The Springfield herald., 1898-12-23
MUST NOT RETREAT.
NOTABLE SPEECH BY M'klNLEY.
Outlines Our Attitude Toward The Philip
pines-Says We Conld Not Recall Dew
ey'H Fleet After Its Victory.

/
| Savannah, Ga, Dec. 1S.-Thc recep-
ton of President Mckinley and mem
bers of his Cabinet by the people of
Savannah yesterday more than equal
ed in hospitality and completeness of
arrangemnts any previous experiences
which have marked the presidential
trip in the South.
AT the banquet last night in the DE
Soto hotel, where the presidential party
is staying. President Mckinley, amid
frequent applause. addressed an audi
ence of over 200 persons.
In the course of his speech he said:
| "There is cause for congratulatiOn,
that, with the grave problem before us
growing out of the war with Spain, we
are free from any divisions at home.
"Our financial and revenue policies
cannot be changed for at least four
years, and whatever legislation may
be had effecting them during that peri
cd will be to improve and strengthen,
not destroy them. The public mind
| will therefore repose in reasonable Sc
curity, while business will proceed
without apprehension of serious and
sudden changes so disturbing to the
commercial world and so distracting to
the business men.
'The country is free to consider and
discuss new questions which are imme-
diately before us, unbiased by party or
political alliances. These new ques-
tions are to be thought out and
wrought out, not in spirit of par
tisanship. but in Il spirit of patriotism,
not for the temporary advantage to
one party or to the other but for the
lasting advantage of the country.
I'VE have entered upon new paths.
We are treading in an unexplored
field which will test our wisdom and
craftsmanship. The chief considera-
tion is one of duty: our actions must
be controlled by ii. No settlement is ad
missable which will not preserve our
honor and promote the best interests
of all concerned. With II united coun-
try and the gathered wisdom of all
the people. seeking only the right. in
spired only by high purposes. moved
only by duty and humanity. we cannot
err. We may be baffled or deferred,
and often discouraged. but final sue
cess In n cause which is altogether un-
selfish and humanitarian can only be
deferred, not prevented.
If, following the clear precepts of
duty, territory falls to us. and the wei
fare of an alien people who require
our guidance and protection. who will
shrink from the responsibility. grace
though it may be. Can we leave these
people. who. by the fortunes of war
and our own acts. are helpless and
without government. to chaos and an
archy, after we have destroyed the on
ly government they have had?
After destroying their government
1t is the duty of the American govern
ment to provide for them better one.
Shall we distrust ourselves. shall we
proclaim to the world our Inability to
give kindly government to oppressed
peoples. whose future by the victories
of war is contided to us? We may
wish it We're otherwise. but who will
question our duty now?
ut is not question of keeping the !,
islands of the east. but of leaving
them. Dewey and Merritt took them, |
brought Dewey Away without univcr-
sal condemnation at any time from the
first of May. the day of his brilliant
victory. which thrilled the world with
its boldness and hcroism? Was 1t
right to order Dewey to 90 to MANILA
and capture or destroy the Spanish
fleet and dispatch Merritt and his army
to reinforce him?
.If ii were duty to send them there
and duty required them to remain
there, it was their clear duty to anni-
hilate their fleet, take the city of Ma
Mia and destroy the Spanish sover-
eighty in the archipelago. Having
done all this in the line of duty. is
there any less duty to remain there
and give to the inhabitants protection
and also our guidance to IA better gov
ernment which will secure to them
peace and order and security in their
life and property and in the pursuit of
happiness? Are we unable to do this
Are we to sit down in our isolation and
recognize no obligation to struggling
people whose present conditions we
have contributed to make?
81 would rather have the confidence
of the poet Bryant. when he eX-
claimed:
"'Thou. my country, thou shall never
Seas and stormy air
Are the wide barrier of thy borders
where,
Among thy gallant SONS that guard
thee well,
Thou laugh at enemies. Who shal
then declare
| The date of thy deep founded strength
or tell
How happy in thy lap the sons OF mer
shall dwell?'
'NIy fellow citizens, whatever cove
nants duty has made for us in thu
year 1898, we must keep