The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-08-13

ee hope Tor tho Ftpeci OF ,he civilized
world while proudly guarantee iuB L" cV-
err citizen OF the tN.tld "ttra that hn
law shall bo made or Cai rcei Wlich shall
nbrdgc the privileges or immunitioa of
citizens of the United States Ct deny to
any person Che equal protection oI the
laws and az the same um1yot only deny
similar rights to the inhabitants OF the
Philippines but take away from them
the right of trial by jury and place their
lives and the disposition Of their property
in the keeping Of those whom We send TO
them 10 be- their governors We shall
certainly rue 10 as "a nation II We make
any such attempt. Viewing the question
even from the standpoint OF national
selushuesg there Is no prospect that the
twenty millions Of dollars expended In
the pur hnsc of the islands and the six
hundred and hfiy millions said 10 have
been since discussed VIII ever come back
TO u.s. the accident OF war brought the
Philippines into our possession, and we
are not AT liberty to disregard the respon-
sibility which thus came to us. but that
responsibility will be- best subscrved by
preparing the islanders ns rapidly as pos
slblc for self government and giving 10
them the assurances mat IL VIII come az
soon ag they are reasonably prepared Tor
it. There need be no fear that the
scrtinn $50 often made Of late that we have
now become a world power will then he
without support ours IL world power,
and as such IL must be maintained but |
deny that IL Is nj all recently that the
United States has attained that eminence.
our country became "a world power over
century ago. when. having thrown OF for
eigu domination. the people established
free government. the source OF whose au-
thority sprung and was continuously to
proceed from the will uf the people them
selves IT grew rs a world power as It's
sturdy citizens. 90 whose natural Increase
were added immigrants from the Old
world seeking TO obtain here the liberty
and prosperity denied them In their own
countries. spread over the face OF the
land reduced the prairies and forests 20
cultivation, built cities, constructed high
WAYS and railroads till now n nation
which at the formation OF the government
numbered only three millions Ia nopula-
lion has become eighty millions. ana from
ocean Go ocean ana the lakes 90 the gulf
the country is the abode Of free and
prosperous people. advanced In the high
st degree in the learning and arts Of
civilization IL Is the liberty. the advance
ment end the prosperity ~ It's citizens.
not ans career ~ conquest. that make the
country world power, This condition
w. owe TO tho bounty u Providence, un-
folded iu the great natural resources OF
the country. to the wisdom Of our IA
theirs. manifested On the form 81 govern
ment established by them; 90 the energy.
industry. moral character and law abiding
spirit OF the people themselves.
We are not military people. bent on
conquest or engaged In extending our
domains I'm foreign lands or DESTROYS Of
securing natural advantages however
great. hy force but people loving peace
not only for ourselves but Tor all the ma
lions Of the earth
The display of great military arma-
mcnis may please the eye ana for the mo-
mtnt excite tho pride ~ The citizen, but
IL cannot bring Go the country the brains.
Drawn and muscle u n single immigrant
OF induce the investment here OF a dollar
Of capital OF course such armament rs
may be necessary for the security Of the
country 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 pusillanimous.
protest. However. against the feeling,
now far too prevalent, that by reason Of
the commanding position we have assum-
cd In 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 impor-
tunt question that arises In other parts
Of the world. l also protest against the
erection 81 any such military. establish
meHt az would be required 20 maintain
the country in that attitude We should
connne our International activities solely
to matters In which the rights OF the
country OF of our citizens are directly
involved. That is not situation of iso-
latl0n. but Of Independence.
The government Of the United states
was organized solely for the people Of the
United States. While 1t was contemplate
al that this country should become n
refuge for the oppressed Of every land
who might Dee 10 90 discharge the duties
OF our citizenship. and while we have al
ways sympathizod with the people Of ev-
cry nation In their struggles FOR self gov
ernmout tho government was not created
for a career Of political or civilizing evan
gclization In foreign countries OF among
alien races b. Intervention In their af-
fairs The most efficient work We can do
in uplifting the people Of other countries
is by the presentation Of a happy, pros
porous scIf governing nation as an ideal
to De cmLlate3. a model % be followed
The general occupation u our citizens In
the arts al peace OF the absence Of large
military ornaments, tends TO impair nei-
Their patriotism nor physical courage, and
for the truth II this l refer the young
men Of today 90 the history Of the civil
war For nfty years. with the exception
Of the war with Mexico, this country had
been AT peace, with standing army most
Of the time Of less than ten thousand
men He who thinks that the nation had
grown encminnte during that period
shm.ld read The casualty rolls ~ the
ARMIES on tltii.r side az ShiioM Antietafn.
Fredercksburg and Gettysburg, at Stone
River and Chickamauga 1 would be the
last man to pluck single Laurel. from
the crown Of any one Of the military hc-
rocs 90 whom this country owes ~ much.
but / insist that their most heroic deeds
proceeded infinitely more from devotion
20 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 ac-
ceptance.
MI Chairman. IN most graceful speech
you have reminded me OF the great re-
sponslbNity as we'll as the great honor Of
the. nomination bestowed upon me by the
convention you represent this day. BE
assured that both are appreciated. so
keenly appreciated that am humbled IN
their presencs.
| accept, gentlemen Of the committee
the nomination, and II the action Of the
convention shall be Endorsed 10y an cleo
ton by the people | will. God helping
me. give 10 the discharge Of the duties OF
that exalted Office the best service OF
which ] am capable and az the end Of the
term retire to private life. l shall not
be candidate for nor shall | accept n
Several reasons might be
advanced for this position. but the CON
trolling one with me Is that / am fully
that no incumbent OF that Office
should ever be placed in a situation OF
possible temptation to consider what the
effect Of action taken by him In an adj
matter Of great Importance
might have upon his political fortunes.
Questions Of momentous consequence 20
All Of the people have been In the past
and win be in the future presented 10 the
president for determination, and In ap-
preaching their consideration as well as
In weighing the facts and the arguments
bearing upon them he should be unem-
barrasscd by any possible thought Of the
his decision may have upon
anything whatever that may affect him
! make this statement not In
III 4 4