citizens
| in the arts of peace, or the ap-
sence of large military armaments'
| tends to impair neither patriot
| ism nor physical courage, and for the
truth of this | refer the. young men
of today to the history of the civil
War. For fifty years, with the eXcep-
| ton of the war with Mexico, TINS
country had been at peace, with
standing army most of the time of less
I than ten thousand men. lie who
thinks that the nation had grown et-
terminate during that period should
read the casualty rolls OF the armies
on either side at Shiloh, Antietam,
fredericksburg and Gettysburg, al
Stone River and Chickamauga. j
would be the last man to pluck
single laurel from the crown of any
| one of the military heroes to whom
! this country owes 50 much, but L in
sist that their most heroic deeds pro-
ceeded infinitely more from devotion
to the country, than from martial
spirit.
As / have already proceeded at too
great length, other questions suggested
in the platform, must await my letter
of acceptance.
MIR. Chairman: In most graceful
| speech you have reminded me of the
great responsibility as well as the
| great honor of the nomination bestoW-
ed upon me by the convention you
represent this day. BE assured that
both are appreciated-so keenly APP
lreciated that | am humbled in their
presence.
Would Accept no Second Term.
| accept, gentlemen of the commit
| tee. the nomination, and if the action
of the convention shall be endorsed by
an election by the people, | Will, God
helping me, give to the discharge OF
the duties of that exalted office the
best service of which | am capable and
at the end of the term retire to pri-
vate life | shall not be a candidate
tor nor shall / accept a denomination.
| Several reasons might be advanced
| for this position, but the controlling
one with me is that | am fully per-
suaded that no incumbent of that of
| flee should ever be placed in a SItua-
| ton of possible temptation to con-
slider what the. effect of action taken
by him in an administrative matter OF
| ereat importance might have upon his
political fortunes. Questions of mo-
mcntouS consequence to all of the peo-
| pie have been in the past and will be
| in the future presented to the PrcSi-
dent for determination, and in APP
| preaching their consideration, as well
! DIS in weighing the facts and the ar
| gumentS bearing upon them, he
| should be unembarraSsed by any pos
sible thought of the influence his de-
| cision may have upon anything what
ever that may affect him personally.
| | make this statement, not in criticism
of any of our Presidents from Wash
inGtOn down who have either held the
| office for two terms or sought to sue
| coed themselves; for strong argu-
| Irents can be advanced III support of
| the reelection of q President. 1t is
simply my judgment that the interests
! of this country are now so vast and
| the questions presented are frequently
| OF such OVe"poWering magnitude to
the people that it is indispensable TO
| the maintenance of u BETTING attitude
before the people, not only that the
| Chief Magistrate should be independ-
Ont, but that that independence should
| be known of all men.
Judge Parker followed his manu-
script closely. Among the noable
visitors today wac fC.mer Senator
| David b. Hill.
It's easy for an editor to drop into
| poetry; all he has to do is to sit down
| in his waste basket.
| CnciptXy ic 6rnxQ