The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-22

influence of this effective friendship.
a new commercial treaty with China,
proclaimed on Oct. s. last, has en-
larged our opportunities for trade,
opened new ports to our commerce,
and abolished internal duties on goods
in transit within the empire. There
were indeed other nations which
agreed with this policy of American
diplomacy, but no other nation was
free from suspicion of selfish aims.
None other had won confidence in the
sincerity of its purpose, and none other
but America could render the service
which we have rendered to humanity
in China during. the past four years
High evidence of that enviable posi-
tion of our country, is furnished by
the fact that when all Europe was in
apprehension lest the field of war be-
tween Russia and Japan should so
spread as to involve China's ruin and
a universal conflict, it was to the
American Government that the able
and far-sighted German Emperor APP
pealed, to take the lead again in bring
ing about an agreement for the limi-
tation of the field of action, and the
preservation Of the administrative en-
tity of China outside of Manchuria;
and that was accomplished.
The Boundary Dispute.
Mr.. Root also dwelt upon the bound
airy dispute with Canada and The
Hague conference.
"All Americans" he said, who de-
sire safe and conservative administra-
ton which shall avoid cause of quar-
rel, all who abhor war, all who long
for the perfect sway of the principles
of that religion which we all profess,
should rejoice that under this Repub-
lican administration their country has
attained potent leadership among the
nations in the cause of peace and In
ternational Justice. The respect and
moral power thus gained has been eX-
ercised in the interests of humanity,
where the rules of diplomatic inter-
course have made formal Intervention
impossible. When the Roumanian out
RACES and when the appalling masSa-
ere at Kishineff, shocked civilization,
and filled thousands of our own people
with mourning, the protest of America
was heard through the voice of it's gov
eminent, with full observance of dipio-
matte rules, but with moral power ana
effect. We have advanced the author
ity of the Monroe Doctrine. Our adj
herence to the convention which estab-
lished The Hague tribunal was accept
ed by the other powers, with formal
declaration that nothing therein con-
tanned should be construed to imply the
REIMBURSEMENT by the United States
of it's traditional attitude toward purely
American questions. The armed dem
onstration by the European powers
against Venezuela was made the occa-
sion for disclaimers to the United
States of any intention to seize the ter
ritory of Venezuela, recognizing in the
most unmistakable way the rights OF
the United States expressed in the dec
laration of that traditional policy. In
the meantime, mindful that moral pow
ers unsupported by physical strength
do not always avail against selflshness
and aggression, we have been augment
ing the forces which command respect"
The Army and Navy.
Mr.. Root touched upon the army
and navy
-Four years ago." he said, 1--WE were
living under an obsolete militia law
more than century old which Wash
ington and Jefferson and Madison, and
almost every President since their
time, had declared to be worthless.
We presented the curious spectacle of
a people depending upon a citizens SOL
diery for protection against aggression,
and making practically no provision
whatever for training it's citizens in
the use of Warlike weapons or In the
elementary duties of the soldier. The
mandate of the constitution which re-
quired Congress to provide for organ
izing, arning and disciplining the mill
tia had been left unexecuted. In de-
fault of national provisions, bodies OF
state troops, created for local purposes
and supported at local expense, had
grown up throughout the union. Their
feelings towards the regular army
were rather of distrust and dislike than
of comradeship. Their arms, equip
ment, discipline, organization, and
methods of obtaining and accounting
for supplies were varied and inconsis-
tent. They were unsuited to become a
part of any homogeneous force, and
their relations to the army of the
United States were underlined and con-
jectural. By the militia act of Jan.
20, 1903, Congress performed its duty
under the constitution. Leaving these
bodies still to perform their duties to
the states, 1t made them the organized
militia of the United States. 1t pro-
vided for their conformity in arna-
ment, organization and discipline to the
army of the United States; it provided
the ways in which, either strictly as
militia or as volunteers, they should
become an active part of the army
when called upon; it provided for their
training, instruction and exercise con-
jointly with the regular army; it inn
posed upon the regular army the duty
of promoting their efficiency in many
ways. In recognition of the service to
the nation which these citizen SOL
diers would be competent to render,
the nation assumed it's share of the
burden of their armament, their sup
ply and their training. The workings
of this system have already demon
strated. not only that we can have cit
liens outside of the reg1liar army
trained for duty In war, but that we
can have body of volunteer officers
ready for service, between whom and
the officers of the regular army have
been created by intimate association
and mutual helpfulness, those rela-
lions of confidence and esteem without
which no army can be effective"
DRAFT OF PLATFORM