The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-02-22
Words! Words! Wcyds!!i

in Boston on February Is, and was
the guest of the Home Market club
at a banquet in his honor at Mechan
les hall. After being introduced the
President spoke as follows:
Mr. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen:
The years 60 quickly. 1t seems not
so long, but it is in fact six years
since it a my honor to be a guest
Of the Home Market club. Much
has happened in the intervenipgtime,
Issues which were then engaging us
have been settled or put aside for
larger and more absorbing ones.
Domestic conditions have improved
and are generally satisfactory. We
have made progress in industry and
have realized the prosperity for
which We have been striving. W.
had four long years of adversely,
which have 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 we have been successful in q war
with a foreign power which added
great glory to American arms and a
new chapter to American history.
do Lot know why in the year
1899 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 conflict a year
ago, apparently needless of it's larger
results, were the first to cry cut
against the far PREACHING consequences
of their own act. Those of US who
dreaded wal most, and whose every
effort was directed to prevent if, had
fears of new and grave problems
which might follow 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 on u own part, but as high
obligation, and We meet them with q
clear conscience and unsel6sh pur-
pose and with good heart to resolve
to undertake their solution.
War was declared in April, 1898,
with practical unanimity by the con-
gress, and, once upon us, was sus-
tanned by like unanimity among the
people. There are many who tried
to avert it, as on the other hand there
are others who would have precipita-
ted it at an earlier date. In its pros
ecution and conclusion the great
majority of u countrymen of every
section believed that they were fight
ing in a just cause, and at home or on
sea or in the field they had a part in
its glorious triumph. It was a wal
of an undivided nation.
Every great act of it's progress,
from Manila to Santiago, from Guam
to Pana, met universal and hearty
commendation. The protocol COM
manded practically the approval Of
the American people. It was vel
coined by every lover of peace under
the flag. The Philippines, like Cuba
and Puerto Rico, were entrusted to
our hands by the war, and to that
great trust, under the providence of
God and in the name Of human pro-
gress and civilization, We are com
mitted.
It is a trust We have not sought;
i is a trust from which We will not
finch. The American people will
hold up the hands of the servants at
home to whom they committed it's
action, while Dewey and OTIS and the
brave men whom they command will
have the support of the country in
upholdipg u flag where it now
floats, the symbol and assurance of
liberty ard justice.
What nation was erer able to write
an accurate program of the war upon
which it vas entering, much less de-
cree in advance the scope of it's re-
suits? Congress can declare war, but
higher power decides its bounds and
fixes its realities and responsibilities.
The President can direct the move
ments of soldiers in the field and
fleets upon the sea, but he cannot
foresee the close of such movements
and prescribe their limits. He can
not anticipate or avoid the conse-
qnences, but he must meet them. NJ
accurate map Of nations engaged in
war can be traced until the war is
over, nor can the 10 asure of respon.
sibility be fixed until the last gun is
fred and the verdict embodied in
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