The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-17
MKINLEY At BOSTON.
The Presidents Speech at the Home
Market Club Banquet.
CUR DUTY TO THE FILIPINOs.
We Must Teach Them the Lessons of
Free Government--Our Concern Is
Not For Territory or Trade or Em-
pire, But For tho Oppressed People.

| oobtpHJ HSO. He Ieil-
ure of President McKinley's visit to
Boston was the banquet rendered to
him by the Home Market club at
Mechanics Hall last night. 1t was
the largest banquet ever arranged in
this country. the exact number of per-
sons who were served being 1,9l4. Be-
sides these there were fully $500 spec
tators in the balconies. The presiden-
tial party left the Hotel Tourane I'M
der cavalry escort at 4:20, and pro-
ceeded through an immense cheering
crowd direct to Mechanics Hail. The
reception was held at Paul Revere Hall,
and for three-quarters of an hour
President Mckinley and other distin-
guished guests stood in line and were
introduced to and shook hands with
fully $500 persons.
At O'Clock the bugle sounded an
nouncing that the banquet was ready
to be served, and. the immense COM
pany marched into the hall, while the
band played.
The presidents table was made con-
spicuous by immense bouquets Of
American beauty roses and pinks. The
menus were handsome. Each was an
eight page book, containing lifelike
portrait Of the president, the names
and positions of the guests at the
tables, etc.
There was great enthusiasm when
the dinner had been concluded and
some of the tables removed to make
way for chairs. President Plunkett in
troduced Governor Wolcott and then
Mayor Quincy, who made brief ad-
dresses, welcoming the president.
President Mckinley was then intro
duced and spoke in part as follows:
| I'VE 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 future action.
| We have not only been successful in
our financial business affairs, but have
been successful In war with foreign
| power, which added great glory to
American arms ana new chapter to
American history.
Many who were impatient for the
conflict year ago. apparently needless
of its larger results, are the first to cry
out against the far reaching conse-
quences of their own act. Those of us
who dreaded war most, and whose
every effort was directed to prevent it.
had fears of new and grave problems
which might follow It's Inauguration.
The evolution of events which no man
could control has brought these prob
lens upon us.
I'm it's prosecution and conclusion
t1,o ,,,k
of every section believed they were
fighting in a just cause, and at home
or on sea or in the field they had part
in its glorious triumphs. 1t was the war
of an undivided nation. Every great
act in its progress, from Manila to San
tiago, from Guam to Porto Rico, met
universal and hearty commendation.
The protocol commanded the practical
ly unanimous approval Of the Ameri-
can people. 1t was welcomed by every
lover of peace beneath the flag.
1.-THE Philippines, like Cuba and Porto
Rico, We're 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 a trust from which we
will not finch. The American people
will hold up the hands Of their servants
1t home to whom they commit its
H.ecution, while Dewey and Otis and
tie brave men whom they command
VII have the support Of the country in
unfolding our flag where it now floats.
the symbol and assurance of liberty
and justice.
What nation was ever able to write
an accurate program of the war upon
which it was entering, much less decree
in advance the scope of its results"
Congress can declare war, but higher
power DEGREES its bounds and fixes its
relations and responsibilities. Tha
president can direct the movements of
soldiers on the field and fleets upon the
sea, but he cannot forsee the close of
such movements or prescribe their lin
its.
I'VE hear no complaint Of the rea-
tlons created by the war between this
government and the islands of Cuba
and Porto Rico. There are some, how
ever, who regard the Philippines as in
a different relation, but whatever va
riety of views there NAV be on this
phase of the question there Is universal
agreement that the Philippines shall
not be turned back to Spain. No true
American consents to that. Even If
unwilling to accept them ourselves, it
would have been weak evasion Of
manly duty to require Spain to transfer
them to some other power or powers,
and thus shirk our own responsibility.
Had we refused to ACCEPT the ces-
sion of them we should have had no
power over them, even for their own
good. We could not discharge the re-
sponsibilty upon us until these isl
ands became ours either by conquest
or treaty. There was but one alterna-
tive. and that was either Spain or the
United States In the Philippines. The |
treaty gave them to The United States. |
Could we have required less and done
our duty? Could we. after freeing the |
Fllipnos from the domination of Spain, |
have left them without government and |
without power to protect life or prop
erty or to perform the international OBJ
legations essential to an independent
state? Could we have left them in a
state Of anarchy and justified ourselves
In our own consciences or before the
tribunal of mankind? Could we have
Our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire, but for the people
whose interests and destiny, without
our willing it, had been put in our
hands.
"The future of the Philippine Islands
Is now in the hands of the American
people. The treaty now commits the
free and enfranchised Filipnos to tho
guiding hand and the liberalizing In
duences, the generous sympathies. the
uplifting education, not of their Ameri-
can masters, but Of their American
emancipators. No one can tell today
what Is best for them or for u.s. know
no one at this hour who Is wise enough
or sufficiently informed to determine
what form of government will best SUBJ
serve their interest and our interest,
their and our well being.
1--WE have now ended the war with
Spain and Spain Is now eliminated
from the problem. 1t remains to ask
what we shall do now do not intrude
upon the duties of congress or seek
to anticipate or forestall its action. I
only say that the treaty of peace, hon.
erahlv sacured having beep ratified hv |