Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-08-10

certainly rue It as a nation II We make
any such attempt Viewing the question
even from the standpoint Of national
seifishness, there is no prospect that the
twenty millions of dollars expended IN
the purchase Of the islands and the six
hundred and fifty millions said TO have
been since dislursed will ever come back
TO as. The accident Of war brought the
Philippines into our possession. and we
are not at liberty 70 disregard the respon-
eiDilfty which thus came to US, but that
responsibility viii be best subserved by
preparing the islanders as rapidly as pcs
sible for self government and giving 70
them the assurances that II viii come as
soon as they nre reasonably prepared for
III There need be no fear that the as
sertion so often made Of late that We have
now become a world power viii then be
without support. Ours is a world power.
and as such it must be maintained. but
deny that Il Is at all recently that the
United States has attained that eminence.
Our country became world power over a
century age when. having thrown OF for
esgn domination the people established =
free government. the source OF whose au-
thorfty sprung and was continuously TO
proceed from the win Of the people them
selves. II grew as a world power as its
sturdy citizens. 10 whose natural increase
were added immigrants from the old
world seeking 10 Obtain mere the lbtELS
and prosperity denied them in their own
countries spread over the face Of the
land. rcducci the prairics and forests to
cultivation baslt cities. constructed high
wars and raslToa Is till now nation
which a. the & rnlation u the government
numbered CAY taree millions IN popula-
ton has be-eiae irhty millions. and from
ocean 10 can and the lakes to the gulf
the country is the abode of a free and
prosperous people. advanced in the high
est degree in the learning and arts OF
civilization. IL Is tie liberty. the advance
ment and the prosperity OF is citizens,
rot any career Of conquest, that make the
country a world power This condition
we owe 10 the bounty cf Providence, IN
folded in the great natural resources OF
the country. TO the wisdom OF our Ia
theirs, manifested In the form Of govern
rnent established by them; 10 the energy.
industry moral character and law abiding
spirit Of the people themselves.
We are not a military people. bent on
conquest or engaged in extending our
domains IN foreign lands or DESTROYS Of
securing natural advantages. however
great. by force. but a people loving peace
not only for ourselves, but for all the ma
tions OF the earth.
The display of great military arma-
ments may please the eye and for the mo-
ment excite the pride OF the citizen, but
IL cannot bring 10 the country the brains.
Drawn and muscle of a single immigrant
or induce the investment here of dollar
Of capital OF course such armament as
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
I protest, however. against the feeling
now far too prevalent. that by reason OF
the commanding position we have assum-
81 in, he fnrlH tfCf "a y
the disputes and broils of foreign coun-
tries and that because we have grown
great we should intervene in every impor-
fant question that arises in other parts
Of the world. / also protest against this
erection of any such military establish.
ment as would be required to maintain
che country in that attitude We should
confine our International activities solely
70 matters in which the rights of the
country or of our citizens are directly
involved That is not situation of iso'
iation. but OF independence.
The government of the United States
was organized solely for the people Of the
United States While 1t was contemplate
ed that this country should become 8
refuge for the oppressed of every lane
who might be Mt to discharge the dutie:
| of our citizenship. and while we have al
ways sympathized with the people of ev
cry nation In their struggles for self gov
| for a career Of political or civilizing evan
| gelization In foreign countries or among
alien races by Intervention in their af
| fairs. The most efficient work we can d.
| TN uplifting the people of other countrie.
| is by the presentation of happy. pros
| porous self governing nation as an idea
| 10 be emulated. a model to be followed
| The general occupation of our citizens il
| the arts of peace, or the absence Of larg'
| military armarhents. tends TO impair mel
| Their patriotism nor physical courage ant
for the truth OF this / 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 haC
been at peace. with a standing army mos
| of the time of less than ten Thousand
| men. He who thinks that the nation haC
grown effeminate during that perioS
should read the casualty rolls Of tn
/ armies on either side at Shiloh. Antietam
Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, al Ston'
River and Chickamauga. / would be tn,
| last man to pluck a single laurel from
| the crown OF any one Of the military he
| roes TO whom this country owes so much
| but insist that their most heroic deeds
| proceeded infinitely more from devotion
| to the country than from martial spirit.
AS / have already proceeded at too
| great length, other questions suggested II
| the platform must await my letter of &C
| ceptance.
Mr.. Chairman, in most graceful speech
| you have reminded me of the great re
| sponsibility as well as the great honor o
| the nomination bestowed upon me by tn
| convention you represent this day. b
| assured that both are appreciated. 81
| keenly appreciated that 1 am humbled II
| their presence.
| accept. gentlemen Of the committee
| the nomination, and If the action of tn
| convention shall be Endorsed by an cleo
| ton by the people / will. God helpinl
| me. give to the discharge of the duties O
| that exalted office the best service o.
which l am capable and at the end of thu
| term retire to private life shall no
| be a candidate for nor shall l accept
| denomination. Several reasons might b.
| advanced for this position, but the con
| trolling one with me is that / am fully
| persuaded that no incumbent of that offic'
/ should ever be- placed I'm situation o.
| possible temptation to consider what thu
| effect of action taken by him in an ad
| ministrative matter of great fmportanc,
/ might have upon his political fortunes
| Questions of momentous consequence L
| ali of the people have been in the pas
| and will be In the future presented to tn,
president for determination, and in ap
preaching their consideration as well a.
| in weighing the facts and the arguments
| bearing upon them he should be unem
barrassed by any possible thought of thu
/ influence his decision may have upoT
anything whatever that may affect hin
| personally. / make this statement not II
| criticism of any of our presidents from