The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-10-28
PRESIDENTS GREAT SPEECH

President MChlnltN speech on
October 18th At the Peace Jubilee ban
Quet in Chicago, may take rank with
the immortal speech of President Lin
coin at Gettysburgh.
II Is the speech Of man, burdened
with vast responsibilities. without any
unholy ambition, and with the wisest
and profoundest understanding that he
Is not the leader of the people, but their
agent and friend. lie speaks as Lin
colp spoke, with his finger on the
pulse Of the people" because he real
ICES that the President Is only one of
them, and must inevitably follow their
sentiments and opinions. lie tells the
people that war has put upon them
grave responsibilities. He shows none
OF the lingo feeling; that these grave
responsibilities are about the same as
those which attend the conducting of
a chicken ranch. lie declares that
there Is no occasion for boosting or
VAIN Qualification" lie sees that the
nauon has come to the parting Of the
ways, and as II moves of on the great
wilderness OF expansion, 1t must meet
the perils and surprises OF the un
known.
Regarding the war, his expressions
do not indicate his views in detail, as
II would be ineXpedient to do so, while
the Peace Commissioners are in con
sultation. But he again repeats the
opinion upon which he advocated war
with Spain. He says:
I'VE are bound in conscience to keep
and perform the covenants which the
war has sacredly sealed with man
kind Accepting war for humanity's
sake, We must accept all obligations
which the war in duty and honor i'm
poses upon us"
These are solemn and earnest words.
Standing, as Captain of the Ship OF
State, he guides 1t with his eye fixed
and "lidless," upon the Pole star Of a
War for Humanity, and though the
ringing thunder bolts of his warships
stir up measureless eXhilarations, and
the crew, wild with victory, shout TO
him, standing on the bridge, TO alter
her course, he calmly points to the
Pole star, and earnestly warns the peo-
pie that
The splendid victories We have
achieved would be our eternal shame
and not our everlasting glory II they
led to the weakening of our original
lofty purpose or to the desertion of the
immortal principles upon which the
National Government was founded"
He Is conscious that some OF the
crew o. the great Ship, intoxicated
with the "swipes" of yellow Journal
SIN, are calling for the squaring OF the
yards, and the running into unknown
seas, under the free wind of eXpan-
sion.
He repudlates what he calls, the
craftsmanship which will command the
applause of the hour" He believes
Territorial expansion Is not alone and
always necessary to national advance
ment," but he firmly believes that I'VE
cannot escape the obligations of vic
tory" The results of the war could
not be foreseen. Some OF its conse-
quences may not be to our liking" he
says, and above all he eXhorts the ma
lion to act from high sense of duty.
This language from the lips of the
IChief Executive OF victorious nation,
has no parallel in history. Congress
may not accord with the President, the
people may move on different lines,
But for himself, made by the ConstI-
tuition an adviser OF the people, though
not their leader. he has assumed to tell
all nations, that the policy Of the
United States will be, II he can shape
ii, not that of the man behind the
guns" but OF wisdom, truth and right
eousness. ...