The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-06
OHIOAN AMONG OHIOANS.
Address of President Mckinley at
Buckeye Banquet.

Mr.. IOaSImaSTer ana GeQIlemen-1
| appreciate your welcome and thank you
for this renewed expression of good
will. It is proper that I should say that
the managing board of the Ohio society
has kept the promises made to me that
I would not be expected or required to
| speak at this banquet I shall not be
guilty of rejecting on their good faith
or breaking my own resolution not to
| speak, if indulge in some observations
while expressing in the briefest manner
| the pleasure which 1 have in greeting
my old friends Of the Ohio colony in
New York.
There is a bond of close fellowship
| which unites Ohio people Wherever they
journey or wherever they dwell they
| cherish tenderest sentiment for their
| mother state and she in turn never fails
| of affectionate interest in her widely
| scattered children.
THE statement which has been so Of
ten made is not far from the truth,
once an Ohioan, always an Ohioan.' It
| has been some years since I was your
| guest Much has happened in the mean
/ time. We have had our blessings and
| our burdens, and still have both. We
will soon have legislative assurance of
| the continuance of the gold standard
| with which we measure our exchanges
| and we have the open door in the far
eats through which no market our pro-
! ducts.
I'VE are neither in alliance nor an
| tagonism nor ENHANCEMENT with any
/ foreign power, but on terms of amity
and cordially with all. We buy from
| all of them and sell to all of them, and
1 our sales exceeded our purchases in the
| past two years by over $1,000, 900 O00
| Markets have been increased and mort
! cages have been. reduced. Interest has
fallen and wages have advanced. The
public debt is decreasing. The country
| is well-to-dO. Its people for the most
| part are happy and contented. They
! have good times and are on good terms
with the nations of the world.
| There are, unfortunately, those
among US, few in number, 1 am sure,
| who seem to thrive best under bad
| times, and who, when good times over
| take them in the United States, feel
constrained to put US on bad terms
| with the rest of mankind. With them I
! can have no sympathy. I would rather
| give expression to what 1 believe to be
| the nObler and almost universal senti-
! ment of my countrymen in the wish not
| only for our peace and prosperity, but
for the peace and prosperity of all the
nations and peoples of the earth.
| after 80 years of unbroken peace
| came an unavoidable war. Happily, the
conclusion was quickly reached without
| suspicion of unworthy motive or
practice or purpose on our part, and
with fadeless honor to our arms.
II can not forget the quick response
of the people to the country's need and
the quarter of million men who freely
offered their lives to their country's
service. 1t was an impressive spectacle
of national strength. 1t demonstrated
our mighty reserve power and taught
US that large standing armies are I'M
necessary when every citizen is a, min
ute man. ready to join the ranks for
national defense.
"Out of these recent events have come
to the United States grave trials and
responsibilities. As it was the nation S
war, so are its results the nations prob
lem. Its solution rests upon US all It
is too serious to Stifie. 1t is too earnest
for repose. No phrase or catchword
can cancel the sacred obligation it in
volves.i No use of epithets, no dispersion
of motives by those who differ will con-
tribute to that sober judgment so es-
sential to right conclusions.
mo political outcry can abrogate our
treaty of peace with Spain or absoIve
US from its solemn engagements. 1t is
the peoples question and will be until
} its determination is written out in their
enlightened verdict. They must choose
between manly doing and base deser-
ton. 1t will never be the latter. II
must be soberly settled in justice and
good conscience, and it will be. Right
eOuSnesS which exalteth a, nation must
control in its solution. No great emer-
gency has arisen in this nations his
tory and progress which has not been
: met by the sovereign people with high
capacity, with ample strength, and with
unfinching fidelity to every honorable
| obligation.
"Partisanship can hold few of us
against solemn public duty. We have
seen this so often demonstrated in the
past as to mark unerringly what it will
be in the future. The national senti-
ment and the national conscience was
never stronger or higher than now
There has been a reunion of the people
, around the holy altar consecrated to {
country newly sanctified by common
sacrifices. The followers of Grant an6
Lee have fought under the same f1ag
and fallen for the same faith. Party
, lines have loosened and the ties of IN
Il ion have been rooted to the hearts oil
, the American people. Political passion
: has altogether subsidized, and patriotism
glows with inextinguiShable fervor il
i, every home in the land. The flag ha.
been sustained on distant seas and is
= lands by the men of all parties and sec
lions and creedS and races and ma
. tionalities, and its stars are only thos,
of radiant hope to the remote people.
. over whom it floats.
There can be no imperialism. Those
: who fear are against it. Those who have
faith in the republic are against it. ST
: that there is universal adherence fol
it, and unanimous opposition to it. Oul
only difference is that those who do no
l agree with US have no confidence in the
< virtue or capacity, or high purpose, OF
good faith of this free people as
e ciVilizing agency. while we believe tina,
the century of free government which
n the American people have enjoyed ha.
i not rendered them faithless and irreso
J. lutte, but has fitted them for the grea
a task of lifting up and assisting to bet
e ter conditions those distant peoples wht
= have, through the issue of battle, be
come our wards.
t Let us fear not There is no oc.
4 casion for faint hearts, no excuse fo
i regrets. Nations do not grow il
r strength and the cause of liberty anC
! law is not advanced by the doing o
= easy things. The harder the task TIL
greater will be the result, the benefi
and the honor To doubt our power t,
accomplish it is to lose faith in tn.
soundness and strength of our popula
institutions. The liberators will neve
| become the oppressors. A self governed
| people will never permit despotism il
any government which they foster ane
defend.
ssGentlernen. we have the nevv care