Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-17
President Mckinley Discusses the Re-
suits Of the War.
ADDRESS At BOSTON BANQUET
Declares the Future of Islands Now
Rests With Congress.
DESTINY GAVE THEM TO US

President Mckinley and party were enter
| tanned at banquet last night by the MEM
| bers of the Home Market Club in Boston.
| 1t was the largest banquet ever arranged
| in this country the exact number of per-
sons who were served being 1 ,9i4. Besides
| these there We're fully $500 spectators in
| the balconies,
| When the dinner had been concluded
! President Plunkett introduced Governor
| Wolcott, and then Mayor Quincy, who made
! brief addresses, welcoming the President.
President Mckinley was then introduced,
| and spoke follows:
| 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 interven-
| ing time. Issues which were then engaging
| US have been settled or put aside for larger
| and more absorbing ones. Domestic condi-
| tons have improved and are generally sat
| isfactory.
I'VE have made progress in industry and
have realized the prosperity for which we
| years of adversely, which taught US some
| lessons which will never be unlearned, and
| which will be valuable in guiding our future
| action.
| Have Had Uniform Success.
eve have not only been successful in our
| financial and business affairs, but have
| been successful in war with a foreign
| power, which added great glory to Ameri-
| can arms and ii new chapter 10 American
history.
Il do not 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
| We're impatient Tor the conflict a year ago,
| apparently needless of its larger results,
! We're 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 prevent
| II, mad Tears OF new and grave problems
which might follow its inauguration.
| The evolution of events which
| could control has brought these problems
| upon us. Certain it is that they have not
| come through any fault on our own part
| but as high obligation. and we meet them
with clear conscience and unselfiSh purpose
| and with good heart resolve to undertake
| their solution.
| War was declared in April 1895 with
| practical unaninaity by the Congress, and
| once upon us, was sustained BY like una
| nlmlty among the people. There had been
| many who had tried to avert it, as. on the
| other hand there Were many who would
| nave pTeeiptated it at early date In its
| prosecution and conclusion the great ma
Iority of our countrymen of every section
| oeIieved they were fighting in just cause
ana at nome or on or in the field they
| mad part in 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 commenda-
| ton The protocol commanded the practi-
caiiy unanimous approval of the American
people 1t was welcomed by every lover of
peace beneath the flag
Philippines Came by War
The Philippines, like Cuba and Porto
| RICO, were intrusted to our hands by the
| war, and TO that great trust, under the
providence nf {noI md
| human progress and cipitza ton. We are
| committed. 1t is a trust we have not
sought; it is trust from which We will not
| finch
The American people will hold up the
nahds or their servants at home to whom
| they commit its execution, while Dewey and
| ots and the brave men whom they COM
mand VIII have the support of the country
| in upholding our flag where it now floats
| justice.
What nation was ever able to write an
accurate program of the war upon which
II was entering. much less decree in ad-
vance the scope of its results? Congress
can declare war, but higher power de-
ciees IT'S bounds and fixes its relations and
responsibilities. The President can direct
the movements of soldiers on the field and
fleets upon the sea, but he cannot foresee
the close of such movements or prescribe
their limits. He cannot anticipate or avoid
the consequences, but he must meet them.
NO accurate map of nations engaged in
war can be traced until the is over,
nor can the measure of responsibility be
| fixed till the last gun is fired and the YER
dact embodied in the stipulations of peace
No Complaint as to West Indies.
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 re-
| gard the Philippines in a different rela-
! ton; but, whatever variety of views there
l,ar tL,ic
! 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
1t would have been q weak evasion of man
ly duty to require Spain TO transfer them to
some other power or powers and thus shiri
our own responsibility. Even if we had
had. as we did not have, the power to COM
pei such a transfer, ii could not have been
made without the most serious interna-
tional complications.
Such a course could not be thought of
And yet 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 responsibilities
upon us until these islands became ours.
e1ther by conquest or treaty. There was
but one alternative, and that was either
Spain or the United States in the Philip
pines.
1.-The other suggestions-first that they
should be tossed into the arena of conten-
ton for tie strife of nations or second be
left to the anarchy and chaos of no protec-
torate at all, were too shameful to be con-
sidered. The treaty gave them to the
United States. Could We have required less
and done duty?
Gould We, after freeing the FiIipinos
from the domination of Spain, have left
them without government and without
power to protect life or property, or to per-
form the international obligations essential
to an Independent state? Could we have
left them in a state of anarchy and justified
cODScieQppS Dr haf
the tribunal of mankind? Could we have
done that in the sight of God and man?
Their Territory Not Wanted.
"Our concern was not for territory or
trade or empire, but for the people whose