Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-10-19
PRESIDENT WILLIAM McKINLEY.

tiCned by the congress Of the United
States, and as long as that sovereignty
is disputed, so long will we continue
hostilities, until our authority is undis-
puted in every part of that archipela-
go. Great applause.) It is said that
we could have peace if we would give
them independence and a government
of their own under thir own sovereign
ty. It is said that if the president
would do this we would have peace.
The president has no power, even if he
were disposed, which he is not, to
ALLEVIATE (applause) to ALLEVIATE a single
foot of territory which we have honest
ly acquired or give up the sovereignty
over it to any other peoples. That
power belongs to the people; that
power is vested in congress which rep
resents the people and no such power
was ever given to the chief executive
by the people or by congress or by the
constitution, and to use such power
would be a base usurpation of their
pl OSdI1NCS NY IllC SHIcl SACAIuC1FC vi
the government. And then, if we
were going to cede the islands away
to whom would we cede them? There
! is no government there but ours. The
great majority of the people acknowl-
edge allegiance to our flag and are glad
to have the shelter of it's protection.
Not of Our Seeking.
MY fellow citizens, the Filipinos
came to us not of our seeking. None
of us ever dreamed when this wal
commenced, that we were going tC
have either Porto Rico or the Philip
pine Islands. We went to war fol
civilization and humanity, to relieve
our oppressed neighbors in Cuba.
was one of those who held back unit
the last moment, hoping that [ NIGH
avert the war and not involve my
country in a struggle. (Applause.
But the war came-the war came, ant
those, some of them, who
wanted it most are nov
trying to Shirk it's responsibilities
Man proposes and God Almighty dis
poses, and we cannot avoid our re
spOnsibilities. There was no fault il
the victory, and there must be no faul
in UNFOLDING it. We have got the Phil
ippines and our flag is there. Thi!
subject of expansion is not a new one
1t was the gospel of the early states
men and patriots of this country.
found substantial realization in thu
magnificent achievement of that il
lustrious statesman, Thomas Jeffer
son. 1t was the dream of Marcy. II
1853 he sought to acquire the Hawaiian
islands. 1t was the dream of Sc
ward. 1t was the dream of Douglas
Let me quote here in single sentence
what Stephen A. Douglas said in 1885,
Al years ago. IT is idle to tell me o.
you that we have land enough. Ou1
fathers supposed that we had enough
when our territory extended to thu
Mississippi river, but a few years
growth and expansion satisfied then
that we needed more and the Louisiana
territory from the west bank of the
Mississippi to the British possession:
was acquired. Then we acquired Ore
gon, then California, then New Mexico
We have enough now for the present
but this is a young and growing ma
ton. 1t swarms as often as a hive OF
bees, and as the new swarms are
turned out each year there must be
hives in which they can gather and
make their honey. In less than sc
years this distinguished statesman
said, This country will be occupied
Will you not continue to increase al
tell you to increase and multiply and
expand is the law of this nations very
| existence. You cannot limit this great
republic by mere boundary lines; thus
| far shalt thou go and no farther! Any
one of you might as we'll say that your
son II years old is big enough and
must not grow larger. With our nat
ural growth, increasing with rapidity
unknown in any other part of the
globe, with the tide of immigration
fleeing from the despotism in the old
world to seek refuge under our govern
ment which constantly turns and pours
in this country, it requires more and
more territory upon which to settle;
and just as fast as our interests and
destiny require additional territory,
whether in the north or south or on
the islands Of the ocean, said Stephen
A Douglas, 7 am for it
Now fellow citizens l All done. l
have been more than glad to meet the
young men of the state university
(cheers-'varsity yell.) In few years
more, upon them and upon the other
young men of the country will rest the
responsibility of government. l bid
them while they have an opportunity,
land all the boys of the land) to equip
themselves for this great responsible
ity that they may be able to carry this
great fabric of government unim-
paired in vigor or virtue or liberty or
conscience"
Among those on the platform with
the president and his cabinet officers,
besides the escorting committee were
Mrs Edward Scofe1d, Mrs. George
Scofeld, Congressman H. B. Dahle of
Mt. Horeb and Revenue Collector J. G.
Monahan.