The herald., 1898-12-18
GIVE A GLAD WELCOME TO THE
PRESIDENT
THE POLICY OF IMPERIALISM
Will Never Lack for Friends if Official
Speeches Can Influence the
People
Associated Press Special Wire

tion OF President Mckinley and members
OF his cabinet by the people of Savannah
has today more than equaled in hospitality
and completeness of arrangement any pre-
viors experiences which have marked the
presidential trip in the south. The party
arrived from Montgomery at II a. m, re-
viewed 10000 troops stationed around Sa-
vannah, took a trip Gown the Savannah riv-
er and was entertained this evening at a
grand banquet rendered by the chamber Of
commerce and association of citizens.
The enthusiasm of the citizens and the
10000 persons who, it is estimated came to
the city from the surrounding country to
greet the president, was fully equal to the
demonstrations which have distinguished
the trip in other cities.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
At the banquet tonight, in the De Soto
Hotel, where the presidential party is stay
ing, President Mckinley, amid frequent np-
plause, addressed an audience. 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 destroy them. The pub.
lie mind, therefore, reposes in reasonable
security, while business will proceed with
out apprehension Of serious and sudden
changes SO disturbing to the commercial
world and so distracting to the business man.
''The country is free to consider and dis
cuss new questions which are Immediately
before us, unbiased by party or political al
liances. These new questions are to- be
fought out and wrought out, not in spirit
of partisanship, but in spirit Of patriotism,
not for the temporary advantage to one
party or the other, but for the lasting ad.
vantage 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 consideration is one of duty; our
actions must be controlled by it. No settle
lnent is admissible which will not preserve
our honor and promote the best interests of
all concerned. With 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 humanity,
we cannot err. We may be bafflcd or de-
tered, and often discouraged, but final sue
cess in a cause which is altogether unselfsh
and humanitarian can only he deferred, not
prevented.
''If following the clear precepts of duty,
territory falls to us, and the welfare of an
alien people requires our guidance and pro-
lection when will we shrink from the re-
sponsibility, grave though it may be? Can
We leave those 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 distlust ourselves, shall we
proclaim to the world our inability to give
kindly greeting to oppressed peoples, whose
future, by the victories of war, is contided
to us? We may wish it were otherwise, but
who will question our duty now?
at is not question of keeping the islands
OF the east, but of leaving them. Dewey
and Merritt took tliem and the country in
stantly and universally appauded. Could
we have brought Dewey away without uni
versal condemnation at any time from the
lst of May, the day of his brilliant victory,
which thrilled the world with its bold
ness and heroism? Was it right to order
Dewey to go to Manila and capture or de-
stroy the Spanish fleet and dispatch Merritt
and his army to reinforce him! III it were
duty to send them there and duty required
them to remain there, it was their clear duty
to annihliate the fleet, take the city of
Manila and destroy the Spanish sovereignty
in the archipelago Having done all that i'm
the line of duty, is there any less duty to
remain there and give to the inhabitants pro-
lection and also our guidance to better gov
er1semnt, which will secure to them peace
and order and security in their life and
property and in the pursuit of happinessy
Are we unable to do this? Are we to sit
down in our isolation and recognize no obi
gaticn to struggling people, whose present
conditions we have contributed to make?
] 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,
we'll,
Thou, ,laughest at thine enemies Who shall
then declare
The date of thy deep-founded strength, or
tell
How HAP happy psys,n1g IN thy lap the sons of men
"My fellow citizens, whatever covenants
duty has made for us in the year 1898 we
must keep"
CAGES REMARKS
Secretary Gage followed the president, re-
plying to the toast OF Commerce. Secre-
tary Gage said;
''It is evident that if yesterday we were
insular, tomorrow we must be interna-
tional, and commerce is the agency Through
which our destiny is to be accomplished.
"a careful writer has declared: 1T may
almost be held that the hope Of CONNER
cial gain has done nearly as much for the
cause of truth as even the love of truth
ut is evident THAT with tho enormously
increased energy derived through machinery
and invention the production of highly
civilized state in many, if not most of its
articles of manufacture will ultimately ex-
coed the needs, if not the power to consume,
OF it's people. Capital, tending to increase
economy in distribution and exchange if
confined to geographical limits, will aggra.
vate the tendency toward local over -protluc-
tim. New agencies, like factories, mills and
railroads, will be created, and these will
itrcely strive to get a foothold in a market
already oveir-suppied. Under such CON
ctstsl 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 CT thrice the quantity of thines
our people can use, the shops where these
are made will have to close up or other
markets will have to be found where these