The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-03
PRESIDENTS COURSE
THE WAY OF HONOR
POSTMASTER GENERAL SMITHS
ELOQUENT DEFENSE.
At the First Annual Dinner of the
Pennsylvania Society of New
York He Delivers an Address
Which Every True American citi-
zen Should Read and Ponder.

zen Should Read and Ponder.
On Tuesday evening. Oct 81, at the
Waldorf Astoria IN New York, was
held the first annual dinner of the
Pennsylvania society made up of ma
uves of Pennsylvania resident in New
York. The speaker of honor was Post
master General Charles Emory Smith
who, in Mr.. McKinley's behalf, replied
to the toast, The President" He
said:
"On behalf of the president l thank
you for this toast in his honor AMI
for the great cordiality with which
you have received it. AS member ot
his official -amily it would not be be-
coming in me to speak of him
would like and as | would do under
other circumstances. / cannot say OF
his attractive personality and of his
masterful power what is in my heart to
say. But l can without imp 'oprieJy
speak of the transccndent events and
the momentous movements with which
he is identified
THE country knows that when last
year the balance tremblel for days
and weeks between peace AID war, the
president was the most earnest ana
eager of all men to prevent the un-
sheathing of the sword. He had no
ambition to cncircle his administrl-
tion with the halo of triumphant arms
His loftier passion was for the nobler
glories Of peace. Had the issue been
left in his hands alone it is probable
that peace might have been preserved
and Cuba at the same tim, as was
imperative, rescued from Spanish thral-
dom.
DESTINY'S VETO.
But higher and larger destiny
rulet the course of events It was not
the FIRST time that fate, with its mystic
ana hidden designs, oveTmas stored hu-
man purpose. Abraham Lincoln saw
an irrepressible conflict between slav-
cry and freedom; he sought to avert
the dreaded clash through national
policy that would restrict slavery and
satisfy the rising conscience Of the ma &.
ton with faith in its ultimate eX-
tinctlon; but slavery madly spurned
the moral decree and, under an over
ruling Hand, prcC Nitattd its own
doom. And thus the gentle and benig-
nant spirit that, while firm for the
right. breathed only charity and love
Tor ALL became the chosen instrument
OF COD that went forth with flaming
sword for tho emancipation of a race
and the redemption Of q nation.
so William Mckinley saw an un-
quenchable struggle between Spain's
inhumanity and Americas humanity:
he sought to spare the appeal to arms
by inducing Spanish Withdrawals; but
Spanish pCrVersity was blind and
Americas eagernesS was beyond re-
straint, and the kindly and generous
spirit. whose supreme Rspirat ton was
to restore the JOY and content of pros
porous peace, became the ordained
leader of the greatest national upris-
Ing since the Civil War and of the
most pregnant and significant national
movement since the revolutionary
struggle established our independence.
A WAR FOR HUMANITY.
The war was beyond human fore
sight, and it's consequences and obli-
cations are above mere human skill.
Since it came without fault on our part.
who challenges the order that sent the
matchless Dewey to Manila? Who re-
grets or reproaches the splendor and
completeness of his epoch-making vic
tory? And who, recognizing the neces-
slty of the blow and eXulting in the
glory of the success, would falter in the
duty of the new relation or shirk the
responsibilities Of the new national
position? Our triumph gave the repub-
lie new prestige and lifted it to the
highest rank among the nations of the
world. To haul down the flag and beat
retreat would destroy the moral in
huence and the heightened respect Of
that sudden revelation OF American
power and would make our country an
object Of derision among mankind. It
would be unworthy Of Plymouth Rock
and all that it symbolizes of heroic
daring for conscience and duty. It
would be unworthy of the coura geous
spirit Of the Revolutionary struggle and
of the glorious memories and monitons
of the Liberty Bell, sacredly cherished
in our own Independence hall, which.
undaunted by doubt rang out the high
and resolute purpose of a brave and
determined people
I'VE cannot retreat without dishonor-
ing ourselves and proving recreant to
great trust. We stand pledged to the
world, to our own honor, to our new
wards, to fulfill the obligations of ma
tional duty which have come with our
victory. We cannot withdraw from the
solemn responsibilities of our advanced
position if we would but, even if we
could, why should we retreat? Our
marvellous growth has spanned and
filled the continent from ocean to
ocean Our steadfast American policy
has been crowned with it's legitimate
diadem Of economic Independence and
recognized agricultural and industrial
supremacy. our wonderful productive
capacity, created by this upbuilding,
has outstrinped our own needs. Shall
we, then, stop our industrial and COM
mercial growth. or shall we find new