The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
THE BANQUET.
Speeches by President Mckinley and
Members of HIS Cabinet.

the presidential party is staying, President
McANlnley amid frequent applause, ad-
dressed his audience, consisting of over two
hundred persons, as follows:
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 years and whatever legislation
may be had affecting them during that
period will be to improve and strengthen,
not destroy them. The public mind can,
therefore, repose in reasonable security,
while business will proceed without appre-
hension of serious and sudden changes so
disturbing to the commercial world and so
distracting to the business men. All of
which is fortunate for the country, for every
interest and every section of the country.
Even those who desire other and different
policies prefer permanence to constant
change, or what is almost as hurtful, the
fear of change. There are happily now no
domestic differences to check the progress
and prosperity of the country which our
peaceful relations with the whole world will
encourage and strengthen.
This is fortunate, too, In another sense.
Tt leaves the country free to consider and
discuss new questions which are immedi-
ately before us, unbiased by party past
political alliances. These new questions are
to be thought out and wrought out not in
spirit of partisanship, but in a spirit of pa
triotism, not for the temporary advantage
of one party or the other but for the last
ing advantage of the country. Neither
prejudice nor passion, nor previous condi-
tion can embarrass the free action and calm
judgment of the citizen.
I'VE have entered upon new paths. We
are treading in an unexplored field which
will test our wisdom and craftsmanship The
chief consideration is one of duty; our ac-
tions must be controlled by it. No settle
ment is admissible which will not preserve
our honor and promote the best interests of
all concerned. With a united country and
the gathered wisdom of all the people, seek
ing only the right, inspired only by high
purposes, moved only by duty and human
ity, we cannot err We may be baffied or
deferred and often discouraged, but final sue
cess in a cause which is altogether unset
ish and humanitarian can only be deferred,
not prevented.
'If following the clear precepts OF duty,
territory falls to us, and the welfare of an
alien people require our guidance and pro-
lection, who will shrink from the RESPONSE
bility grave though 1t may be2 Can we
leave these people who, by the fortunes of
war and our own acts, are helpless and
without government to chaos and anarchy,
after we have destroyed the only govern
ment they have had. After destroying their
government it is the duty of the American
government to provide for them a 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, is
conhded to us? We may wish it were 9TH
erwise but who will question our duty now?
ut is not a question of keeping the islands
of the East, but of leaving them Dewey
and Merritt took them and the country in
stantly and universally applauded. Could
we have brought Dewey away without uni
versal condemnation at any time from the
1st of May, the day of his brilliant victory,
which thrilled the world with its boldness
and heroism? Was it 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 were duty to
send them there, and duty required them to
remain there. it was their clear duty to an
nihilate the fleet, take the city of Manila
and destroy the Spanish sovereignty in the
line of duty is there any less duty to re-
main there and give to the inhabitants pro-
lection and also our guidance to a better
government which will secure to them
peace, and order, and security in their life
and property and in the pursuit of happi-
ness? Are we unable to do this? Are we to
sit down in our isolation and recognize no
obligation to a struggling people whose
Uya haW tod fn
make? l would rather have the confidence
of the Poet Bryant, when he exclaimed:
Thou, my country, thou shalt never fall
Seas and stormy air
Are the wide barriers of thy border where
Among thy gallant sons that guard thee
well,
Thou laugh'st at enemies. Who shall then
declare
The date of thy deep-founded strength, or
How happy in thy lap the sons of men shall
dwell?
MY fellow-citzens, whatever covenants
duty has made for us in the year 1895. we
must keep
MR.. GAGE ON COMMERCE"
Secretary Gage followed the President, re-
plying to the toast of Commerce. He said
in part:
1T is evident that with the enormous in
creased energy derived through machinery
and invention, the production of a highly
civilized state in many, if not most of it's
articles of manufacture, will ultimately ex-
ceed the needs, If not the power to consume.
of its people Capital, pending to increase
through economics in distribution and ex-
change, If confined to geographical limits,
will aggregate the tendency toward local
overproduction. New agencies, like factories,
mills and railroads, will be created and these
will fierceIy strive 10 get Il foothold in a
market already oversuppled. Under such
congested conditions profits must diminish
wages fall and capital go without reward
The only relief is widening out of what
in another sense has been called the sphere
of influence.
when our factories shall turn out twice
or thrice the quantity of things our people
can use. the shops where these are made
will have TO close up or other markets will
have to be found where they may be ex-
changed for things that can be used by us.
If eight millions of people in southern seas,
so rude as not TO use bedsteads. or so poor
as not to be able 10 buy them, can by the
stimulating influence of civilization be
brought TO desire and acquire them, by so
much our problem is solved. 1t IS the func-
Continued ON sixth Page1