Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-10

landerS as rapidly as possible for self
government and giving to them the as
surances that it will come as soon as
they are reasonably prepared for it.
There need be no fear that the assertion
so often made of late, that we have now
become a world power, will then be with
out support Ours is a world power, and
as such it must be maintained but I de-
ny that 1t is at all recently that the
United States has attained that eminence
Our country became a world power over
a century ago, when having thrown off
foreign domination the people establish
ed a free government, the source of whose
authority sprang and was continuously
to proceed from the will of the people
themselves.
+ 1t grew world power as it's sturdy
citizens to 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 to
cultivation, built cities, constructed high
ways and railroads. till now a nation
which at the formation of the govern
ment numbered only three millions In
population has become eighty millions
and from ocean to ocean and the lakes to
the gulf the country is the abode of
free and prosperous people, advanced in
the highest degree in the learning and
arts of civilization.
Agencies for World Power.
1t is the liberty. the advancement and
the prosperity of its citizens, not any
career of conquest, that make the coun-
try world power. This condition we
owe to the bounty of Providence unfold
ed in the great natural resources of the
country, to the wisdom of our fathers
manifested in the form of government
established by them to the energy in
dustry, moral character and law-abiding
spirit of the people themselves
we are not a military people, bent on
conquest, or engaged in extending our do
mains in foreign lands, or DESTROYS of Sc
curing natural advantages however great,
by force; but a people loving peace, not
only for ourselves, but for all the nations
of the earth.
The display of great military ornaments
may please the eye and. for the moment,
excite the pride of the citizen, but it can
not bring to the country the brains Drawn
and muscle of a single immigrant, nor in
duce the investment here of a dollar of
capital OF course, such armament as may
be necessary for the security of the coun-
try and the protection of the rights of it's
citizens. at home or abroad, must be main
tanned Any other course would be not
only false economy, but pusllanimous. l
protest, however, against the feeling, now
far too prevalent, that by reason Of the
commanding position we have assumed in
the world, we must take part in the dis
putes and broils of foreign countries and
that because we have grown great we
should intervene in every important uues-
llOL tildt dIiSeS III OtHeT pdTlS OF the world.
I also protest against the erection of any
such military establishment as would be
required to maintain the country in that
attitude. We should confine our interna-
tional activities solely to matters in which
the rights of the country or of our citizens
are directly involved. That is not a situa-
ton of isolation, but of independence.
Government for the People.
The government of the United States was
organized solely for the people of the
United States. While it was contemplated
that this country should become a refuge
fol the oppressed Of every land who might
be fit to discharge the duties of our citizen
ship, and while we have always sympa-
thized with the people of every nation in
their struggles for self-government. the
government was not created for a career
Of political or civilizing evangelization in
foreign countries or among alien races.
The most efficient work We can do in up
lifting the people of other countries Is
by the presentation Of a happy, prosper
Gus, self-governing nation as ideal to
be emulated, a model to be followed. The
general occupation Of our citizens in the
arts Of peace, or the absence of large mill
tary ornaments, tends to impair neither
patriotism physical courage, and for
the truth of this 1 refer the young men
of today to the history Of the civil war.
For fifty years, with the exception of the
war with Mexico, this country had been
at peace, Will oldHutiiS army moSt Vi
the time of less than 10000 men.
He who thinks that the nation had
grown effeminate during that period
should read the casualty rolls of the
armies on either side at Shiloh, Antietam,
Fredericksburg 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 heroes to
whom this country owes SO much, but I
insist that their most herioc deeds pro-
ceeded infinitely more from devotion to 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 accept
ance.
Mr. Chairman: In most graceful speech
you have reminded me of the great respon-
sibility, as well as the great honor of the
nomination bestowed upon me by the con-
vention you represent this day. Be assured
that both are appreciated-so keenly APP