Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-12-28
M'KINLEY's ATLANTA SPEECH

cannot withhold from this people my pro,
found thanks for their hearty reception and
the good will which they have shown me
everywhere and In every way since | have
bear their guest. l thank them for the op-
portunity which this occasion gives me OF
meeting and greeting them ana tor 1t the
pleasure 1t affords me to participate with
them in honoring the army and he navy
to whose achievements we are Indebted for
one of the most brilliant chapters of Amer
lean history.
Other parts of the country have had their
public thanksgiving and jubilees In honor or
historic events of the past year, Dut no
where has there been greater rejoicing than
among the people here, the gathered repre-
So .stlves Of the South l congratulate
them upon their accurate observation OF
events which enabled them to fix a date
which insured them the privilege of being
the first to celebrate the signing OF the
treaty Of peace by the American and Span
ish commissioners. Under hostile fire on
foreign soil, fighting In a common cause, the
memory of old dlsagreements has faded into
history From camp and campaign there
comes the magic healing which has closed
ancient wounds and effaced their scars. FOR
this result every American patriot VIII Tor
ever rejoice. 1t is no small indemnity TOT
the cost of war.
This Government has proved itself invin-
chile In the recent wa" and out of 1t has
come nation which will remain indivisible
foreyermore. No wOrthler contributions
have been made In patriotism and In men
than by the people of these Southern States
When at last the opportunity came they
were eager to meet 1t, and with promptness
responded to the call of the country. In
trusted with the able leadership OF men dear
to them, who had marched with their fath-
ers, under another flag. now fighting under
the old flag again, they have glorlously
helped to defend its spotless folds and added
new luster to its shining stars. That nag
has been planted in two hemlspheres, ana
there 1t remains, the symbol of liberty and
law, OF progress and peace. Who will with
draw from the people over whom 1t floats its
protecting folds? Who will haul 1t down?
The victory we celebrate Is not that Of
ruler q President or a Congress, but of the
people. The army, whose valor we admire;
the navy, whose achievements we applaud,
were not assembled by draft or conscrlption,
but from voluntary enlistment. The heroes
came from ciyA as we'll as military life.
Trained and unframed soldiers wrought our
triumphs.
The peace we have won is not a selfish
trnce of arms, but one whose conditions
presage good TO humanity The domains
secured under the treaty yet 10 be acted
upon by the Senate came to us, not as the
result of a crusade of conquest. but as the
reward of temperate, faithful and fearless
response to the call of conscience, which
could not be disregarded by llberty-loving
and Christian people.
We have so borne ourselves In the conflict
and In our intercourse with the powers of
the world as TO escape complaint of compli-
cation. and give universal confidence of our
high purpose and unset fish sacrifices for
struggling peoples
The task is not fulfilled. Indeed. 1t is only
lust begun. The most serious work Is still
before u.s. and every energy of heart and
mind must be bent and the impulses Of par
tjsanship subordinated to Its faithful execu-
tion This Is the time for earnest, not faint
hearts.
New occasions teach new duties. To this
nation and to every nation there comes
formative periods in Its life and history.
New conditions can he met only by new
methods Meeting these conditions hopeful
ly and facing them braye!y and wisely Is to
be the mightiest test of american virtue
and capacity. without abandoning past linn
itations. traditions and principles. but By
meeting present opportunities and obliga |
tions, we shall show ourselves worthy Of
the great trust which civilization has i'm |
posed upon US.
At Bunker Hill liberty was at stake: at |
Gettysburg the Union was the issue; before |
Manila and Santiago our armies fought, not |
for gain or revenge, but for human rights |
They contended for the freedom Of the OPP |
pressed, for whose welfare the United States |
has never failed to lend helping hand to |
establish and uphold, and, believe, never |
will. The glories of the war cannot be |
dmmed, but the result will be incomplete |
and unworthy OF us unless supplemented !
b. civil victories, harder possibly - win, in |
Aeir way no less Indispensable.
We will have our difficulties and our en- |
barrassments. They follow all victories and |
accompany all great responsibilities. They |
are inseparable from every great movement |
or reform. But American capacity has tri |
umphed over all in the past. Doubts have In |
the end vanished. Apparent dangers have |
been averted or avoided and our own his |
tory shows that progress has come 80 nat |
urally and steadily on the heels OF new and |
grave responsibilities that as we look back |
upon the acquisitions Of territory by our /
fathers we are filed with wonder that any |
doubt could have existed or any appre |
hension could have been felt OF the wisdom !
of their action or their capacity TO grapple |
with the then untried and mighty problems |
The republic Is to-day larger. stronger and |
better prepared than ever before for wise /
and profitable developments in new diree- !
tions and among new lines. Even II the |
minds of some OF our Own people are still |
disturbed by perplexing and anxious doubts |
in which all of US have shared and still |
share, the genius Of American civilization |
viii, believe, be found both original and |
creatlvS and capable OF subscribing all the |
great interests which shall be con6ded to |
our keeping.
Forever In the right, following the best /
impulses and clinging TO high purposes, |
using property and within right limits our /
power and opportunities, honorable reward |
must inevitably follow. The outcome can |
not be In doubt
We could have avoided all the difficulties |
that lie across the pathway of the nation II /
few months ago we had eoldly ignored the /
piteous appeals Of the starving and op- /
pressed inhabitants Of Cuba. IL we had |
blinded ourselves 10 the conditions so near |
fering neighbors, the issue OF territorial ex- |