The state herald., 1898-12-23
MUST NOT RETREAT.
NOTABLE SPEECH BY M,klNLEy
Outlines Our Attitude Toward the Philip.
pines-says We Could Not Recall Dew.
sy's Fleet After It's Victory.

l
Savannah, Ca. Dec. 1S.-The recep.
tion of President Mckinley and mem
bers OF his Cabinet by the people of
Savannah yesterday more than equal
ed In hospitality and completeness Of
arrangements 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 dit liome.
Our financial and revenue policies
cannot be changed for at least four
years, and whatever legislation indy
be had effectlng them during that perl
I'd will be to improve and strengthen,
not destroy. them. The public mind
will therefore rcpOse In reasonable So
curlty, while business will proceed
without apprehension Of serious and
sudden changes so disturbing to the
commercial world diid SO distractiig to
the business mef.
"rhe country is free to consider and
discuss new questions which are imii1e-
diately before us, unbiased by party or
political alliances. These new dues
tions are TO be thought out and
wrought out, not in spirit of par
tisansiip. but In n 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
he controlled by II. No settlement is ad-
missable which will not preserve our
honor and promote the best interests
Of all concerned. With n 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 baifled or deferred,
and often discouraged. but final sue
cess in n cause which is altogether I'M
/ selfish and humanitarian can only be
deferred, not prevented.
IF. following the clear prccepts of
duty. territory falls TO us, and the well
fare of an alien people who require
our guidance and protection. who will
shrink from the responsibility. grace
though il 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
nrchy, after we have destroyed the on
ly government they have hndY
AFTER destroying their government
II 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 confided 10 usi We may
wish II were otherwise, but who will
question our duty nowi
ut is not n question Of keeping the
Islands OF the east. but OF leaving
them. Dewey and Merritt took them,
and the country instantly md univer-
sally applauded. Could we have
brought Dewey away without univer-
sal condemnation at any time from the
first of May. the day Of his brilliant
victory, which thrilled the world with
It's boldness and heroism? Was II
right TO order Dewey to go TO Manila
and capture or destroy the Spanish
feet and dispatch Merritt and his army
TO reinforce him?
III II We're duty TO send them there
and duty required them TO remain
there. II was their clear duty 10 ami
hilatc their fleet, take the city OF Ma
nIla and destroy the Spanish sover.
eighty In the archipelago. Having
done all this In the line Of duty. IL
there nny less duty io remain there
and give To the Inhabitants protection
and also our guidance TO n better gov
crnmcnt which will secure to them
peace AMI 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 aud
recognize no obligation to n struggling
people whose present conditions we
have contributed 10 makey
II would rather have the confidence
OF the poet Bryant, when he ex-
claimed:
"'Tfou. my country. thou shall never
fall.
Seas ana stormy air
Are the wide barrier Of thy borders
where.
Among thy gallant sous that guard
thee well.
Thou laugh nt enemies. Who shall
then declare
The date Of thy deep founded strength.
or tell
How happy In Thy lap the sons Of men
shall dwellT
My fellow citizens. whatever cove
nanis duty has made for us In the
year is.,s, we must keep"