Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-17
PRESIDENTS POLICY DEFENDED.
secretary Long Responds to Toast Mt
Milwaukee BANQUET

MILWAUKEE,, Wis, October lin
speaking to the toast, THE NAVY" at the
banquet TO President Mckinley, at the
Hotel Pfster last night, Secretary John D.
Long said, in part:
appreciate very much the compliment
You pay to me and to the navy of the
United States, and well You may, for it is
your navy The navy does not belona, to
the seaboard any more, but TO the interior.
Our battle ships float upon every sea. and
as l passed by the lakes of Wisconsin L
thought they might float there Our off,
GERS are derived from every section of the
Union; our flag IS the flag under which YOU
claim your freedom. The navy has achieved
great victory, and it is the same fleet
and the same people who have enthused us
with new spirit and new and broader
ideas, because it IS full of the same enter
PRISE that Is found in your own city and
IN your own state. In other words, the
American blood, with the American pulse
with the American spirit. 1t Is not the
mere hghting machine-it is broad, gen.
erous. humane. You know it was said that
our men fought like fends in the battle
but when the battle was over they were
as gentle as women.
Why We Struck at Manila
1T was our duty to strike at the Span
ish sea power. because that was the only
secret of their power. We struck at the
Philippines because 1t was theirs. We de-
stIoyed the Spanish fleet under Montojo be-
cause it was theirs. Could We withdraw our
fleet from Manila? CEoices: No, MOI Be
cause our hand was on the enemy's throat
and his surrender was sure to come. 1t
came. and when 1t came the acquisition
was confirmed by act ratified by the
Senate and by the House of Representa-
tives by Its appropriation Of S20,OOO,0oO.
The President had but one course to
take. These Islands are the property of
h. nj a7 at he tory ~ y.rg 4
OF the United States. He could no more
abandon them than he could abandon Ha-
wall. Porto Rico or Alaska.
He could not give them up. He could not
declare their independence any more than
he could declare the independence of Alaska
OF the District of Columbia. There were
twO ways for Congress to act, either to hold
the islands or TO ALLEVIATE them, which lat
ter course it did not pursue, and the Presi-
dent Is left TO carry out the only course
possible namely, to hold on until Congress
shall make some disposition of them and
that he is doing In q straightforward, busi-
ness-like manner.
President Has No Alternative.
lie can do nothing else. Shall he not be
sustained In that course2 eyes. YesD If
Imperialism means tyranny and violence,
there is not an imperiaIist in the length
and breadth Of this land. If Imperialism
means peace in those islands, and then a
stable government under the sovereignty
Of the United States. or under such dtspOsi-
tiJn as Congress shall make the better
meut. the development. welfare and educa-
t!on Of civilization of those Islands, We are
all imQCrialists.
Expansion is the natural law of animal,
vegetable and moral life. The tendency of
the age is toward expansion. Are there
not some great fundamental laws in opera
ton here? Is there not higher power
that Is guiding things? Is il not the mis-
sion of the United States TO enlarge, grow
and carry its happiness, felicity and pros
perfty wherever its influence extends?
Since there has come under our cOun-
rvs sacred trust these great territories,
which have suffered from oppression and
Jarbarism so long, il is not only our high
duty but our glory, TO meet the respon-
Sihility and discharge that trust, that We
may carry out our mission, and that We
may co our dutyr'