Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-10-19
CHEER FOR M'KINLEY
THOUSANDS HEAR THE PRESl-
DENT AT OMAHA.
Vast Crowd Applauds the Addres. eff
the Nations Chief Executive at the
Exposition-Talks of the War ard
Its Results.

Its Results.
President Mckinley talked 10 as many
people as could get within sight Of him on
the plaza at the Omaha exposition
grounds, and on the avenues or viaducts
leading TO the different departments of the
fair People who could have no hope of
hearing even the sound of his voice crowd
ed upon one another al vantage points far
from the platform TO get look at him and
remained there throughout his address.
Secretary Gage and Postmaster General
Smith had joined the presidential party
and occupied seats on the platform, as did
Gen. Miles and his staff and the others Of
the military and diplomatic party whose
train followed the Presidents TO Omaha.
The President in his speech, after somR
words applying 10 the exposition and tie
people of the transmississippi States, dealt
almost wholly upon the war and the new
problems entailed upon the country as its
result
In this age OF frequent Interchange and
mutual dependency we cannot shirk our
international responsibilities II we would,
the President said. They must be met
with courage and wisdom. And there was
good solid, not perfunctory, cheering when
he added: We must follow duty even IL
desire opposes us, No deHberation can be
too mature or selfcontrol too constant In
this solemn hour of our history. We must
avoid the temptation of undue aggression.
and aim to secure only such results as Will
promote our own and the general good
1t has been said by some one that the nor
NAL condition OF nations Is war. That Is
not true of the United States. We never
enter upon war until every effort for peace
without 1t has been exhausted. Ours has
never been military government Peace,
with whose blessings we have been SO sim
gularly favored, is the national desire and
the goal Of every American aspiration.
On the 25th of April, for the first time for
more than a generation, the United States
sounded the call to arms, The banners of
war were unfurled the best and bravest
from every section responded; a mighty
army was enrolled the north and the south
We'd with each other In patriotic de- otion;
science was invoked TO furnish its most ef-
fectiye weapons; factories were rushed to-
supply equipment, the youth and the vet
eran Joined in freely offering their services
What wonderful experience 1t has been
from the standpoint of patriotism and
achievement The storm broke so suddenly
that It was here almost before we realized
It. Our navy was too small, though force
full with Its modern equipment and most
fortunate In its trained officers and sailors.
Our army had years ago been reduced to q
peace footing. We had only 1900 aVaila-
BILE troops when the war was declared, but
the account which officers and men gave of
! themselves on the battlefield has never been
surpassed. The manhood was there and
| everywhere. American patriotism was there
| and It's resources were Hmitless. The cour-
ageous and invincihle spirit of the people
| proved glorious, and those who little more
| than third OF century ago were divided
| and at war with each other were again uni
| ted under the holy standard of liberty. Pat
rotism banished party feeling. Fifty mil
| lions of dollars for the national defense was
| appropriated without debate or division, as
| a matter of course and as only mere ind-
cation of our mighty reserve power.
But II this Is true of the beginning of the
| war what shall we say of IL now, with hos
| ttllties suspended and peace near at hand,
| as we fervently hope2 Matchless in its re-
| suits, unequaled In It's completeness and the
quick succession with which victory fol-
| lowed victory, attained earlier than 1t was
| believed to be possible, so comprehensive in
| It's sweep that every thoughtful man feels
| the weight Of responsibility which has been
| so suddenly thrust upon us, And above all
| and beyond all the yalor Of the American
| army and the bravery of the American
| navy and the majesty of the American
name stand forth In unsullied glory, while
| the humanity of our purposes and the mag
nanimity of our conduct have given TO war;
| always horrible, touches of noble generosity
| Christian sympathy and charity and exam
! Piles Of human grandeur which can never
| be lost to manliCd. Passion and bitterness
/, formed no part @ our mpelling motive, and
| 1t Is gratifying 10 feel that humanity trl-
umphed at every step of the wars progress.
The heroes of Manila ana Santiago and
| lDrto Rico have made immortal history.
| They are worthy successors and descend
| ants of Washington and Greene; o. Paul
| Jones, Decatur and Hull, and of Grant,
| Sherman, Sheridan and Logan; Of Farragut,
| Porter and Gushing, and of Lee, Jackson
| and Longstreet.
New names stand out on the honor roll Of
| the nations great men, and with them un-
named stand the heroes OF the trenches and
| the forecastle, inyincible In battle and un~
| complaining in death. The Intelligent,
| loyal, lndomltable soldier and sailor and
marine, regular and volunteer are efntled
| to equal praise as having done their Whole
| duty, whether at home or under the bap-
| tism Of foreign fire.
Who will dim the splendor OF their
| achievements? Who win withhold from
| them their well earned dIstinction7 Who
will lntFude detractiou at this time to be-
little the manly spirit of the American
| youth and impair the usefulness of the
American nayy2 Who will embarrass the
| Government by sowing seeds OF dssatIsfac-
tion among the brave men who stand ready
to serve and die. If need be, for their coun-
try? Who will darken the councils of the
republic In this hour requiring the united
wisdom Of all? Shall we deny to ourselves
what the rest of the world freely and so
Justly acc0rds 10 usI The men who en-
dured, In the short but decisive struggle,
It's burdships. Its prlvations, whether In the
field or camp. on ship or In the siege, aud
planned and achieved its victories, will new
er tolerate impeachment, either direct or In
direct, of those who won a peace whose
great gain 10 civilization Is yet unknown
and unwSitten.
The faith of Christian nation recognizes
the hand OF Almighty God In the ordeal
through which we have passed. Divine
favor seemed manifest everywhere. In fight
ing for humanity's sake we have been sig
nally blessed. We did not seek war. To
avoid It II this could be done In Justice
and honor TO the rights Of our neighbors and
ourselves, was our constant prayer. The
war was no mere invited by us than are
the questions which are laid at our door by
its results. Now, as then, we will do our
duty. The problems will not be solved In
a day. Patience will be required-patience
bined with sincerity of purpose and un-
, -..ken resolution to do right, seeking only
the highest good Of the nation and recOgniz-
ing no other obligation, pursuing no other
path but that Of duty.
Right action follows right purpose We
may not at all times be able to divine the
future; the way may not always seem clear.
But If our aims are nigh and unselash,
somehow and In some way the right end
will be reached. The genius Of the nation,
Its freedom, It's wisdom, fits humanity, it's
courage, its justice, favored by Divine Prov
idence, will make It equal to every task and
the master OF every emergency.