Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-29
M'KINLEY'S ATLANTA SPEECH

cannot withhold from this people my pro
found thanks for their hearty reception ana
the good will which they have shown me
everywhere and in every way since nave
been their guest / thank them for the OPP.
portunity which this occasion gives me OF
meeting and greeting them ana for the
pleasure 1t affords me to participate Win
them in honoring the army and the navy
to whose achievements we are indebted for
one of the most brilliant chapters or Amer
lean history.
Other narts of the country have had their
public Thanksgiving and jubilees in honor Oh
historic events of the past year, but no
where has there been greater rejoicing than
among the people here, the gathered repre-
sentatiyes CT the South. l congratulate
them upon their accurate observation OF
events which enabled them to fix date
which insured them the privilege OF being
the first to celebrate the signing or the
treaty of peace by the American and Span
ish commissioners. Under hostile hre on a
foreign SOIL fighting in common cause, the
memory of old dsagreements has faded into
history. From camp and campaign there
comes the magic healing which mas closeu
ancient wounds and effaced their scars. For
this result every American patriot Will Tor
ever rejoice. 1t is no small indemnity for
the cost of war
This Government has proved itself irwin
chile in the recent war and out of 1t has
come nation which will remain indivislDle
forevermore. No worthier contributions
have been made in patriotism and In men
than by the people of these Southern States
When at last the opportunity came they
were eager to meet it, and with promptness
responded to the call of the country. In
trusted with the able leadership of men dear
to them who had marched with their faith
ers, under another flag, now fighting under
the old flag again, they nave glofiously
helped to defend It's spotless folds and added
new luster to its shining stars That flag
has been planted in two hemispheres, and
there it remains, the symbol of liberty and
law, of progress and peace. Who Will with
draw from the people over whom it floats its
protecting folds? Who will haul 1t down?
The victory we celebrate is not that of
ruler, President or a Congress. but of the
people. The army, whose valor we admire;
the navy. whose achievements we applaud,
were not assembled by draft or CONSUMPTION,
but from voluntary enlistment. The heroes
came from civil as well as military life.
Trained aud unframed soldiers wrought our
triumphS
The peace we have won is not a selfish
truce of arms, but one whose conditions
presage good to humanity. The domains
secured under the treaty yet to be acted
upon by the Senate came TO us, not as the
result of a crusade of conquest, but as the
reward of temperate, faithful and fearless
response to the call of conscience, which
could not be disregarded by llberty-loylng
and Christian people
We have so borne ourselves in the conflict
and in our intercourse with the powers of
the world as TO escape complaint of compl-
cation, and give universal confidence of our
high purpose and unselfsh sacrifices for
struggling peoples.
The task is not fulfilled. Indeed, it is only
Just begun. The most serious work Is still
before us, and every energy of heart and
mind must be bent and the impulses of par
tisanship subordinated to its faithful eXecu-
ton. This is the time for earnest, not faint
hearts.
New occasions teach new duties. To this
nation and to every nation there comes
formative periods in its life and history.
New conditions can be met only by new
methods. Meeting these conditions hopeful
ly and facing them brayely and wisely is to
be the mightiest test of American virtue
and capacity Without abandoning past linn
itations traditions and principles, but by
meeting present opportunities and obltga-
lions. we shall show ourselves worthy of
the great trust which civilization has i'm
posed upon us.
At Bunker Hill liberty was at stake; at
Gettysburg the Union was the issue; before
Manila and Santiago our armies fought, not
for gain or revenge, but for human rights.
They contended for the freedom of the OPP
pressed, for whose welfare the United States
has never failed to lend a helping hand to
establish and uphold. and, believe, never
will. The glOries of the war cannot be
dimmed, but the result will. be incomplete
and unworthy OF us unless supplemented
by ci~il victories, harder possibly to win, In