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have to play a part in this destruction and in the consequent uplifting of the people.

"Exactly as it is the duty of a civilized power scrupulously to respect the rights of all weaker civilized powers and gladly to help those who are struggling toward civilization, so it is its duty to put down savagery and barbarism.

"As in such a work human instruments must be used, and as human instruments are imperfect, this means that at times there will be injustice; that at times merchant, or soldier, or even missionary may do wrong. Let us instantly condemn and rectify such wrong when it occurs, and if possible punish the wrongdoer. But, shame, thrice shame to us, if we are so foolish as to make such occasional wrongdoing an excuse for failing to perform a great and righteous task.

ADVANCE OF CIVILIZATION.

"Not only in our own land but throughout the world, throughout all history, the advance of civilization has been of incalculable benefit to mankind, and those through whom it has advanced deserve the highest honor. All honor to the missionary, all honor to the soldier, all honor to the merchant who now in our day have done so much to bring light into the world's dark places.

"Let me insist again, for fear of possible misconstruction, upon the fact that our duty is twofold, and that we must raise others while we are benefiting ourselves. In bringing order to the Philippines, our soldiers added a new page to the honor roll of American history, and they incalculably benefited the islanders themselves. Under the wise administration of Governor Taft the islands now enjoy a peace and liberty of which they have hitherto never even dreamed.

"But this peace and liberty under the law must be supplemented by material, by industrial, development. Every encouragement should be given to their commercial development, to the introduction of American industries and products; not merely because this will be a good thing for our people, but infinitely more because it will be of incalculable benefit to the people of the Philippines.

MISTAKES TEACH THEIR LESSON.

"We shall make mistakes; and if we let these mistakes frighten us from work we shall show ourselves weaklings. Half a century ago. Minnesota and the two Dakotas were Indian hunting grounds. We committed plenty of blunders, and now and then worse than blunders,

in our dealings with the Indians. But who does not admit at the present day that we were right in wresting from barbarism and adding to civilization the territory out of which we have made these beautiful states? And now we are civilizing the Indian and putting him on a level to which he could never have attained under the old conditions.

"In the Philippines let us remember that the spirit and not the mere form of government is the essential matter. The Tagalogs have a hundredfold the freedom under us that they would have if we had abandoned the islands. We are not trying to subjugate a people; we are trying to develop them and make them a law-abiding, industrious, and educated people, and, we hope, ultimately, a self-governing people.

READY TO FACE GRAVE PROBLEMS.

"In short, in the work we have done we are but carrying out the true principles of our democracy. We work in a spirit of self-respect for ourselves and of good will toward others; in a spirit of love for and of infinite faith in mankind. We do not blindly refuse to face the evils that exist or the shortcomings inherent in humanity, but across blundering and shirking, across selfishness and meanness of motive, across short-sightedness and cowardice, we gaze steadfastly toward the far horizon of golden triumph.

"If you will study our past history as a nation you will see we have made many blunders and have been guilty of many shortcomings, and yet have always in the end come out victorious because we have refused to be daunted by blunders and defeats-have recognized them, but have persevered in spite of them.

"So it must be in the future. We gird up our loins as a nation with the stern purpose to play our part manfully in winning the ultimate triumph, and therefore we turn scornfully aside from the paths of mere ease and idleness and with unfaltering steps tread the rough road of endeavor, smiting down the wrong and battling for the right as Greatheart smote and battled in Bunyan's immortal story."

TRIBUTES TO THE CHARACTER OF ROOSEVELT.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S PLedge.

The Chicago Record-Herald says:

"President Roosevelt signalized his accession to office by volunteering a pledge of conservatism couched in the following terms:

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'In this hour of deep and terrible national bereavement I wish to state that it shall be my aim to continue absolutely unbroken the policy

of President McKinley for the peace and prosperity and honor of our beloved country.'

"Men who know the President well needed no such assurance, but the frightfully tragic death of President McKinley, the sudden and wholly unexpected change, were sure to excite apprehension in some minds, and Mr. Roosevelt's quick recognition of the fact and the swift decision with which he acted are as convincing evidence of his strong common sense and sagacity as the words which he uttered. He was not called upon to make any announcement whatsoever or any promise except the one that appears in the official oath which he took. But his statement, which was addressed to members of his predecessor's cabinet, anticipated that solemnity. It was formulated at the very first opportunity under the most impressive circumstances.

"In this connection it may be added also that whenever and wherever the new President has been conceived of as a man all rashness and impetuosity, with something of the saving grace of sincerity, there has been a radical mistake concerning his character. Sincerity he has of the direct and downright kind. It pervades him through and through to the exclusion of every trace of insincerity, but what has been called his rashness was, more accurately speaking, earnestness. It is not the inspiration to reckless disregard of tradition and precedent, but the energizing power, that makes a true conservatism, a thorough instruction through experience and study in the principles of American government count for something.

