Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-25
OUR DUTY AS WE SEE IT.
President MCKin1ey's Address at
Home Market Club.
POLICY AS TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Responsibilities Thrown Upon Nation as Result of
War Cannot Be Shirked--Whatever May Be
Done With Islands Ultimately. at Present
They Must Be Held and Inhabitants
Reduced to Obedience.


AT the annual dinner of the Home
Market Club, Boston, on the evening
of the 18th, President Mckinley was
the guest Of honor and spoke as fol-
lows:
"Mr. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen:
The years go quickly. 1t seems not
SO long, but it is in fact six years
since it was my honor to be a guest of
the Home Market Club. Much has
happened in the intervening time.
Issues which were then engaging us
have been settled or put aside for
larger andt1nore absorbing ones. DO.
nestle conditions have improved and
are generally satisfactory.
I'VE have made progress in indus
try 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 future
action.
I'VE have not only been successful
in our financial and business affairs.
but have been successful in a war with
a foreign power which added great
glory to American arms and a new
chapter to American history.
Il do not know why in the year
1899 this republic has unexpectedly
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 its larger
results, were the first to cry out
against the ~far-reaching consequences
of their own act. Those of us who
dreaded wal most and whose every
effort was directed to prevent it, had
fears OF new and grave problems
which might follow its Inauguration.
1.-The evolution of events which no
man could control has brought these
problems upon us. Certain it is that
they have not come through fault on
our own part. but as a high obliga-
ton, and we meet them with clear con-
science and unselfsh purpose, and
with good heart resolve to undertake
their solution.
"War was declared In April, 1898,
with practical unanimity by the Con-
gress, and ono upon US. vas sustain
ed by like unanimity among the PEG.
pie. There had been many who had
tried to avert it. as. on the other hand.
there were many who would have
precipitated it at any early date. In
its prosecution and conclusion the
great majority of our countrymen of
every section believed they were fight
ing in a just cause, and at home or on
sea OF in the field they had part i'll its
glorious triumphs. 1t was the war of
an undivided nation.
Every great act in its progress,
from Manila to Santiago, from Guam
to Porto Rico, met universal and
hearty commentator. 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 Rico, were intrusted 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 a trust we have not sought it is
a 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 uphold
ing 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