The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-12

solemn obligation. and have used 1t In the interest of mankind; and the peoples of the world and especially the weaker peoples of the world, are better off be- cause of the position we have assumed. To retraee our steps would be to give proof of an infirm and unstable national purpose
 Four years ago, in his speech of ac- | ceptanee President Mckinley said:
 We have been moving in untred paths but our steps have been guided by honor and duty. There will be no turning aside. | no wavering, no retreat. No blow has been struck except for liberty and hu- manity, and none will be. We will per- form without fear every national and international obligation. The republican party was dedicated to freedom forty four years ago. It has been the party of liberty and emancipation from that hour; not of profession, but of perform | ance. It broke the shackles of four mil-
 ion slaves and made them free, and to the party of Lincoln has come another ! supreme opportunity which fl has bravely met in the liberation of ten millions of the human family from the yoke of imperial- ism In its solution of great problems, in it's performance of high duties, it has
 had the support of members of all par | ties in the past. and 1t confidently in- vokes their cooperation In the future" 1 Cannot Put Them Aside.
 This is as true now as four years ago. We did not take the Philippines at will, and we cannot put them aside at will. Any abandonment of the policy which we have steadily pursued in the islands would be drought with d1shonor and dis | aster; and to such dishonor and dfsas- ter I do not believe that the American people will consent.
 Alarm mas been professed lest the Fii- l ipinos should not receive all the bene- fits guaranteed to our people at home | by the fourteenth amendment to the con- stitution. As a matter of tact the Fili- rinos have already secured the substance of these benefits This government has been true to the spirit of the fourteenth amendment in the Philippines. Can our opponents deny that here at home the principles of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments have been in effect nullified? 1 In this, as in many other matters. we at home car well profit by the example of those responsible for the actual manage rnent of affairs in the Phipiipines In our several commonwealths here in the United States we as a people now face the ccm- rlex problem of securing fair treatment to each man regardless of his race or color. We can do so only if we approach the problem in the spirit of courage, common sense and highminded devotion to the right, which has enabled Governor Taft, Governor Wright, and their asso- ciates, to do so noble work in giving to the Philippine people the benefit of the true principles of American liberty.
 Our appeal Is made to all good citizens who hold the honor and the interest of the nation close to their hearts. The great issues which are at stake, and upon which I have touched, are more than mere partisan issues, for they in- volye much that comes home to the individual pride and individual well-be- ing of our people Under conditions as they actually are, good Americans should refuse, for the sake of the welfare of the nation, to change the national policy. We, who are responsible for the admin istration and legislation under which this country, during the last seven years, has grown so greatly in well being at home and in honorable repute among the nations of the earth abroad, do not stand inerty upon this record, do not use this rt cord as an excuse for failure of effort to meet new conditions On the contrary. we treat the record of what we have done in the past as indictment to do even better in the future. We believe that the progress that we have made may be talk en as a measure of the progress we shall continue to make if the people again entrust the government of the nation to our hands We do not stand still. We press steadily forward toward the goal os mtr raj and material well-being for our own people, of just and fearless dealing toward all other peoples In the interest not merely of this country, but of man kind. There is not a policy, foreign or domestic, which we are now carrying out, which it would not -e disastrous to re- verse or abandon. If our opponents should come in and should not reverse our policies, then they would be branded with the brand of broken faith, of false promise. of insincerity in word and deed; and no man can work to the advantage of the nation with such brand clinging to him. If, on the other hand they should come in and reverse any or all of our policies, by just so much would the na- tion as a whole be damaged Alike as lawmakers and as administrators of the ltw we have endeavored to do our duty in the interest of the people as whole.
 We make our appeal to no class and to no section, but ta all good citzens in whatever part of the land they dwell and whatever may be their occupation or world condition. We have striven both for civic righteousness and for national greatness; and we have faith to believe 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 obedience to the law; our government Is gov ernment of orderly liberty equally alien to tyranny and to anarchy; and it's foun- dation-stone Is 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 admin stration the reign of peace at home and throughout the world; of peace, which comes only by doing justice. Faithfully yours,
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT.