The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18

hospitality ana completeness OF ar
rangement any previous experiences
which have marked the presidential
trip i'm the South. The enthusiasm of
the citizens and the 10000 persons who.
IL is estimated came to the city from
the surrounding country to greet the
president, was fully equal to the dem
onstrations which have distinguished
the trip I'm other cities.
At the banquet to-day in the De Soto
hotel, where the presidential party is
staying, President Mckinley amid fire.
quent applause, addressed an audience
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 can
not 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 de-
stroy them. The public mind. there
fore, reposes in reasonable security.
while business will proceed without ap-
prehension of serious and sudden
changes so disturbing 10 the CONNER
cial world and 80 distracting to the
business men.
THE country is free to consider and
discuss new questions which are imme-
diately before us, unbiased by party
or political alliances. These new ques-
tions are to be thought out and
wrought out. not in a spirit of parti-
sanship, but in a spirit of patriotism,
not for the temporary advantage to one
party or to the other. but for the last
ing advantage of the country.
I'VE have started upon new paths.
We are treading in an unexplored field.
which will test our wisdom and states
| manship. The chief consideration is
| one of duty: our actions must be con-
trolled by it. No settlement is admis-
| sfble 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.
seeking only the right. inspired only
by high purposes, moved only by duty
and humanity, we cannot err. We may
be bafiied or deferred and often dis
couraged, but final success, i'm a cause
which Is altogether unselfish and nu-
manitarian, can only be deferred, not
| prevented.
A Question of Duty.
IF, following the clear precepts of
| duty, territory falls TO us, and the wei
fare of an alien people requires our
guidance and protection, who will
shrink from the responsibility. grave
Nhoubh II Dt. w III we ltdNt
those people, who by the fortunes of
war and our own acts are helpless and
In chaos and anarchy, after we have
| destroyed the only government they
have had? After destroying their gov
ernment il is the duty of the American
government to provide for them a bet
| ter one. Shall we distrust ourselves,
! shall we proclaim to the world our in
| ability to give kindly government to
| oppressed peoples, whose future. by
victories of war. is conflded to us? We
may wish IL otherwise. but who will
| question our duty now?
1t is not a question of keeping The
| islands of the east, but of leaving them
Dewey and Merritt took them and the
| country instantly and universally ap-
! plauded. Could we have brought Dewey
| away without universal condemnation
| at any time from the first of May. tire
| day of his brilliant victory, which thrill
| ed the world with its boldness and he
roism, all might have been different.
Was il right to order Dewey to go 20
| Manila to capture or destroy the Span
ish fleet and dispatch Merritt and his
| army to reinforce him? If IL were duty
to send them there, and duty required
| them to remain there. il was their clear
| duty to annihilate the fleet. take the
| city of Manila and destroy the Spanish
| sovereignty in the archipelago. Having
| done all that is 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 and in the pursuit of
| happiness? Are we unable to do this
| Are we to sit down in our isolation ard
4 recognize no Obligation to a struggling
| people. whose present conditions
txfl tal 40 L.
i would rather have the confidence Cf
| the poet Bryant, when he exclaimed:
Thou, my country, thou shall never
Seas and stormy air.
Are the wide bower of thy border
where,
Among thy gallant sons that guide thee
well.
Thou laugh at enemies. Who shall then
| declare
The date of thy deep founded strength.
How happy in thy lap the sons of men
shall dwell?'
MY fellow citizens. whatever cove
| nants duty has made for US in the year
| 1898. we must keep"
Secretary Gage followed the presi-
dent. replying to the toast of Com
merce."
| Secretary Gage
Secretary OF the Treasury Lyman j.
| Gage said:
1T is evident that II yesterday we
| were insular. tomorrow we must be
| International. and commerce is the
agency through which our destiny is
4 to be accomplished.
"A careful writer has declared, 1t
may almost be held that the hope of
commercial gain has done nearly as
much for the cause Of truth as even
| the love OF truth II Is evident that.
| with the enormous increased energy de-
rived through machinery and invention.