The Elbert County tribune., 1898-12-22
MUST NOT RETREAT.
NOTABLE SPEECH BY M'klHLEy.
ousl,nss oar .Ass,suds Toward The rnu,p-
pinss-s.ys We Could Not Recan Dew
eye Fleet After Its Victory.

ptues-A1ys We Goutd Not Becnn Dew
eye Fleet After rss Victory.
| Savannah, Ca. Dec. 16.--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
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 300 persons.
In the course Of his speech he said.
There Is cause for congratulation,
that. with the grave problem before us
growing ont OF the war with Spain, We
are free from any divisions nt home.
"Our financial and revenue policies
cannot be changed for at lenst -four
years, and whatever legislation mny
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 se
curIty. while business viii proceed
without apprehension OF serious nnd
sudden changes 20 disturbing to the
commercial world and SO distracting 10
the business men.
f'The country IL free TO consider and
discuss new questions which nre Imme-
diateIy before MS, unbinscd 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 n spirit OF patriotism,
not for the temporary advantage 10
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 viii test our wisdom and
stntcsmnnship. The chief considera.
tlon Is one OF duty; our actions must
be controlled by IT, No settlement Is nd.
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 baffled or deferred.
and often discouraged, but final sue
cess In a cause which ls altogether nn-
selfish and humanitarian can only be
deferred. not prevented.
''1f. following the clear precepts OF
duty, territory falls to us, and the wei
fare of an allen people who require
our guidance and protection, who will
shrink from the responsibility. grace
though II may he. Can we leave these
people. who. by the fortunes of war
and our own acts, are helpless md
without government. to chaos and an
archy. after we have destroyed the on
ly government they have had?
''Aftcr destroying their government
1t is the duty OF the American govern
meDt TO provide for them n 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 IL confided to usf We may
wish It were otherwise. but who will
question our duty now?
1T is not a question OF keeping the
islands OF the east, but OF leaving
them. Dewey and Merritt took them.
and the country instantly and univer-
sally applauded. Could we have
brought Dewey away without univer-
sal condemnation nj any time from the
first of May. the day. of his brilliant
victory. which thrilled the world with
Its boldness and heroism? Was 1t
right to order Dewey to go to Manila
and capture or destroy the Spanish
feet and dispatch Merritt and his army
to reinforce him?
.If II were duty to send them there
and duty required them to remain
there. II wns their cIenr duty to ami
hilate their feet. take the city OF Ma
nlla 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 a 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 fhis !
Are we to sit down In our isolation and
recognize no obligation to a 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
fall.
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 shall
then declare
The date of thy deep founded strength,
or tell
How happy in thy lap the sons of men
shnll dwellT
"My fellow citizens. whatever cove
nnnts duty has made for us in the
year 1898, we must keep"