Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-02-23
President Mckinley Speaks at Boston.
THE PUBLIC APPROVE HIS REMARKS.
He Predicts That the influence of the
United States Will Accomplish
Much for the Development of the
Philippines.

On the 10th inst, President Mckinley
by special invitation spoke at the Home
Market Club at Boston. We are unable
to give our readers all his great speech,
but give below large portion of it:
President Mckinley, on being intro
duced by President Plunkett, Of the Home
Market Club, at the banquet said =
Mr.. Toastmaster and Gentlemen: The
years go quickly. 1t seems not so long, but
it is, in fact, six years since it was my hon.
or to be a guest ofthe Home Market Club.
Much has happened in the intervening
time. Issues which were then engaging
us have been settled or put aside for larger
and absorbing ones. Domestic con-
ditions lave improved and are generally
satisfactory.
We have made progress in industry and
have realized the prosperity for which
we have been striving. We had four long
years of adversely, which taught us some
lessons which will never be unlearned and
which will be valuable in guiding our fu-
ture action.
We have not only been successful in our
financial and business affairs, but have
been Successful in a war with foreign
power, which added great glory to Amer
lean arms and new chapter to American
history.
do not know why in the year 1899
this Republic has unexpectedly had placed
before it the 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
its larger results, are 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 pre-
vent it, had fears ofnew and grave prob
lens 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 our part, bat as a
high obligation, and we meet them with a
clear conscience and unselfsh purpose and,
with good heart, resolved to undertake
their solution.
Me Philippines, like Cuba and Porto
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 progress and civilization, we are
committed. 1t is 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 home to whom
they commit its execution, while Dewey
and Otis and the brave men whom they
command will have the support Of the
country in upholding our flag where it now
floats, the symbol and assurance of 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 its results? Con-
gress can declare war, but higher power
DEGREES its bounds and fixes its relations
and responsibilities.
We 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 regard
the Philippines as in different relations
but, whatever variety of views there may
be6n this phase of the question, there is
universal agreement that the Philippines
shall not be turned back to Spain. Nc
true American consents to that.
Even if unwilling to accept them our
selves, it would have been weak evasion
of manly duty 10 require Spain to transfer
them to some other power or powers and
thus shirk our own responsibilities. Ever
if we had had, as we did not have, the
power to compel such transfer, it coulc
not have been made without the most Sc
rious international complications.
Such a course could not be thought Of
and vet, had we refused to accept the ces
sion of them, we should have had NJ
power over them, even for their own good
We could not discharge the responsible
ties upon us until these islands became
ours either by conquest or treaty. There
was but one alternative, and that wa
either Spain or the United States in tht
Philippines.
The other suggestions-6rst, that thel
should be tossed into the arena of conten
ton for the strife of nations; or, second
be left to the anarchy and chaos of nj
protectorate at all-were too shameful tt
be considered.
Y u
Our concern was not for territory Oh
trade or empire, but for the people who's
interests and destiny, without our Willing
it, had been put in our hands.
II
Did we need their consent to perform
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