OF

MR. PRESIDENT :

Through the accident of war some thirty-five years ago your beautiful islands came under the sovereignty of the United States.

Within five years of this acquisition my people made me a member of the United States House of Representatives. During my first term in that body was formed the impression that our American sovereignty was of a temporary character. The discussions in those early days of whether they should be retained permanently or ultimately be given their independence caused keen interest in the expressions of opinion of our greater statesmen and at a very early period there came from all the promise of ultimate independence.

This was followed by expressions of opinion of our great men in the Presidential chair and in our Congress that independence should be granted.

To-day it is a pleasure to be with you because of your great happiness on this historic occasion, although perhaps the early years may prove a period of trial and tribulation, such as we had in our

country.

The thought foremost in my mind is that Americans have fulfilled their prom

ise the word of the American nation is good no matter how great the sacrifice to make it good. It is a sacrifice to part with a wonderful country such as yours, populated by a kindly, industrious, and intelligent people.

I have a feeling of pride that for the first time in the world's history, at a great loss to itself, the American nation has redeemed its promise.

In company with our distinguished Speaker Byrns of the House of Representatives, one of the great coördinate branches of our government, with twentyseven Congressmen and seventeen United States Senators and our wives, we have travelled approximately ten thousand miles, and must travel ten thousand miles in return to celebrate two things.

Putting them in the order in which my mind dwells upon them, there is the redemption of a national promise that all right-thinking Americans will approve and that all self-governing nations of the earth will applaud.

As years went on in my Congressional career, fate finally placed me as Speaker of the great House of Representatives and it was during my term of office that the first bill containing an offer of independence was passed.