Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-17
MCKINLEY AT BOSTON,
President Outlines His Policy of
Peace
At the Home Market Club Dinner Given
in Hts HOnOT---I0OO at the Tables and
0OOO Listened TO the Speeches..

TreSluenL william mckinley reached
Boston at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, ar
irving at the South station in a special
train which left Washington at 5:24 We'd
nesday afternoon. He was accompanied
by Secretary of the Navy Long, Secretary
of War Alger, Postmaster General Smith,
Secretary of the Interior Bliss, Represent
alive Grosvenor and others.
At 4:30 reception was given to the
President and the members of his party at
the Mechanics building. The dinner of
the Home Market club in honor of the
President was served at o'clock. About
1900 prominent men were seated at the
tables, and 5000 listened to the post pran-
dial exercises.
The decorations Of the hall were bril-
liant; red, white and blue was every
where, disposed with profusion and artistic
skill. But unique decorations demand
special mention. The front of the great
organ bore the word "Liberators," and
over it were portraits of Washington, Lin
coin and Mckinley. At the left was
copy of the familiar painting of the death
OF Warren at the battle of Bunker Hill
large enough to be recognizable across the
hall. Its companion piece at the right was
fierce naval battle between modern war
ships, tremendous black giants, with one in
the centre sinking Just as a frightful ex-
plosion hurled scattered fragments over the
waves. At the other end of the hall. over
the second balcony, under the words ''War
governors" were the portraits of Cows.
Andrew and Wolcott. On the second
balcony opposite the speakers hung por-
trait of Dewey, with Mckinley and Grant
beside him. Above and back of the
speakers were portraits of ex-Presldent
Harrison and Speaker Reed. With each
of these portraits, except the "LiberatOrs,"
were famous words quoted from the per-
son represented. The Home Market club
banner, under which Harrison and Nc
Kinley both we're nominated, had the
place of honor just back of him, at the
front of the second balcony.
VIM. B. Plunkett, the president of the
club, presided. Gov. Wolcott extended a
welcome on behalf of the state and Mayor
Quincy on behalf of the society.
President McKinley's speech was a nota-.
bic effort in which he outlined his policy
Of peace. He devoted large part of it TO
the Philippines.
He declared that the only alternatives
were to give the islands back to Spain or
keep them under American control.
The future of the Philippine islands is
now in the hands of the American people.
Until the treaty was ratified or rejected
the executive department of this govern
ment could only preserve the peace and
protect the life and property. That treaty
now commits the free and enfranchiseS
Filipinos to the guiding hand and the liber-
alizlng influences, the genei GUS sympathIes,
the uplifting education, not of their Amer
lean masters, but of their American eman-
cipators. No one can tell today what is
best for them or for us. | know no one
at this hour who is wise enough or suffi-
ciently informed to determine what form
of government will best subserve their in
terests and our interests, their and our
well-being.
This whole subject is now with Con-
gress, and Congress is the voice, the con-
science, and the judgment of the Ameri-
can people. Upon their judgment and
conscience can we not rely? l believe in
them, | trust them. l know of no better
or safer human tribunal than the people.
Until Congress shall direct otherwise, it
will be the duty of the executive to possess
and hold the Philippines, giving TO the
people thereof peace and order and beneti-
cent government, atfording them every op-
portunity to prosecute their lawful pursuits,
encouraging them in thrift and industry,
making themfeel and know tina. We are their
friends, not their enemies, that their good
is our aim, that their welfare is our well
fare, but that neither their aspirations nor
ours can be realized until our authority is
acknowledged and unquestioned.
That the inhabitants of the Philippines
will be benefited by this republic is my
unshaken belief. That they will have a
kindlier government under our guidance
and that they will be aided in every possi-
BILE way to be self-respecting and self
governing people is as true as tn. the
American people love liberty and have an
abiding faith in their own government and
in their own institutions.
No imperial designs lurk in the Ameri-
can mind. They are alien to American
sentiment, thought and purpose. Our
priceless principles undergo no change
under tropical sun. They go with the
| flag. They are wrought in every one of
its sacred folds, and are indistinguishable
as its shining stars.
why read ye not the changeless truth,
The free can conquer but to save"
If we can benefit these remote peoples,
who will object? If in years of the future
they are established in government under
law and liberty, who will regret our perils
and sacrifices? Who will not rejoice in our
heroism and humanity? Always perils,
and always after them safety; always
darkness and clouds, but always shining
through them the light and the sunshine /;
always cost and sacrifice, but always after
them the fruition of liberty, education and
civilization.
have no light or knowledge not COM
mon to my couutrymen. do not proph-
esy. The present is all-absorbing to me,
but cannot bound my vision by the blood
stained trenches around Manila, where ev-
cry red drop, whether from the veins of an
American soldier or a misguided Filipino,
is anguish to my heart; but by the broad
range of future years, when that group of
islands, under the impulse of the year Just
past, shall have become the gems and glo-
ries of those tropical seas; land of plen-
ty and of increasing possibilities; a peo-
pie redeemed from savage Incidence and
habits, devoted to the arts of peace, In
touch with the commerce and trade of all
nations, enjoying the blessings of freedom
of civil and religious liberty, of education
and of homes, and whose children and
children's children shall for ages hence
bless the American republic because IL
emancipated and redeemed their father
land and set them in the pathway of the
worlds best civilization.
Secretaries Long and Smith also spoke
at scme length.
|
The Barnum and Bailey circus, which
has been advertised To aDDear In the East