The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-01

Do you realize that New York. for
example, will be nearer the western
coast Of South America than she is
now to the eastern coast Of South
America?
There is one popularity about the
history Of the Latin-American States,
which / am sure they are keenly
aware Of. You hear Of concessions to
foreign capitalists in Latin-A America.
You do not hear Of concessions to
foreign capitalists in the United
States. They are not granted con-
cessions. They are invited to mako
investments. The work is ours, though
they are welcome to invest in it. We
do not ask them to supply the capi-
tai and do the work. 1t is an invita-
tion, not a privilege; and States that
are obliged, because their territory
does not lie within the main field of
modern enterprise and action, to
grant concessions are in this condi-
ton: That foreign interests are apt
to dominate their domestic affairs. A
condition of affairs always dangerous
and apt to become intolerable.
''Wha, these States are going to
see, therefore, is an emancipation,
from the subordination which has
been inevitable to foreign enterprise
and an assertion Of the splendid char
ties. they have again and again been
able to demonstrate. The dignity, tho
courage, the self-possession, the re-
spect Of the Latin-American States,
their achievements in the face Of all
these adverse circumstances, deserve
nothing but the admiration and ap-
plause Of the world. They have had
harder bargains driven with them III
the matter Of loans than any other
people in the world. Interest has
been exacted Of them that was not
exacted of anybody else, because the
risk was said to be greater, and then
scurities were taken that destroyed
the risks. An admirable arrangement
for those who were forcing the terms.
I rejoice in nothing SO much as in the
prospect that they will now be eman-
cipated from these conditions, and we
ought 10 be the first to take part in
assisting In that emancipation. 1 think
some Of these gentlemen already who
have had occasion to deal with the
department Of State in recent months
can testify 1t has tried to serve them
In that wise. In the future they will
draw closer and closer to us because
Of circumstances Of which ! wish to
speak, with moderation. and, hope,
without indiscretion.
1--WE must prove ourselves their
friends and champions, upon terms
Of equality and honor. You cannot be
friends upon any other terms than
upon the terms Of equality. You cam
not be friends at all except upon the
terms Of honor, and we must show
ourselves friends by comprehending
their interest, whether 1t squares with
our interest or not. 1t Is a very per-
ilous thing to determine the foreign
policy Of a nation in the terms Of ma
terial interest. 1t not only Is unfair
to those with whom you are dealing,
but 1t is degrading on the part Of
your own actions. Comprehension
must be the soil In which shall grow
all the fruits Of friendship; because
there is reason and compulsion
lying behind all this which Is dearer
than anything else to the thoughtful
men Of America. ! mean the develop
ment of constitutional liberty in the
world. Human rights, national in.
tegrity and against material interests
That, ladies and gentlemen, is the
issue which We now have to face.
II want to take this occasion to say
that the United States will never
again seek one additional foot Of ter
ritory by conquest. She will devote
herself to showing that she knows
how to make honorable and fruitful
use Of the territory she has. And she
must regard 1t as one Of the duties of
friendship to see that from no quar-
ter are material interests made su-
perior to human liberty and national
opportunity. 1 say this, not with a
single thought that any one will gain
say 1t, but merely to fix in our con-
sciousness what our real Relationship
with the rest Of America is. 1t is
the relationship Of a family of man
kind devoted to the development Of
true constitutional liberty. We know
that that is the soil out Of which the