River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-11-29
TALKS AT A BANQUET.
President Mckinley Declares In Phil
adelphia That There IL No
Danger of Empire.

Philadelphia, Nov. 90. President
Mckinley, in a speech before the Union
League club of this city Saturday even
ing, paid glowing tribute to the silent
forces that brought about republican
victory in the recent election. During
his speech, which was brief, he also
announced the principles for which a
great majority of the voters had de-
clared themselves, and expressed the
hope that the administration might
meet the expectations of the people,
who had honored it with a return 10
power.
The occasion was founders day" at
the Union League club, and the gath
ering included many notable men
from New York, Washington and lead
ing cities in Pennsylvania. Numerous
speeches were made during the even
ing, and those second in Importance
to that of the president were by Gov.
Roosevelt and Senators Lodge and VOL
colt.
When the president arose TO speak he
was greeted with long-continued APP
he spoke in part as follows:
Eve are always in danger of exaggera-
tion on an occasion of exultation over a
political victory, and while the result IS
mainly due TO the efforts of our splendid
party, there is sometimes a tendency TO
give too little credit to other forces, which,
silent though they may have been, were
none the less potential.
Eve must not withhold generous ac-
acknowledgement from that great body of our
citizens. who, belonging to another party,
powerfully assisted in the achievement of
the result which you celebrate tonight;
nor from that other large body, former
members of our own party, who, with hon
esty of purpose, separated from us few
years ago on financial issues, have now re
turned and are home again to stay.
Nor is any accounting for the victory
either just or accurate which leaves out Of
the calculation the almost unbroken column
of labor engaged in mechanics and agricul-
ture, which rejected the false doctrine of
class distinction as having no place in this
republic, and which rebuked those teachings
which would destroy the faith of American
manhood in American character and Amer
lean institutions. The business men in every
part of the country, typified by this great
organization, were a mighty factor in the
recent contest. And may we not also as
cribe much to the influence of the home,
with its affiliations? In any previous cleo
ton, was it greater, or in any did the coun-
sells OF the freside determine more largely
the vote of the electors?
Nothing in government can be more inn
pressive than a national election, where the
people delegate their power and invest their
constitutional agents with authority to ex-
ecute their behests. The very character OF
the transaction clothes it with solemnity.
I'VE cannot overestimate the great inn
portance and the far-reaching consequences
of the electoral contest which ended on the
9th of November. 1t has to me no personal
phase 1t is not the triumph of an individ-
ua, nor altogether Of party, but an en-
phatic declaration by the people of what
they believe and would have maintained in
government. A great variety of subjects
was presented and discussed in the progress
of the campaign. We may differ as to the
extent of the influence of the several issues
involved, but we are all agreed as to GER
tain things which it settled.
at records the unquestioned Endorsement
of the gold standard, industrial independ-
ence broader markets. commercial ex-
pansion, reciprocal trade, the open door in
China, the involabiIity of public faith, the
independence and authority of the judiciary,
and peace and benefieent government under
American sovereignty in the Philippines
American credit remains unimpaired, the
American name unimpeached, the honor Of
American arms unsullied and the obligations
of a righteous war and treaty of peace un.
repudiated.
"The republican party has placed upon il
tremendous responsibilities. No party
could ask for higher expression of con-
fidence. 1t is great thing to have this con
fidence; it will be greater thing to deserve
and hold it. To this party are committed
new and grave problems. They are too ex-
allied for partisanship. The task of settle.
ment is for the whole American people. Who
will say they are unequal to it?
Liberty has not lost, but gained in
strength. The structure of the fathers
stands secure upon the foundations on
which they raised it, and is to-day, as it has
been in the years past, and as it will be in
the years to come, the government Of the
people, by the people and for the people
"Be not disturbed; there is no danger
from empire; there is no fear for the re.
nublic"