The leader., 1904-08-20


ed highways and railroads, till now .
nation which at the formation Of the
government numbered only 100000 in
population, has become $4,000 900, 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. 1t is the liberty, the ad-
vancement and the prosperity OF its
citizens, not any career of conquest, that
make the country world power. This
condition we owe to the bounty Of proyi-
dence, unfolded in the great natural re-
sources Of the country, to the wisdom
Of our fathers manifested in the form OF
government established by them, to tie
energy, industry, moral character AMI
law-abiding spirit of the people them
selves.
We are not military people, bent on
conquest, or engaged in extending our
domains in foreign lands, or desirous
OF securing natural advantages, how
ever great. by force; but a people low.
ing peace, not only for ourselves, but
for all the nations of the earth.
The display of great military arma.
ments may please the eye and, for the
moment, excite the pride Of the citizen,
but it cannot bring to the country the
brains, Drawn and muscle of single
immigrant, nor 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 main.
tanned. Any other course would be
not only false economy, but pusillani-
nous. / 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 disputes and broils OF
foreign countries; and that because we
have grown great we should intervene
In every important question that arises
in other parts of the world. 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
international activities solely to mat.
ters in which the rights of the country
or of our citizens are directly involved.
That is not situation Of isolation, but
of independence.
The government Of the United States
was organized solely for the people OF
the United States. While it was con-
templated that this country should be.
come refuge for the oppressed of every
land, who might be fit to discharge the
duties of our citizenship, and while we
have always sympathized with the peo-
pie of every nation in their struggles for
self-government, the government was
not created for a career of political or
civilizing evangelization in foreign coun~
tries or among alien races by interven-
tion in their affairs. The most efficient
work we can do in uplifting the people
of other countries is by the presentation
of a happy, prosperous, self-gOverning
nation as an ideal to be emulateds a
model to be followed. The general oc-
cupation of our citizens in the artR Of
peace, or the absence of large miliGtry
| armaments, tends to impair neither pa
triotism nor physical courage, and FOR
the truth of this refer the young Faen
of to-day to the history of the ciya 'sar.
For so years, with the exception OK he
| war with Mexico, this country had s5an
at peace, with a standing army Nost
of the time of less than 10000 men. He
who thinks that the nation had groT". et~
femiHate during that period should tead
the casualty rolls Of the armies on g her
side at Shiloh, Antietam, FreGeF' F'sks-
burg and Gettysburg, at Stone River and
| Cnickamauga. l would be the last man
to pluck single laurel from the C! 9wn
of any one of the military heroe- to
whom this country owes so much but
insist that their most heroic deedSDro-
ceeded infinitely more from devotit q 70
the country, than from martial spirtl.
AS have already proceeded at too
great length, other questions suggested
in the platform must await my letter Of
acceptance.
| Mr.. Chairman: In most graceful
speech you have reminded me Of the
great responsibility, as we'll as the great
.lonor, of the nomination bestowed
upon me by the convention you repre-
sent this day Be assured that both are
appreciated-so keenly appreciated that
am humbled in their presence.
accept. gentlemen of the committee,
he nomination, and if the action of the
convention shall be indorsed by an cleo
tion by the people, will, God helping me,
give to the discharge of the duties of that
exalted Office the best service of which
I am capable and at the end of the term
retire to private life. l shall not be a
candidate for, nor shall accept, a renom-
ination. Several reasons might be adj
yanced for this position, but the con-
trolling one with me is that am fully
persuaded that no incumbent of that Of
| fee should ever be placed in situation
of possible temptation to consider what
the effect of action taken by him in an
administrative matter of great impor-
tance might have upon his political for
tunes. Questions of momentoHs conse-
ouence to all the people have been in the
mast and will be in the future presented
to the president for determination, and
in approaching their consideration, as
we'll as in weighing the facts and the ar
guments bearing upon them, he should
be unembarrassed by any possible
thought of the influence his decision may
have upon anything whatever that may
affect him personally. make this state
ment. not in criticism of any of our presi-
dents from Washington down who have
either held the Office for two terms OF
! sought to succeed themselves; for strong
| arguments can be advanced in support OF
the reelection of a president. It is sim
ply my judgment that the interests OF
this country are now SO vast and the
questions presented are frequently OF
such overpowering magnitude to the
people that it is indispensable to the
maintenance OF befitting attitude be-