The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-23
MCKINLEY AND HIS POLICY.
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR,

He Reviews the Evcntful Year just
Ended and Deals With Outlook at
This Time.
At q reception and banquet in Boston
made the following defence of his ad-
ministratiou
Mr.. Toastmaster and Gentlemen ::
The years go quickly. 1t seem not so
long, but 1t Is, in fact, six years since
1t was my honor to be guest of the
Home Market club. Much has hap.
pened in the intervening time. Issues
which were then engaging US have
been settled or put aside for larger
and more absorbing ones. Domestic
conditions have improved and gen
orally satisfactory. We have made
progress in industry, and have re-.
allied the prosperity for which we
have been striving. We had four long
some lessons which will never be un-
learned, and which will be valuable in
guiding our future action.
we have not only been successful in
our financial and business affairs, but
| we have been successful in war with
foreign power, which added great
glory to American arms and O. new
chapter to American history.
| do not know why, in the year 1899,
| this republic has unexpectedly had
placed before it mighty problems which
| 1t must face and meet. They have
come and are here, and they could not
be kept away. Many who were i'm.
patient for the conflict year ago, ap-
parently Needless of its larger results,
were the first to cry out against the far
reaching consequences of their own
act. Those Of us who dreaded war
most and whose every effort was
directed to prevent it, had fears Of now
and grave problems which might fol-
| low its inauguration. The evolution
| OF events which no man could control
has brought these problems upon us.
Certain it Is that they have not come
through any fault upon our own part
but as high obligation and we meet
them with clear conscience and TN.
selfish purpose, and with good heart to
resolve to undertake their solution.
War was declared in April, 1898,
with practical unanimity by the con.
J gress, and once upon us, was sustained
6y ike unanimity among the people.
There have been many who have tried
to avert it., as, on the other hand,
there are those who would have pre-
cipitated 1t at at early date. In it's
prosecution and conclusion the great
majority Of our countrymen of every
section believed they were lighting for
a just cause, and, at home or on sea, or
in the field, they had part in its glo-
rious triumphs. 1t was the war OF an
| undivided nation.
Every great act in it's progress, from
Manila to Santiago, from Guam to Pa
ma, met universal and hearty common
dation. The protocol commanded the
practically unanimous approval OF the
American people. 1t was welcomed
by every lover of peace beneath the
flag. The Philippines, like Cuba and
Porto ltico. were entrusted to our
hands by the war, and to that great
trust, under the providence Of God and
in the name Of human progress and
civilization, we are committed.
1t is q trust we have not sought it
,is trust from which we will not finch.
The American people will hold up the
hands of their servants at homo, to
whom they committed its action, while
they command will have the support
of the country in upholding our fl W
whore it now floats, the symbol and as
surance Of liberty and justice.
What nation was ever able to write
an accurate program of the war upon
which 1t was entering, much less de-
cree In advance the scope Of its results?
Congress can declare war, but high.
er power decides its bounds and fixes
It's relations and responsibilities. The
president can direct the movements of
soldiers on the field and fleets upon
tho sea, but he cannot foresee the close
or such movements, and prescribe
their limits. He cannot anticipate or
avoid the consequences, but he must
meet them. No accurate map of ma
tions engaged In war can be traced
until the war Is over, nor can the
measure OF responsibility be fixed until
the last gun Is fired and the verdict
is embodied In the stipulations of
peace.
We hear no complaint of the re)a-
tions created by the war between this
government and the islands of Cnba
and Porto Rico, There are some. how
ever, who regard the Philippines as ia
q different relation, but whatever
variety OF views there may be on this
phase OF the question, there Is unsver.
sal agreerlent that the Philippines
shall not be turned, back to Spain. No
true American consents to that. Ev,a
IL unwilling to accept them ourselves,
1t would have been O. week evasion of
manly ddty to require Spain to trans
Ter them jt0Ssome other power or DOW.
ers, and thds shirk our own respopsi.
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