The Meeker herald., 1898-12-24
MUST NOT RETREAT.
NOTABLE SPEECH BY M'klNLEY.
on,l,ne. Our Attitude Toward the Philip
plnes-says We Could Not Recall Dew
.y's Fleet After Its Victory.

savannah, Ga, 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
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
wears. and whatever legislation may
be had effectng them during that peri
od 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
the business men.
The country is free to consider and
discuss new questions which are imme-
diatcly before us, unbiased by party or
political alliances. These new ques-
tons are to be thought out and
wrought out, not in spirit of par
tisanship, but in a spirit Of patriotism,
not for the temporary advantage to
rt, tn, hn OF har I'm
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 it. No settlement is ad
missable Which will not preserve our
honor and promote the best interests
of all concerned. With a united coun-
try and the gathered wisdom of all
the people, seeking only the right, In
splred 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 cause which is altogether un-
selfish and humanitarian can only be
deferred, not prevented.
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 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
L., 1,
After destroying their government
it is the duty of the American govern
ment to provide for them n better one.
Shall we dlstrust 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 1t were otherwise, but who will
question our duty now?
at Is not a question of keeping the
islands of the east. but of leaving
them. Dewey and Merritt took them,
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
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 It We're duty TO send them there
and duty required them to remain
there, 1t was their clear duty to ami
hilate their fleet. take the city Of Ma
nila and destroy the Spanish sover-
nj IN,
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 aud 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?
II 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
shall dwellT
"My fellow citizens, whatever cove
uants duty has made for us in the
year 1898, we must keep"