Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-08-04

been sacrificed, our relations with all for
eign nations are now Of the most peaceful
kind; there is not a cloud on the horizon.
The last cause OF irritation between us
and any other nation was removed by
the settlement of the Alaskan boundary.
In the Caribbean sea we have maGs good
our promises of independence ~ Cuba,
aGd have proved our assertion that our
mission in the island was one of justice
and not Of sclf-aggrandizement; and
thereby no less than by our action in Fene-
zlela and Panama we have shown that
the Monroe doctrine is a living reality,
designed for the hurt of no nation. but
Tor the protection of civiliaation on the
western continent and for the peace Of
the world. Our steady growth in power
has gone hand in hand with strengthen
lag disposition to use this power with
strict regard for the rights of others and
for the cause OF international justice and
good will
We earnestly desire friendship with AL
the nations of the new and old worlds;
and we enGeavor to place our relations
with them upon basis of reciprocal ad-
vantage instead of hostility, We hold
that the prosperity of each nation Is an
aid and not a hindrance to the prosperity
of other nations We seek interna-
ional amity for the same reasons that
make US believe in peace within our own
borders; and we seek this peace, not be-
cause we are afraid or unready, but be-
cause We think that peace is right as well
az advantageous
American interests i'm the Pacific have
rapidly grown. American enterprise has
aid a cable across this, the greatest Of
oceans. We have proved in effective fash
ion that We wish the Chinese empire well
and desire its integrity and Independence.
Our foothold in the Philippines greatly
strengthens our position in the Compcti-
tion for the trade Of the east; but we
are governing the Philippines in the in
terest of the Philippine people themselves.
We have already given them large
share in their government, and our pur-
pose is to increase this share as rapidly
as they give evidence of increasing ft-
ness for the task. Tie great majority Of
the officials Of the Islands, whether elect
I've or apDointiVe, aSf already native Fill
ipinos. We are now providing for a lesis-
Iative assembly. This Is the first step to
be taken in the future; and it would lie emf
nent!y unwisc to declare what our next
step will be until this first step has been
taken and the results are manifest To
have gone faster than we have already
gone in giving the islanders . constantly
increasing measure of self-gGyernmant
would have been disastrous. At tie pres
ent moment to give politica. independence
to the islands would result in the immrdi-
ate loss Of civil rights, personal liberty and
public order, as regards the mass of the
Fiiipinos, for the majority of che is
landers have been given these great
bOons by us. and only keep them because
We vigilant!y safeguard and guarantee
them. To withdraw our government from
the islands at this time would mean 10
the average native the loss of his barely
won civil freedom. We have est9 blished
in the islands a government by Ar orleans
assisted by Filipinos. We are FtcadTy
striving to transform this into sr;t-gov-
ernment by the Filipnos assisted bf Amer
leans
The principles which we uphold should
appeal to our country men, in all artions
Of our country. Above all they Should
give us strength with the men and women
who are the spiritual heirs of those who
upheld the hands of Abraham Lincoln. for
we are striving TO DO our work i'll the spirit
with which Lincoln approached his. Dtr-
ing the seven years that have just passed
there is no duty, domestic or foreign, which,
we have Shrked; no necessary risk which
have feared to undertake. or which We
have not performed with reasonable eff
cheney. We have never pleaded lmpo-
tence. We have never sought refuge in
criticism and complaint instead Of ac-
tion. We face the future with our past
and our present as guarantors Of our prom
ises; and we are content to stand or to fail
by the record which we have made and