Iron County register., 1899-02-23
QUESTIONS OF The HOUR.
Address Delivered by President Nc
Kinley Before the Home Mar
ket Club of Boston.
EVENTS OF THE PAST YEAR REVIEWED.
The Fortunes OF War Have Placed Re-
sponsibilities Upon Our Shoulders that
We Cannot Shirk-The Future of the
Philippines Rests with the People
Through the Acts OF Congress.

Philippines Rests with the People
Through the Acts OF Congress.
Boston. Feb. 17.-President McKin-
ley was the guest of honor at the BAN
| quet given last night by the Home
Market club in Mechanics hall, where
| 1,914 covers were laid, and where 3.-
| 500 spectators filed the balconies
When the dinner had been concluded
President Plunkett of the Home
| Market club introduced Gov. Wolcolt
and Mayor Quincy, who made
brief addresses welcoming the presi-
dent. President Mckinley was then
introduced, and responded as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Mr.. Toastmaster and Gentlemen: The
| years go quickly. 1t seems not so long,
| but it is in fact six years since it was nay
honor to be a guest of the Home Market
club. Much has happened in the inter-
| vening time. Issues which were then en-
gaginS us have been settled or put aside
for longer and more absorbing ones; Do
mestic conditions have improved and are
generally satisfactory.
we have made progress in industry
and have realized the prosperity for
which we have been striving. We have
had four long years of adversely which
taught us some lessons which will never
be unlearned and which will be valuable
in guiding our future action. We have
not only been successful in our financial
and business affairs. but have been sue
| which added great glory to American
arms and new chapter to American his
tory.
II do not know why, in the year 1893,
this republic has unexpectedly had placed
before it mighty problems which it must
face and meet. They have come and are
here, and they could not be kept away.
Many who were impatient for The con-
fict year ago. apparently needless OF its
against the far-reaching consequences of
their own act. Those OF US who dreade
war most and whose every effort was d.
rected to prevent it, had fears of new and
grave problems which might follow its iu-
which no man could control, has brought
these problems upon Certain it Is
that they have not come through any
fault on our own part, but as high obi
cation, and we meet them with clear con
science and unselfish purpose and with
good heart, resolved TO undertake their
solution.
THE WAR REVIEWED.
WAR was declared in April, 1895, with
practical unanimity by the congress, ana
once upon US, was sustained by like
unanimlty among the people. There had
been many who had tried to avert it, as.
on the other hand, there were many wEo
would have precipitated it at an earlier
date. In its prosecution and conclusion,
the great majority of our countrymen of
in just cause, and at home or on sea, Or
in the field, they had part in the glorious
triumphs. 1t was the war of the undi-
Vided nation.
Every great act in it's progress, from
Manila to Santiago, from Guam to Porto
Rico met universal and hearty commen-
dation. The protocol commanded the prac-
tically unanimous approval of the Ameri-
can people. 1t was welcomed by every
lover of peace beneath the flag.
1.-The Philippines, like Cuba and Porto
Rico, were intrusted TO our hands by the
providence of God and in the name of
human progress and civilization, we are
committed. 1t Is a trust we have not
sought; it is not a trust from which We
will finch. The American people will hold
UP the hands of their servants at home to
whom they commit dts execution, while
they command will have the support o.
the country in upholdins our nag where IT
liberty and justice.
what nation was ever able to write an
accurate programme of the war upon
which it was entering, much less decree
in advance the scope of it's results? Con-
gress can declare war, but higher power
DEGREES it's bounds and fixed its relations
and responsibilities. The president can
direct the movements of the soldiers on
the field and fleets upon the sea, but ne
can not foresee the close OF Sucn move
nents prescribe their limits He can
not anticipate or avoid the consequences.
but he must meet them. No accurate map
of nations engaged in war can be traced
until the war is over: nor can the meas
gun is fired and the verdict embodied III
the stipulations of peace
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
eve hear no complaint of the relations
created by the war between this govern
ment and the islands of Cuba and Porto
Rico. There are some, however. who
gard the philippines as in a different re
there may be on this phase of the ques-
ton there is universal agreement that the
Philippines shall not be turned back to
Spain. No true American can consent to
that Even if unwilling to accept them
ourselves it would have We been 1,tn weak SAX, eva, r.
transfer them to some other power or
powers, and thus shirk our own respon;;
sibility. Even If we had had, as we did
not have, the power to compel such u
transfer, it could not have been made
without the most serious international
Such course could not be thought Of
And yet, had we refused to accept the
cession of them, we should have had no
good we could not discharge the re-
became ours, either by conquest or treaty,
There was but one alternative, and that
was either Spain or the United States IN
first, that they should be tossed into the
arena for the strife OF nations; or second
protectorate at all, were too shameful TO
be considered. The treaty gave them to
quired less and done our duty? Could we.
after freeing the Filipinos from the DOM
government and without power to protect
life and property or to perform the in
ternational obligations essential to an in
in state of anarchy and justified our
selves in our own consciences or before
the tribunal of mankind? Could we have
done that in the sight of God and man?
AMERICAS PRESENT DUTY.
''Our concern was not for territory, or
trade, or empire, but for the people whose
interests and destiny, without our will
ing 1t, had been put in our hands. 1t
was with this feeling that from the first
day to the last not one word or line went
from the executive in Washington to our
military and naval commanders at Ma
Paris that did not put as the sole pur-
pose to be kept in mind first after the
success of our arms and the maintenance
of our honor, the welfare and happiness
and the rights of the inhabitants of the
Philippine islands. Did we need their con-
sent to perform a great act for humanity?
mind, in evsay hope of their hearts. Was
it necessary to ask their consent to cap
ture Manila, the capital of their islands?
Did we ash their consent to lberate them
from Spanish sovereignty or to enter Ma
ALA bay and destroy the Spanish sea pow
ef there? We did not ask these; we were
obeynAg a higher moral obligation which
rested on US, and which did not require
anybody's consent. We were doing our
duty by them, as God gave us the light
to see our duty, with the consent of our
OF ci ;,i2atjon. Every present Obligation
has been met and fuli led in the expul-
sion of Spanish sovereignty from their is
lands. and while the war that destroyed
1t was in progress we could not ask their
views. Nor can we now ask their con-
sent.
Indeed. can any one tell me in what
form 1t could be marshaled and ascer-
tained until peace and order, so neces-
sary to reign of reason, shall be secured
and established? A reign of terror is not
1T n1tNta w4@A