Speech #490071745

The discovery of the gold of that region. leading.as it did to the same discovery in Australia. has touched the nerve of industry throughout the world. Every addition to the territory of the American Union has given homes to European destitution and gardens to European want. From every part of the United Kingdom. from France. from Switzerland and Germany. and from the extremest north of Europe a march of immigration has been taken up. such as the world has never seen before. Into the United States. grown to their present etent in the manner described. but little less than half a million of the population of the Old World is annually pouring. to be immediately incorporated into an industrious and prosperous community. in the bosom of which they find political and religious liberty. social position. employment. and bread. It will be remembered that the United States had been invited by the Governments of France and Great Britain to enter into a convention by which the three governments would disclaim "now and for hereafter all intention to obtain possession of the Island of Cuba."1 This invitation was declined by the United States Government in the admirable and bold dispatch referred to. in which he uses the language I have already quoted. and in which he further adds: But whatever may be thought of these last suggestions. it would seem impossible for any one whoreflects upon the events glanced at in this note to mistake the law of American growth and American progress. or think it can be arrested by a convention like that proposed.