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all "combinations intended to restrict business" or to "create monopolies."

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Thirdly the Republican Party declared their "steadfast opposition to the free and unlimited coinage of silver." They furthermore stated: "We renew our allegiance to the principle of the gold standard" (§ 586), "by which the parity of all our money and the stability of our currency upon a gold basis has been secured."

At the election McKinley received 292 electoral votes and Bryan 155. The popular vote stood 7,206,677 for McKinley to 6,374,397 for Bryan.

589. The status of Cuba; second inaugural of President McKinley; the Philippines. - Geographers inform us that, from their point of view, Cuba belongs to the United States by "the ground-plan of the world"; but in practical politics the question of the union of the two countries brings out widely divergent opinions. It is certain, however, that under American control Cuba has made remarkable progress, especially in respect to provision for education. At the beginning of our occupancy it is doubtful if a single public school existed on the island. The Commissioner reports that early in 1901 there were over 3500 schools, with an enrollment of nearly 175,000 pupils. This fact is full of significance and of promise for the future.

In 1901 the Convention of Cuban delegates, called to draft a constitution of government, framed a republic similar in many respects to that of the United States. Later, Congress authorized the President to leave the government of Cuba to its people on certain conditions. Two of the most important of these conditions were: first, that the Cubans should never enter into a treaty with any foreign power which should in any way impair their independence; secondly, that they should bind themselves to recognize the right of the United States to intervene, if necessary, for the preservation of that By the Platt Amendment to the Army Appropriation Bill, 1901.

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independence, and for the maintenance of "life, property, and individual liberty" on the island. After prolonged discussion the Convention finally voted to accept the conditions imposed, by a majority of 16 to 11.

In his second inaugural address (§ 567) President McKinley emphasized the general prosperity of the country; better still, he said: "Sectionalism has disappeared. Division on public questions can no longer be traced by the war maps of 1861.”

In the Philippines (1901) the capture of Aguinaldo, the Filipino leader, was followed by his taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. He shortly afterwards issued an address to his countrymen, urging them to lay down their arms and to acknowledge the sovereignty of the American flag. Since that period marked progress has been made in establishing local self-government in the islands and in opening public schools. At present, while guerilla warfare continues in some parts of the country, there appears to be no regularly organized resistance to the United States.

590. The Supreme Court vs. our new territorial possessions; the Pan-American Exposition; assassination of the President. Late in May, 1901, the Supreme Court of the United States decided the vital question of the constitutional relations of our new island possessions to the nation.

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The Court declared, in substance, by a majority of five to four, first, that the Constitution does not necessarily follow the flag, and secondly, that Congress has full power to deal as it sees fit with all our recently acquired island territory.*

In the spring of 1901 the Pan-American Exposition (§ 553) was opened at Buffalo. In one important respect it differed

*The chief justice, who was one of the four dissenting judges, said that the Court considered that "Congress in dealing with the people of new territories or possessions is bound to respect the fundamental guarantees of life, liberty, and property, but assumes that Congress is not bound in these territories or possessions to follow the rules of taxation prescribed by the Constitution."

from any international exhibition heretofore held in this country, since it was organized to celebrate the progress made by all the nations of North, South, and Central America, and to take steps to advance their common commercial interests.

President McKinley attended the Exposition in September, and there delivered his last speech. He pleaded for "a policy of good will and friendly trade relations"; and declared his belief that if the United States would adopt such a policy leading to broader and freer intercourse with foreign nations it would eventually benefit all concerned.

The following day (September 6) the President gave a public reception at the Exposition. As he was extending his hand to grasp that of a young man,* the latter deliberately shot him twice with a revolver. The assassin openly boasted that he was an Anarchist (§ 547), whose object was to overthrow the Government.

The President died of his wounds about a week later (September 14), and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution (§§ 548; Appendix, p. xii, par. 2), Vice-President Roosevelt (§ 588) became President.

When he took the oath of office he declared that it would be his aim "to continue absolutely unbroken the policy of President McKinley.”

President McKinley was buried (September 19) at his former home in Canton, Ohio. Throughout the United States and in many of the cities of Europe the occasion was solemnly kept as one of "mourning and prayer." Perhaps no day in our history as a nation has made a deeper and more abiding impression on the hearts of the American people. While paying their tribute of sorrow to the memory of the dead chief magistrate, men everywhere silently resolved that, come what

* Leon F. Czolgosz (Chol'gosh): he was an American by birth, the son of Polish emigrants who had come to the United States. He was executed October 29, 1901, at Auburn, N.Y. Compare the assassination of Lincoln by a sectionalist (§ 506) and that of Garfield by a partisan (§ 539).

might, no Anarchist and no body of Anarchists should ever with murder-stained hands cast down the pillars of the Republic.

591. General survey of the history of the nation; the United States in the twentieth century. In growth of population, development of natural resources, and accumulation of wealth, the American Republic stands at the head of the civilized nations of the globe.

The economic progress of the country shows that here laborsaving inventions have reached the highest perfection; here, steam was first used for purposes of transportation (§ 286), and electricity first employed to transmit intelligence (§ 385).

Our progress on higher planes is not less evident. Here, free public schools and free public libraries have been established on a scale never before known; here, manhood suffrage has become the rule; here, entire religious toleration was first granted to all men (§ 124).

Within the lifetime of a generation, civil-service reform has been placed on a secure foundation (§§ 540, 564), and the principle of international arbitration recognized (§§ 526, 561, 564). Within the same time, slavery has been abolished forever, and the Union has had a new birth in the hearts of the whole people.

Now we have entered the twentieth century, and fresh problems meet us. They are the result, in great measure, of the progress which we have made. They challenge our best powers. If we solve them successfully, we shall add a chapter to American history which will be worthy of its past, and which cannot fail to instruct and encourage all who read it.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776.

A DECLARATION BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS 1 ASSEMBLED.

WHEN, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

1 The First Continental or General Congress met in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. It consisted of forty-four delegates, representing eleven of the thirteen colonies. Later, eleven more delegates took their seats, and all of the colonies were represented except Georgia, which promised to concur with "her sister colonies" in their effort to maintain their rights as English subjects. Peyton Randolph of Virginia was elected President of the Congress. Among the distinguished men who had assembled there, were Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, John Dickinson, William Livingston, John Jay, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Roger Sherman, and the Rutledges of South Carolina.

On the 14th of October, the Congress adopted a Declaration of Colonial Rights. On the 26th, a Petition to the King, asking the redress of their wrongs, was drawn up.

The Second Continental Congress (at which Georgia was represented) met in Philadelphia, in the State House (Independence Hall), May 10, 1775. A second Petition to the King was adopted, and Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental army, though Congress still denied any intention of separating from Great Britain, and earnestly expressed a desire for the peaceful settlement of all difficulties.

The King's Proclamation, declaring the Colonies in rebellion, and calling for volunteers to force them to submit to taxation without representation, and other unjust measures, finally convinced the delegates to Congress of the impossibility of our continuing our allegiance to the English crown.

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia moved "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." John Adams of Massachusetts seconded the motion.

Later, a committee of five-Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York-was appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson drew up the paper, though a few alterations were made in it by the committee and by Congress.

It was adopted on the evening of July 4, 1776, and signed by John Hancock, President of Congress, and Charles Thomson, Secretary. On August 2, 1776, it was signed by the members, representing all the thirteen states.

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