nce, and before the dread judgment seat of history. The
plea 'Am I my brother's keeper?'--whether interposed by individual
or by nation--cannot be heard before the august tribunal of the
Almighty.
"Justified then, as we solemnly believe, in the sight of God for
our interposition, we rejoice over the termination of a struggle
in which our arms knew no defeat. The dead hand of Spain has been
removed forever from the throats of her helpless victims. Emphasizing
our solemn declaration as a nation, that this was a war for humanity,
not for self-aggrandizement, we demand no money indemnity from the
defeated and impoverished foe.
"The sacrifice of treasure and of blood has not been in vain.
However it may have been in the past, the United States emerges
from the conflict with Spain a united people. Sectional lines are
forever obliterated. Henceforth, for all time, we present to
foreign foe and unbroken front. In the words of Webster: 'Our
politics go no farther than the water's edge.'
"No less important is the fact, that the United States of
America to-day, as never before, commands the respect and admiration
of the world. No foreign coalition, however formidable, can excite
our serious apprehension or alarm. For all this, all honor to our
brave soldiers and sailors; all honor to the helpful hands and
sympathetic hearts of America's patriotic women.
"As in the early morning and in the noon of the nineteenth century,
America gave to the world its best lessons in liberty and in
law, so in its closing hours, it has given to all the nations a
never-to-be-forgotten lesson in the dread art of war. In quick
response to the splendid achievements of American valor comes from
across the sea the startling proposal of despotic Russia for the
disarmament of continental Europe--and in the end universal peace.
"Thankful to God for all he has vouchsafed to us in the past,
and with the prayer that henceforth peace may be the priceless boon
of all nations, we await the dawn of the new century, and turn our
faces hopefully to the future."
IV
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY
ELECTION, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT--NAMES AND DATES
OF ALL THE VICE-PRESIDENTS--FOUR WHO BECAME PRESIDENTS BY ELECTION
--FIVE WHO SUCCEEDED UPON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT--ATTEMPTS
TO SECURE THE IMPEACHMENTS OF PRESIDENTS--THE TWELFTH AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION--REMARKS ON SOME OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTS--THE
WRITER'S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO THE
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