The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-18
HIBERNIANS WlNED AND DINED
(Continued from Eighth Page.)


Continued from Eighth Page.)
to Savannah was to be ahead of all of the
rest of the world.
Senator Bacon then addressed himself
TO the present state of national affairs.
There is new and an old United States,
! he said. To discuss and approve one may
be to disapprove the other. In view of our
| recent possessions, he said there is a
United States proper, and United States
improper. Whatever may have been our
views as to the declaration of war against
Spain he said, we must all agree that in
the achievements of our army and
navy, 1t was most re-
markable war. Yet, in comparison
with the late war between the states it
was very small war. The battle of Girls
woldville he said is almost unknown, and
yet it is a fact that in that battle more
men were killed than in the entire Spanish
war on both sides. II was an unknown
battle and yet more men were killed in
one hour than in the entire Spanish war.
Yet in some features 1t was a very i'm
portant war Spain, once great colonial
power, was in that war shorn of almost
the last of her colonial posses sions. and
yet it is fact that that war has worked
a great change in the character of the
government of this people. He had no de-
sire to bring in partisan politics, he said,
yet he proposed to briefly
| discuss the revolution which the war had
brought about in this country. Out of this
war he said, has grown a condition of
| affairs which threatens to bring about
a great revolution in the habits of
thought of our people If the policies
which have grown out of this war are to
| become permanent we must rewrite the
constitution so that its original creators
would hardly recognize it.
LAS the result of the war a great revolu-
ton is upon us" said Senator Bacon, "and
IL is a question whether we shall control
that revolution or it shall control us.
1t was merely his purpose, Senator Ba-
con said, to consider the effects Of the
war without advocating one policy or
another He cited few of the changes
which have been reached. The right of
! self-government is the corner stone of this
structure, he said, and yet it is true
that the army and navy of the United
States are engaged in imposing an unde-
sired government upon an unwilling peo-
pie. Unpleasant as it is for us to recog-
niZe the fact, we are burning the villages
and the homes, and we are shedding in
| torrents the blood of the people whose
only offense is that they desire 10 be free.
Yet, to-day, the great power of the United
States is being exercised to overthrow the
| only republican government that has ever
| been organized on the continent of Asia.
| The results of the war thus far have been
! to revolutionze the fundamental principles
| of republican government. So long as
| this government is engaged in war,
every citizen and every legislator
must stand up for the government
in that war. The great and
fundamental principles of our government.
right or wrong, must always be remem-
bered. "And yet in standing by our gov
| eminent, right or wrong" said Senator
| Bacon, II propose to say when / think
| it is right and when 1 think it is wrong.
| We have heretofore been a peaceful ma
| ton, and in the prosecution of our objects
| as a peaceful nation we have become the
wealthiest of all nations. We have been
in positions where we could say whether
| peace should remain with us or leave us.
Now we become involved in situation
where we may be involved I'm a European
war at any moment. We have engaged in
| a colonial policy which will require at
| least $10O,000O00 per annum to maintain.
| If we are to amuse ourselves with this
| bauble of colonial possessions. most dearly
must we pay for 1t. And it must come
| out of the pockets of the people"
Senator Bacon said that he was confin-
! ing. himself 10 the proposition that while
| In Spain, it had effected a much greater
revolution in this country.
1--WE are to-day" he said, formulating
a war in Asia under the protection of the
| guns of the British navy. With that pro-
| lection withdrawn the government of the
| limited States would be at the mercy of
| any two of the smallest of European ma
| lions.
England for her own selfish purposes is
encouraging us to this policy, which will
place us absolutely in her power. When we
| are committed to that policy beyond the
power of retreat then England will be in
! position to dictate such terms as will be
| necessary for US to accept to maintain the
policy which we have undertaken"
Senator Bacon told an anecdote narrated
to him. he said, in the lobby of the hotel,
on the night of the banquet, of the dog
who pursued the train and the boy owner
| who remarked that he didn't know what
the fool would do with the train when he
| caught it.
Senator Bacon was listened to with the
closest attention throughout and his re-
marks were Endorsed with hearty applause
at the close.
kate Kearney" was sung by the quar-
tette composed of f. e. Rebarer, J. j. Nc
| Donough, Jr., II. e. Ransford and George
| w. Beckett.
Mr.. Walter c. Hartridge responded 10
the toast of Savannah" In beginning,
Mr.. Hartridge expressed his thanks for
the kind sentiments expressed by Senator
Bacon toward Savannah He respectfully
dissented from the senator's proposition
that the withdrawal of England's navy
would leave America subject to any Of the
two nations Of the world. He declared his
belief In the ability of the commander of
the American army and of the American
navy to maintain the flag wherever 1t had
been erected.
Mr. Hartridge spoke eloquently of Sa-
vannahs past, and the noble purpose Of
Oglethorpe in founding the colony. Sa-
vannah is, indeed, the mother Of Georgia.
he declared. though 1t has seemed at times
that the child is disregardful of the moth
er. War, pestilence and storm have but
served TO bind closer to the old city the
hearts of her people. The record Of the
past is clean one. No blot is upon the
| escutcheon Of The city.
Mr.. Bartrldge's eloquent words were lis