The Republican National Convention’s shortened schedule, due to Hurricane Gustav earlier in the week, forced the cancellation of a speech Wednesday night by U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.

In a statement, Pence said, “While I am disappointed that I will not be given an opportunity to address the Republican National Convention, I was honored to have been asked to speak, and I wholeheartedly supported the decision to cancel convention activities as Hurricane Gustav advanced to the Gulf Coast.

“Despite the fact that those schedule changes necessitated my removal from the program, I believe that convention officials made the right decision in putting the interests of the country ahead of the interests of our party.

“As Hoosiers learned firsthand this summer, when devastating weather approaches, we must place the focus on our neighbors and I am proud the Republican Convention did just that.”

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Speech excerpts

Pence was scheduled to speak at 7:42 p.m. Wednesday, about three hours before the keynote speech by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who is Sen. John McCain’s choice for vice president.

A spokesman for Pence’s office released a copy of the speech as it had been prepared for delivery to convention delegates. Excerpts follow:

“Tonight we speak of prosperity, but, as every American learned on that terrible day in September 2001, there can be no prosperity without security. Tonight, I want to tell you how I believe we can achieve security and prosperity.

“Let me tell you about my friend, Sen. John McCain.  

“I believe John McCain’s background and life experience make him just the right man to lead our nation to a future of security and prosperity in the 21st century.

“On security: our friends and enemies know John McCain will protect this nation.

“This became clear when I traveled with John McCain to Iraq in the spring of 2007. We took a meeting with a Sunni Sheik, Abdul Satter Abu Risha, the courageous founder of the Anbar Awakening Movement, a movement that helped transform that province and all of Iraq from hostility toward U.S. forces to the extraordinary cooperation that set the stage for the historic handover of Anbar Province to the Iraqi military that took place this week.

“I’ll never forget that meeting.

“As we entered the room, the sheik greeted us one by one. He lowered his head, took my hand, and said through his interpreter, ‘It is an honor to meet you.’

“He greeted each member of our delegation the same.

“Then he greeted John McCain. Bowing deeply, this Sunni sheik took both of Senator McCain’s hands in his and said, ‘It is a special privilege to meet you, Senator McCain. My people know of you and know of your proud family of warriors and we respect you.’

“I realized then that John McCain possesses a currency in this part of the world that transcends titles and position; a currency of immeasurable value that cannot be underestimated and cannot be manufactured, a currency that could save American lives.”

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“John McCain knows we must lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

“But Democrats have refused to even take a vote on an energy bill that includes more drilling.

“We have one message to the Democrats in Washington:

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi, you can turn off the lights on the House floor and shut off the mics, but you cannot silence the voice of millions of Americans who say: Drill more, drill here, drill now!”

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“Our jobs and our way of life depend on electing a leader who can achieve comprehensive energy reform that includes more domestic drilling. That man is John McCain.

“In his 1941 address before Congress, Winston Churchill said, ‘He must indeed have a blind soul who cannot see that some great purpose and design is being worked out here below of which we have the honor to be the faithful servants.’”

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“Let us be the faithful servants.

“Let us leave this place and work and not stop until we give the American people the leader they deserve.

“For our security, prosperity and energy independence, John McCain must become the 44th President of the United States.”