The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-21

the guest Of the Home Market CluD at
a banquet in his honor at
hall. Messrs. Long, A1ger, Bliss, Gage
and Smith, of his cabinet, accompanied
him, together with Congressman Gros-
venor. of Ohio. The arrival of the
train at the South Terminal station at
10 o'clock was the occasion or a gen.
eral outburst of enthusiasm from the
thousands who lined the streets on the
line of the procession from the station
to the hotel. The remainder of the day
after the arrival at the hotel was spent
in quietude by the president until Ais
o'clock, when he was escorted to Me-
chanics hall to participate in the recep-
ton and banquet Of the Home Market
Club. The president tomorrow will visit
the Grand Army of the Republic en-
campment, dine at the Algonquin Club,
hold a reception there, drive from the
club to the South Union station and
leave Boston at $40 o'clock, p. m.
The browning event of the day and
the principal feature of the presidents
visit to Boston was the banquet ten
dered to him by the Home Market
Club at Mechanics hall tonight. The
presidential party left the hotel Tou-
raine under cavalry escort at APO o'clock
and proceeded an immense cheering
crowd direct to Mechanics hall.
At 6 o'clock the bugle sounded, an
~nouncing that the banquet was ready
to be served and the immense company
marched into the hall, while the band
played. The presidents table was made
conspicuous by immense bouquets of
American beauty roses n pinks. Over
the stage were large portraits Of WASH
ington, Lincoln and Mckinley and I'M
derneath was the word "Liberator' in
large letters. Upon the balcony was a
picture of Admiral Dewey with the
motto ITO the Captain of a German
Ship: You must not sail by the United
States flag without saluting,'" and his
famous command at Manila: You may
fire, Gridley, when
There was great enthusiasm when
PresidentMcKinley was introduced. He
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Toastmaster 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 d guest of the
Nome Market Club. Much has hap
pened in the intervening time. Issues
which were then engaging us have
been settled or put aside for larger and
more absorbing ones. Domestic condi-
tions nave improved and are generally
satisfactory. We nave made progress
in industry and have reached the pros
perity for which we have been striv-
ing. We had four long years of ad-
versity, 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 we have been successful in a war
with a foreign power which added great
glory to American arms n a new
chapter to 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 "
come and are here and they could not
be kept away Many who were impa-
tient for the conflict a veal ago, appa-
rently needless Of it's larger results,
were first to cry out against the far
reaching of their own act.
Those of us who dreaded war most and
whose every effort was directed to pre-
vent 1T had fears of new and grave
problems which might follow its in
,auguration. The evolution of events
which no man could control has brought
these problems upon us. Certain it is
that they nave not come through n
fault on our own part, but as a high
obligation, and we meet them with a
clear conscience n unselfish purpose
n with good heart to resolve to I'M
dertake their solution.
War was declared in April 1898, with
practical unanimity by the congress,
and, once upon us, was sustained by
like unanimity among the people. There
lave been many who tried to avert it,
as, on the other hand, there are those
who would have precipitated 1t at an
early date. In IT'S prosecution and con-
clutlon the great majority of our coun-
trymen of every section believed they
Wnrn hOht1np in a iJlGt NnIGn an6 Of
home or on sea or in the field they had
part in it's glorious triumphs. 1t was
the war of an undivided nation.
Every great act in its rogress from
Manila to Santiago. from Cuba to Pana,
met universal INT hearty commenda-
ton. The protocol commanded the prac-
tically unanimous approval of the
American people. 1t was welcomed by
every lover of peace beneath the flag.
The Philippines, like Cubs and Porto
the war and to that great trust under
the providence of God and in the name
of human progress and civiliza- ion we
are committed.
1T is a trust we nave 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 action, while
Dewey and Otis and the brave men
whom they command will lave the sup
port 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 re-
suits? Congress can declare war. but a
higher power decides its bounds and
fixes its relations and responsibilities.
The president can direct the move
ments of soldiers on the field and fleets
upon the sea, but he cannot foresee the
close of such movements and prescribe
their limits. He cannot anticipate or
avoid the consequences, but he must
meet them. No accurate map of ma
tions engaged .in war can be traced
until the war is over. nor can the meas
ure of responsibility be fixed until the
last gun is fired and the verdict en-
bodied in the stipulations of peace.