The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26

|
But on this momentous occasion am not
a mere witness from abroad. one Of those
| needless people who see only the outlines Of
| things In such events-a vast throng crowdng
upon each other; a man whom everybody
wants 20 see at close range because he ls going
TO swear that he viii do his duty; hurrahs
from every throat and applause from every
hand: booming salvos Of artillery; the ma
tlonal anthem played maJestlcally by mill
tary bands; a triumphal civic procession
| through'avenues where the Stars and Stripes
wave from public buildings and private
dwellings, In a word, a new President in
augurated by the will Of the people.
No. sir. | come here for other purposes
than mere seeing and relating. I come TO
strengthen my beliefs. TO warm over my re-
publican faith, by witnessing the truth Of the
miracles that this religion OF the people Is
accomplishing here where the citizens put
forth all the energy that comes from a firm
conviction Of their doctrines For the sew
enth time during the years which | have
passed away from my own land because
was guilty OF the crime Of seriously believing
In the republic. ! have come TO quiet my
civic conscience still further by the palpable
evidence Of this fact: that we are not raving
OF Utopia nor demanding anything impos-
sible. we who are asking that our unfortunate
people be granted liberty, honor, fair dealing
and patriotism on the part OF our rulers
for without these virtues the result is liable to
be anything except a republcI
!, too. although a stranger, feel myself
spiritually united and blended with these
multitudes OF citizens who are to-day ac-
claiming their own victory. Like them, |
uncover my head 20 salute that man. that
impersonation Of the democratic ideal who
is about to call God and the people 10 witness
that he swears TO fulhl the duties OF his oner-
Gus charge. In Theodore Roosevelt | pay
homage 10 the good sense OF the enormous
majority that chose him; for he represents
honor, patriotism. honesty. uprightness OF
character-all the civic requisites. together
with those private virtues which are neces-
sary and indispensable in the rulers Of free
nations, ] salute him because at the gates Of
the Capitol, to which he is vending his way az
this moment, he Is about to put the solemn
seal upon his promises and submissively
receive the dictation Of his obligations.
uncover my head before that man because
the powers that take him to the Capitol are
not victorious force nor intrigue nor treason:
neither does he walk arm in arm with vice
or the base instincts that are woOed by serv-
ity. | salute him because when that man
responds to the greetings OF the people he
does not uncover the head Of a foolhardy lR-
noramus full OF vulgar vindictveness or
grotesque schemes. / salute him, in short
merely pointing il out TO the pltiful incom-
petents who are still arrogatng the title OF
President in certain misEoverned provinces
OF the Western Hemisphere Is enough 10 ex-
pose them and condemn them.
l know beforehand Just what kind OF a
reply shall get. In defence Of the Spanish |
American despOtisms. from those who think !
they can befuddle the whole question by the |
idea Of compatibility or incompatlbility OF |
races, They will say that the AnRlo-sa1ons |
are the only people who can be governed by |
liberty. This stereotyped twaddle IL belled
by the facts. | do not need TO travel to far
on Argentina or other remote republics Of the
spanish American race Nearer at hand l |
have Cuba-neareT to my pen and nearer to
my heart Cuba with its brief but glorious
civic history, with its admirable liberty.
progress and prosperity, gives the lie in no
TO all those who dare deny the
capacity Of our race 20 create genuine demoo-
racles and set up honorable governments.