"President Roosevelt will be loyal to sound finance as President McKinley was. He will demonstrate that he is worthy the confidence of the business interests of the country on all accounts. In urging the policy of reciprocity he will follow the lines laid down in President McKinley's Buffalo address, doing everything to advance, nothing to upset or disorganize trade and commerce. He will cultivate friendly relations with other nations, he will conciliate the people of Porto Rico and the Philippines, insisting only that 'our authority could not be less than our responsibility' in those islands.

"All this is clear from the pledge, which implies the perception that he has the same mandate from the people as the lamented statesman whose death we mourn, and that he is under the same obligations as well as the acknowledgment that in fulfilling these obligations his best. guide is President McKinley's example.

"The Buffalo address is the keynote of President Roosevelt's policy." Mr. Roosevelt took possession of the White House most unostentatiously, and entered with alacrity and enthusiasm upon the great responsibilities of his office, mastering details with an ease and rapidity

that attested his quick apprehension and great learning in administrative affairs, to the delight and astonishment of his cabinet. But this excited no surprise on the part of an expectant and admiring public, which had been well prepared for a great display of ability and fitness by the brilliant campaign he conducted as candidate for the vice presidency, when he appeared in all sections of the country, exciting his supporters to an ecstasy of enthusiasm and winning the respect of his political opponents by logic, eloquence, ready wit and equanimity of temper.

Not since the era of good feeling that prevailed during the administration of James Monroe did any President of the United States receive more cordial support and sympathy from men of all parties and every section of the country than did Theodore Roosevelt upon assuming the duties of his office. Well endowed physically, mentally and moraliy, energetic and studious in his habits, well informed on all the political questions of the day, possessed of a conscience and bent on following its dictates, supported by a faithful, loving and accomplished wife, surrounded by a troop of happy, devoted children and admired and trusted. by the people of the greatest government on earth, Theodore Roosevelt is to be congratulated by the nation, whose people may also congratulate themselves on securing such a man to take up and carry to full fruition the noble and patriotic work so splendidly begun and successfully developed by its martyred President, William McKinley.

A TRUTH TELLER AND TRUTH WORKER.

The Christian Endeavor World says:

"In the presidency Mr. Roosevelt will be a truth teller and a truth worker, as he has been elsewhere. He will be a fearless advocate of civil service. He will be a respecter of the Sabbath and an example of a God-fearing, church-going man. He is never ashamed to let it be known that he is a communicant of the Dutch Reformed Church, an earnest and influential Christian body.

"Happy is the nation that has in her chief ruler's seat a man who so embodies the virile and practical elements of Christian manhood. We believe that he will dignify and honor the position. Let us see to it that people and press never forget the respect due to his sterling manhood and his high office. May the anarchist, the cartoonist, and the yellowjournal slanderers-accomplices in our present sorrow and shame-be restrained from repeating the past, and may the mutual love and larger national influence foreshadowed in President McKinley's last days be realized under the man who providentially succeeds him.

"Long live President Roosevelt!"

WILL BECOME MORE CONSERVATIVE.

The Northwestern Christian Advocate says:

"While Mr. Roosevelt is aggressive in all that he undertakes, he possesses practical sense and, as is usually the case with men of intelligence and sagacity, will become more conservative under the sense of responsibility. Even if he were disposed to adopt a new policy, he would readily perceive that the circumstances of Mr. McKinley's death would render a change from his policy unwise, at least until the march of events had furnished some excuses therefor.

"President Roosevelt's course from the moment that he first learned of the shot which ultimately caused the death of the President has won him the respect and affection of the American people. Nothing that he could have done would have evoked heartier admiration than his action after arriving in Buffalo, in proceeding at once, before taking the oath as president, from his train to the Milburn home to tender his sympathy to the stricken widow of the dead president. His position is delicate and responsible. May he have divine wisdom to act aright!"

ROOSEVELT'S POLICY.

The policy of President Roosevelt, as he has outlined, will be for a more liberal and extensive reciprocity in the purchase and sale of commodities, so that the overproduction of this country can be satisfactorily disposed of by fair and equitable arrangements with foreign countries.

The abolition entirely of commercial war with other countries and the adoption of reciprocity treaties.

The abolition of such tariffs on foreign goods as are no longer needed for revenue, if such abolition can be had without harm to our industries and labor.

Direct commercial lines should be established between the eastern coast of the United States and the ports in South America and the Pacific coast ports of Mexico, Central America and South America.

The encouraging of the merchant marine and the building of ships which shall carry the American flag and be owned and controlled by Americans and American capital.

The building and completion as soon as possible of the isthmian canal, so as to give direct water communication with the coasts of Central America, South America and Mexico.

The construction of a cable, owned by the government, connecting our mainland with our foreign possessions, notably Hawaii and the Philippines.

The use of conciliatory methods of arbitration in all disputes with foreign nations, so as to avoid armed strife.

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