John Sherman: “If this is debased the whole current of its commercial life must be disordered and irregular.”

Our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country" has been the watchword and creed of my public life.

It was settled by this war that we have a country limited in its powers by the constitution of the United States fairly construed.

The events of the future are beyond the vision of mankind, but I hope our people will be content with internal growth, and avoid the complications of foreign acquisitions.

If my life is prolonged I will do all I can to add to the strength and prosperity of the United States, but nothing to extend its limits or to add new dangers by acquisition of foreign territory.