The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-10-28
But when It became evident that no

But when 1t became evident that nc
peaceable solution was possible, that wal
was inevitable. they addressed themselves
| to- the task of making suitable prepare
ton, and from the time when $50, 00O'OU
was placed at the disposal OF the presl-
undone to aid In the prosecution OF the
war and to insure victory. Modern ships
and guns and engines Of war are more
powerful and more expensive tnan any
ever known before. Our enemy was sep
arated from us by great oceans. These
| sarily very large, II the war was to con-
| tinue for any length of time, and how
long 1t was to continue no man knew.
To provide money to meet these great
only to impose special taxes, but also to
| authorize the government to borrow
| whatever additional sums might be need
ed and to issue its obligations to pay
back the money borrowed with interest.
| When the measure for this purpose came
| same Chicago platform Democracy who
| had been so eager and so fierce to force
| us into war before we were ready. pc
gan to oppose so much of 1t as provided
might be obliged to borrow. They were
for war, but opposed to providing ade,
quate means to carry 1t on; they prided
themselves on their willingness to vote
for appropriations, and yet voted against
the means to provide money to meet the
appropriations. They inveighed against
the bondholders and yet suggested no
method by which the government, any
more than an individual, could borrow
without engaging to pay back what was
borrowed They exploited every wild and
visionary theory of finance: They at
tempted to force the issue Of irredeemable
paper money. They exhausted every
means to thwart the majority: and finally
a majority Of them voted against the Dial.
But in spite of their nearly solid opposi,,
ion the votes of the Republicans and
sound money Democrats provided means
to carry on the war, and today the patrl-
otto people Of every class rejoice.
We have been asked with a great Aiou4
tons to the amount of $5OO,0oo,ooo LOT inc
Prosecution of the War.
We answer that we were willing
to incur obligations and to pleog ts
the credit of the country TO o. any any
duct it to successful termination. EVERY
body knew that the receipts from the war
revenue bill would not come IN at once
and that they would be spread out oves
succeeding years. Nobody knew how long
the war would last. Few of us doubt that
It would be going now but for the
bottling up of Cervera's fleet In the mar
Dor at Santiago, which, When we nrst
heard of it we could hardly believe. ihe
news seemed too good to be true. Before
that everybody supposed that we Woulo
have to invade Cuba and invest havana
with a great army as soon as the slckly
season was over, and even aIter tnaI NO.
hody knew but what we might still nave
to do this. Nobody knew how long the
capture of that city might take. All knew
that is would cost enormous sums OF
money. and that that money must pc
available when needed. AND the Repuoi1-
cans were determined that the govern
ment should be given all the means that
might be necessary, and further, they
were determined that Spain and the world
should have an exhibition of our wealth
and power which would snow them tna5
the war once begun would be prosecuted
with all the resources Of the greatest
and richest nation on earth. We had con-
fidence in our administration. We knew
that it would not issue more of these obll-
cations than were necessary, ana we were
determined that it should have all that
under any contingency might be aeces-
sary. The result has shown that our con-
fidence was not misplaced. Two hundred
millions were not too much ana tnat -
all that has been issued ana all that Will
he necessary. More than all this we were
determined that there should be no issue
of irredeemable paper money which our
adversaries were trying to force upon u.s.
And the result has justified our actlon.
WlQl6 CQeT6 udS Dttu SOIIS SA46AI AAoSoA
ance of our commerce, there has not
been the slightest ripple of disturbance
of our finances.
Of course, at such time there
were some differences of opin-
ion even among the Republicans. There
were those who were impetuous and in
clined to be impatient with the president.
There were some on the other sfde-and
my predecessor was one OF tnem-Who
said he lacked backbone, and limited that
D,,f do
there is one of them today-an honest
one-who is not willing to acknowledge
that he was wrong and
The President Was Right.
There is not one who will not &C
dent, and his refusal to precip1tate war
until we were ready, have saved thou
sands of lives and millions OF money.
There is not one of them who will not
freely confess that to have recognlzed the
independence of the republic of Cuba
would have been a fatal blunder, pre-
venting alike a successful prosecution of
the war and the complete accomplishment
Of its splendid results.
Looking back over all these stirring
events, I say reverently l believe the
hand Of Providence was in it all, guiding
us slowly but surely to that point from
which the war was waged, not for selhsh
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or revenge but for hu-
uIdIWly anu uUGrlyy uS1LE udIAOA clo
the instrument not alone to bring sue
and bleeding people of one island, but to
carry liberty, civilization and commerce
cor and relief and liberty to the oppressed
using as the chief actor as the great
half way around the globe, and in it all
leader in the great drama, one combin-
ing in his great character the gentleness
and patience and f1rmness Of Lincoln with
the wisdom and constancy of washington.
It is and ought to be matter of pride to
the house Of representatives that at all
times it stood loyalty and steadfastly by
the president, and for this 1t deserves the
support and endorsement of the nation.
I know it Is matter of pride to me that
as the represents tive Of this great district
I stood firmly and devotedly by the presi-
dent and for it I deserve and I believe
I will receive the support and endorse
ment of its people.
shall not now stop to allude to the
successful and glorious prosecution of the
war. That is beyond all praise. 1t speaks
with an eloQuence which no words can
command. Surely, as has been many times
said, It was worth all and more than it
has cost in blood and treasure. It has
proclaimed to the world that the rights
Of man are the concern of all Gods peo-
pie. It has destroyed and buried out of
sight forever whatever may have re-
manned of sectional animosities born of
four years of civil war. It has wiped from
the map Mason's and Dixon's line. 1t has