Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-10-21

a medium sized crowd was collected
Tuesday night to hear Fairbanks.
Before the speaking began, the Ply
mouth band mounted the stage and
rendered several popular tunes, which
were applauded with much vigCr.
j. w. Parks made the Introductory
speech, after which Senator Fairbanks
then stepped to the front and greeted
the audience. 1t will not be difficult to
recognize in the following, at least,
part of what he said:
Two years ago we were plunged into
a campaign of great moment At that
business paralysis. The people re-
sponded to the cry of distress and with
unparalleled enthusiasm elevated Nc
Kinley to the office of president. He,
Mckinley, has since achieved a name
which ranks with Washington and Lin
coin. No sooner did he reach his place
in Washington than question arose
which religated the issues on which he
had been elected to the rear.
The possibility of war with Spain
became more probable every day. The
president Immediately took hold of the
question and said to Spain, who had
for time immemorialy treated Cuba
with unspeakable cruelty: "You can't
drive the Cubans into the slaughter pen
and then starve them to death under
| the shadow of the American flag"
Spain listened to the warning note.
BlancO, that merciless brute, was re-
called. At this time the democrats
cried, "Recognize the rights of the bel
legerent Cubans and Spain will give
in" A resolution with such an object
was &C ually forced before the senate.
Fortunately it stopped there. Had
that resolution been recognized it would
have meant what we said, "Our hands
are off; let other countries do what
they will" 1t would have given other
countries the right to search American
ships.
When, without warning, the majestic
battle ship Maine was blown up in the
harbor of Havana, from one end of the
country to the other vengeance was de-
manded During that trying period
how we'll that level.headed, calm man
sat in the presidents chair. Whilst the
country accused him of tardiness in
action, he was at that moment working
hardest. He was working night and
day buying munitions of war, prepar
ing harbors, etc. Congress soon paid
Mckinley the highest tribute ever paid
to president, by voting him S50,OOO,-
600 left to his discretion in fixing har
bors. This was voted without single
desenter.
Soon after followed the resolution of
war. Our great ships were sent across
the waters on their mission of destruc-
ton. Before the people realized 1t, one
of the most stupendous naval achiev-
ments of history had been accomplished.
The battle of Manila had been fought
and SPANS ships lay beneath the har-
Dor. We changed the map of the world
in a few months. Yesterday the
morning sun greeted the stars and
stripes raised above Porto Rico and the
dying sun set upon the detestible yellow
rag of Spain forever.
. After the war the natural necessity
arose for a means of war revenue. Re-
publicans said we will issue low interest
bearing bonds. Our democratic friends
were opposed to bonds. They propos-
ed greenbacks. They said greenbacks
served our country in '61, why will it
not serve in 9S? Conditions have
changed and the democrats are not
close enough students to allow for this.
Their greenbacks were not the kind is
sued in 81 anyway. Abraham Lincoln
, said that in order to make greenbacks
good, they must be made convertible
for silver and gold. Senator Fairbanks
felt that as all those desiring green
; backs were free silver men it was their
purpose in issuing them to strike
down the gold standard. Such would
have been the worst calamity imsgin-
able. Added to the horror of war, the
loss of a sound financial system,
We have waged war down to the
. present moment and the peace commits
| sioners are now in Paris. Some say
"why does Mckinley organize a peace
l commission? He has the power why
, does he not force Spain to accept a
: treaty?" True, he has the power, but
what country is the most despisedp 1t
is the one that has power and uses it