St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-04-27
CONTINUED from second Page,

Jackson and Jefferson and the achieve
ments of their day and generation. not
of choice, but of necessity, for it has
been more than fifty years since the
Democratic party did anything, or has
even proposed to do anything that now
enjoys the appreciation of the American
people.
These fifty years have been stirring
period. 1t has been one of the most
remarkable in our national life 1t has
been full of great questions. With singu-
lar fatality the Democratic party mas been
on the wrong side of every one of them ;
and, as it has been in the past, so is 1t
now.
GREAT PROBLEMS PENDING.
We are at this time confronted with
great problems-new problems-problems
that must be solved without the help of
precendent.
In some respects they are not only
different, but greater than any with
which we have heretofore had to deal.
Upon their proper solution depends in
great measure the good name, the good
faith. the honor and the prestige of the
American people.
Failure would involve national humili-
alton. These problems are worthy Of our
highest and best thought.
They call for the most enlightened
craftsmanship. The Republican party is
in power. 1t is dealing with these. SO
far 1t has dealt with them successfully.
Notwithstanding their unusual character
and difficult nature, not one has banned
US.
But the work is not done. We are only
midway in its execution. Is this the time
for a change?
We are just entering upon great ma
tional contest-a presidential election. The
question is and will be not alone one
of men, but also and more particularly,
whether the party that is now solving
these great questions shall be displaced
and our political adversaries be subsit-
tuted.
That is the paramount issue of the
coming campaign, and the issue I want
to discuss. For that reason I shall not
stop to dwell Upon any of the past
achievements of the Republican party. 1t
is not necessary.
WE ARE STANDING PAT"
Speaking then of what we are doing
now. I want to say, in the first place,
that we are standing pat'' on all the
great fundamental republican policies.
We believe in a protective tariff as
much now as ever heretofore, and be-
lieve that when the proper time comes
for a revision of the tariff that revision
should be entrusted to the friends and
not to the enemies of that policy.
We believe as much as ever in sound
money, and justly point with pride to our
high credit, unprecedented revenues and
unbounded prosperity as the result of
prOrect1On ana the maintenance or the
gold standard.
We do not believe, as we have been
charged. in making the dollar paramount
to the men, but we do believe in so adj
juSting the opportunities of the Ameri-
can people as to put the dollar within
reach of all who may honestly and earn
estly strive for it.
We do not believe in sitting prohibit
ing great commercial enterprises, but we
do believe in the enforcement of the
laws that are intended to prohibit and
prevent the abuses of monopoly and the
destruction of healthy and legitimate
competition.
Our record establishes all this, as to
the past, and promises a continuance of
all this. for the future.
In addition we are dealing with all new
problems as they arise.
Cuba, Porto Rico. Hawaii, the Philip
pines, and lastly the Panama canal have
all received intelligent, courageous and
statesmanlike treatment at the hands
of the republican administration.
DEALINGS WITH CUBA.
So far as Cuba is concerned it is one
of the most brilliant chapters in the
history of American craftsmanship.
Through our Intervention the Cubans
have achieved their independence and are
to-day in the enjoyment of a republican
form Of government of their own creation
and adoption.
One of the most gratifying facts in
connection Herewith is the capacity the
Cubans have manifested for self-govern-
ment.
They have met with the highest success
IN every essential sense of the word.
They have shown themselves worthy of
all we have done for them.
The closing incidents of this chapter
have just been recorded in a reciprocity
treaty that will unite them to us in
constantly increasing commercial relations
and a general treaty of peace and amity,
under the provisions of which they have
ceded to US important naval stations and
military reservations on their island.
These treaties are only just now going
into operation. Under them both coun-
tries will realize the most satisfactory
results.
In Porto Rico our authority is as firmly
established and as much represented as
in Arizona, or any other part of our
jurisdiction. And in the Philippines civil
government is not only established, but
self-supporting throughout practically the
whole archipelago.
One of the greatest troubles that now
confronts us there is to rapidly enough
supply school houses and school teachers,
and give adequate opportunity for the
study of our institutions. We are now
considering legislation extending to them
the application of the laws governing
our coast wise trade. and authorizing
the construction of public roads and other
as possible bring them into closer and
more satisfactory relations.
THE PANAMA CANAL
And. lastly, we have recognized the
republic of Panama, and negotiated and
ratified treaty with her under which the
work of constructing an isthmian canal
has not only been made possible, but
has been practically already commenced.
This canal is to be an American work.
Tt is to be built by American authority
and with American money, and is to be
under American control.
1t is to be a great, majestic enterprise,
worthy of America and worthy Of the
high purposes to which it will be dedi-
Gated. Tt viii be open to the commerce
of the world, but it will be primarily
for our own benefit. We want it for pur-
poses of national defense, and for the
promotion uf our own commerce.
That it is essential to the national de-
tense needs no argument.
The experience we had with the Oregon
at the beginning of the Spanish-American
war settled that question conclusively.
Its necessity for commercial purposes
&c rf We ha reached