The Portland daily press., 1900-11-26
PRESIDENT STEAKS.
The Republican Triumph IEis Theme at
PhtiaasIphts.

at the Founders day" banqust OF the
Union League eIub, one Of the oldest and
most influential Republican clubs In the
country. In addition 20 MIR. MCKINLEY
there were present Theodore Roosevelt,
Vice President-elect, and the members OF
the cabinet. with the exception OF Score
tary OF War Koot who Is In Cuba. and
Senators Lodge and woloott. President
Mokinley's reception was most enshusiss-
tic and much importance was attached
10 his address as tt was his first publio
utterance since his recent victory. After
driving through several Of the principal
streets IN the center OF the city, he was
entertained at the residence OF e. y.
StotesDury, q prominent nnAncier OF this
city. Following this. Mr.. MCKINLEY was
escorted TO the Union League, where he
held an Informal reception. AZ the con-
clusion OF the dinner, the President held
Union League individually paid their re-
spects to him. At midnight the Presi-
dent left for Washington. Numerous
speeches were made during the evening
and those second In Importance TO that
OF the President, were delivered by Gov.
Roosevelt ana Senators Lodge and VOL
colt. President Mckinley saids
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
Gentlsmen Of the Union League:-
An uAb1E uIuDCT bpcoou II w Auo mhWDyb ~
difficult performance; an after election
speech after dinner Is q still more dtffi-
cult task and l shall do littls mare than
make noknow lsdgment 20 this patriotic
association for It's unceasing loyalty 20
the government; for the earnest support
it has given to the present administration
In the trying years through which 10 has
passed and express my sincere thanks for
the great honor this nesting and dem on
stration bring to me, which should be
shared by my distinguished associate on
the national ticket, the Vice President
elsot as well as by those oonnected with
me in the conduct of public affairs.
We are always In danger OF sxaggera'
tion on an occasion of exultation over q
political victory and while the result u
mainly due to the efforts OF our spienuid
party, there Is sometimes tendency 70
give too little credit to other forces.
which, silent though they may have been,
were none the less potential. We must
not withhold generous acknowi Judgement
from that great body Of citizens who, bs-
longing 10 another party, powerfully as
sisted In the achievement OF the resul6
which you celebrate tonight, nor from
that other large body, former memters Oh
our party who, with honesty OF purpose,
separated from us q few years ago on
financial Issues, have now returned and
are home again to stay. Nor is any Ac-
counting for the victory either Just or ac-
curate which leaves out OF the caloula-
tion the almost unbroken column OF
labor engaged In mechanics ana agrfcul-
ture, which rejected the false doctrine OF
class distinction as having no place In
this republic and which rebuked those
teachings which wouis destroy the faith
OF American manhood In American char
acter and American Institutions. Inc
business men In every part OF the country
typified by this great organization were
- So gw.k kAa .rzt N
may we not also asorlbe much to the In
tiuence OF the home, with its atbliationsr
In any previous election was 10 greater
or In any did the counsels Of this tirsside
determine more largely the vote OF the
eleotorsf
Nothing in government can be more
impressive than q national election, where
the people delegate their power and In
vest their constitutional agents with au-
thority to execute their behests. The very
character of the transaction clothes 1t
with solemnity. 1t Ii serious business
Its issues are always momentous. What
a lesson IN self-governmenb ssit teaches !
Sixteen million voters on the same day,
throughout every section OF the Unitsd
States, depositing their mandate and re-
cording their will. Done by the peopls
in their own communities, In the very
precincts Of the home, under the super
vision OF their own fellow oitizens and
and Independence, the ballot secret
one. God forbid that any citizen selected
for that sacred trust should ever attempt
to divert the will of the sovereign people
or tamper with the sanctity OF their bal
lot.
/: Some disappointments follow all cleo
lions; but all men rejoice when an cleo
tion>is so decisive as to admit OF neither
dispute nor contest. The value Of a ma
tionsl victory can only be rightly meas
ured and appreciated by what ft averts as
well as by what 1t acoomplishes. It 10
fortunate Tor the party in power II Is I'M
derstands the true meaning OF the result
Those charged by the people with admin
istration and Legislation are required TO
interpret as we'll as to execute the pub
Iic will and its rightful Interpretation Is
essential to Its faithful execution. We
cannot over-estimate the great import7
ance and the far reaching consequences
OF the electoral contest which ended on
the sixth OF November. 1t has to me no
personal phase. 1t is not tha triumph OF
an Individual, nor altogether OF q party,
but an emphatic declaration by the peo-
pie OF what they telieve and would have
maintained In government. A great
variety of subjects Was presented ana
discussed during the progress OF the cam
paign. We may differ as to the extsnt OF
the influence OF the several isues In
voIvsd, but we are all agreed as TO GER
tain things which It settled. 1t records
the unquestioned endorsement OF the gold
standard. industrial Independence, broad
er markets. commercial expansion, reoip-
rooal trade, the open-door In China. the
invoilability OF public faith, the indie
pendence and authority of the judiciary,
and peace and beneffcient government
in the Philippines. American credit re-
mains unimpsirsd, the American name
unimpeached, the honor of American
arms unsullied and the obligations OF q
righteous war and treaty of peace unre-
pndiated. The Republican party has
placed upon 1t tremendous responsibili-
ties No party copld ask for higher ex-
preston OF confidence. It Is a great thing
to have this confidence; 1t will be great
er thing to deserve and hold it. 10 this
party are committed new and grave
problems. They are too exalted for parti-
sanship. No task of settlement Is for the
whole American people. Who Will say
they are unequal TO itf
Liberty has not lost, but gained in
strength. The structure of the fathers
stands secure upon the foundations upon
which they raised 1t and is today, as it
has been in the years past, and as 1t VIII
be In the years 90 come, the Govern
ment of the people. by the people and for
the people,"