The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-13
President'sAd
dress on
RESULTS OF WAR.
A Great Throng was Pres
ent to Hear Him.

Club, where he greeted the members
of his party and other distinguished
callers. 1t was after 10 O'Clock when
the presidential party, escorted by Pres
ident Wattles and members of the en-
tertainment committee in carriages,
started for the exposition grounds.
They were headed by a platoon Of
mounted police, while the president and
party were escorted by the board of
governors of the Ak-Sar-B Ben, mounted
and dressed in their regalia. The party
proceeded directly to the grand plaza
on the bluff tract of the exposition.
where, in the music pavilion, the for
NAL exeI cises of the day occurred.
President Mckinley probably never
received more enthusiastic greeting
than that which awaited him at the ex-
position grounds. BY far the greatest
crowd in the big western shows his
tory-so large a crowd that its num-
bers are almost impossible to estimate
-thronged about the huge platform
from which the president made his ad-
dress. Hardly one sentence was spoken
by him which did not evoke from the
people cheer upon cheer. After Presi
tinguished guest of the exposition, 1t
was full five minutes before the subsi-
dence of the applause permitted the
president to begin speaking.
President McI<inley's address was as
follows:
Gentlemen of the trans Mississippi
exposition and fellow citizens: 1t is
with great pleasure that l meet once
more the people OF Omaha, whose
~
unfamiliar to me, and whose warm
hearts have before touched and moved
me.
One of the great laws Of life is pro-
greSs, and nowhere have the principles
of this law been so strikingly illus
trated as in the United States. A cen
fury and d decade Of our national life
have turned doubt into conviction;
changed experiment into demonstra-
ton; revolutionized old methods and
won new triumphs which have chal-
lenged the attention of the world.
Hitherto in peace and war, with ad
ditions to our territory and slight
changes in our laws, we have steadily
enforced the spirit of the constitution
secured to US by the noble self-sacra-
flee and far-seeing sagacity of our an
cestors. We have avoided the tempta-
lions Of conquest in the spirit of gain.
With an increasing love for our institu-
tons and an abiding faith in their sta
bility, we have made the triumphs of
our system of government in the pro-
gress and prosperity of our people an
inspiration to the whole human race.
Confronted at this moment by new and
grave problems, we must recognize that
their solution will effect, not ourselves
alone, but others of the family of ma
tons
In this age of frequent interchange
and mutual dependency, we cannot
shirk our international responsibilities
if we would they must be met with
courage and wisdom, and we must fol-
low duty, even If desire opposes.
1t has been said by some one that
the normal condition of nations is war.
That is not true of the United States.
We never enter upon war until every
effort for peace without it has been ex-
hausted. Ours has never been a mill
tary government.
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 unfurlsd; the
best and bravest from every section
responded; a mighty army was enroll
ed the north and south Wed with each
other in patriotic devotion; science was
invoked to furnish it's most effective
weapons; factories were rushed to sup
ply equipments; the youth.and the vet
eran Joined in freely offering their SER
vices to the country; volunteers and
regulars and all the people rallied to
the support of the republic
There was no break in the line; no
halt in the march; no fear in the
heart; no resistance to the patriotic
impulse at home; no successful resist
ance to the patriotic spirit of the
troops fighting in distance waters or
on a foreign shore. What a wonder
full experience it has been from the
standpoint of patriotism and achieve
mentl
The storm broke so suddenly that 1t
was here almost before we realized Il.
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 peace footing. We
had only 10000 available troops when
the war was declared, but the account
which officers and men gave of them
selves on the battle1elds has never
been surpassed. The manhood was
there and everywhere. American pa
triotism was there, and its resources
were limitless. The%courageous and in
Vincible spirit of the people proved glo-
rious. and those who little more than
third of a century ago were divided
and at war with each other. were again
united under the holy standard of lib-
erty. Patriotism banishcd party feel
ings; so millions Of dollars for the ma
tionai defense was appropriated with
out debate or division, as a matter OF
course, and as only a mere indication
OF our mighty reserve power.
But if this is true of the beginning
Of the war, what shall we say of it now,
with hostilities suspended and peace
near at hand, as we fervently hope?
Matchless in it's results Unequaled in
its completeness and the quick success
sion with which victory followed victo-
ry; attained earlier than it was believed
to be possible; so comprehensive in its
sweep that every thoughtful man feels
the weight of responsibility which has
been so suddenly thrust upon us. And
above all and beyond ali the valor of
the American army and the bravery of
the American navy and the majesty of
the American name stand forth in un-
sulled glory. while the humanity of our
conduct have given to war, always hor-
rible, touches of noble generosity,
Christian sympathy and charity, and
examples of human grandeur which
can never be lost to mankind. Passion
and bitterness formed no part of our
impelling motive, and it is gratifying
to feel that humanity .triumphed at
every step OF the wars progress.
The heroes of Manila and Santiago
and Porto Rico have made immortal
history They are thy successors
and descendants of Washington and
Greene; of Paul Jones, Decatur and
Hull. and of Grant, sherman, Sheridan
and Logan; of Farragut, Porter and
Gushing, and of Lee, Jackson and
Longstreet, whose names stand on the
hnrnr roll Of the natinntS grnnt men