The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-03-07
MCKINLEY ON TUE PHILIPPINES.
He declares There Can BE No Impc.
rialism--HiS Aim is to CiviIize The
New Posse ssions.

"Prcsident Nick inley was the cues
OF honor at the annual meeting OF tn
ONO Society in New YORK. In re
sp0nse TO toast the President spok
as follows
Mir. Toastmaster and Gentlemen
| appreciate your welcome and thanI
you for this renewed expression Of gooC
will.
1t has been some years since wa
your guest Much has happened in tn,
meantime. We have had our blessing
and our burdens and still have both
We will soon have legislative assur
ance Of the continuance OF the gold
standard with which we measure on,
exchanges and we have the open door il
thd far east through which TO market
our products. We are neither in ALI.
9LCe, nor antagonism, nor entaugle.
ment with any foreign power, but or
terms OF amity and Cordiality with all
| We buy from al OF them and sell to al
| OF theu and our sales exceeded Our
Purchases IN the past two years by
over one million dollars. Markets have
| been increased and mortgages have
been reduced. Interest has fallen and
wages hare advanced The public de bt
is decreasing. The country is well to
do. is l!e for the most part, are
happy Il. ontented. They have good
| times and are on good terms with the
nations OF the world. There are unfor.
tunatGly those among US, few in mum
ber | am sure, who seem to thrive rsst
under hard times and who when good
times overtakc them in the United
States, feel constrained to put us on
bad terms with the rest of mankind.
With them can have no sympathy. |
wou ID rather give expression to what
| hnIiIpn n no "a p,,l,ln,, ,l
universal sentiment OF my cOuntrymcn
in the wish not only for our peace and
prosperity, but for the peace and pros.
perity Ofall the nations and peoples OF
the earth.
After 33 years o: unbroken peacc
came an unavoidable war. Happily
the conclusion was quickly reached,
without "a suspicion OF unworthy motive
Ol practice or purpose on our part and
with fadeless honor to our arms.
cannot forget the quick response OF the
people to the cOuntry's need and the
quarter OF Is million men who freely
offered their lives to their country's
service. II was an impressive spectacle
OF national strength 1t demonstrated
our mighty reserve power and taught
us that large standing armies are un-
necessary when every citizen is "a
minute man, ready 20 join the ranks
for national defense.
"Out OF these recent events have
come TO the United States grave trials
and SpOnsibilities. As it was the
nations war so are the results the ma
tiOn's problem. It's solution rests upon
us. 1t is too serious to 3titc. 1t Is too
earnest forrcposc. Nophrase or catch
word can cancel the sacred obligation
it involves. No use OF epithcts, no as
Dcrsion Of motives by those who diner,
will contribute to that sober Judgment
so essential TO right conclusions. No
political cutlery can abrOgatG our treaty
OF peace with Spain or absOlVc US from
its solemn engagements. II is the peo-
plies question and will be until its de-
termination is written out in their en-
lightencd verdict. We must choose
between manly doing and base deser-
tiOn. 1t Will never be the latter. 1t
must be sOberly settled in Justice and
good conscience and it will be- Right
eonsness, which eXaltcth nation must
control in its solution. Nogrcat emer-
gency has arisen in this nations history
and progress which has not been met
by the sovereign people with nigh ca
pacity, with ample strength ana un.
tilnchInS fidelity TO every hCnOrablc Ob.
legation. Partjsanship 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 scnti.
mCnt and the national conscience was
never stronger or higher than now.
There has been Il reunion OF the people
around the holy altar consecratcd to
country newly sanctiied by common
sacrifices. The followers OF Grant and
Lee have fought under the same flag
and fallen for the faith lbapty
lines have loosencd and the ties OF
union have been rooted in the hearts
OF the American people. Political pas
sior mas altogether subsidized and pa
triotism glows with ineXtinguishablc
ferv0r in every home in the land. The
flag has been sustained on distant seas
and islands by the men OF all parties
and sections and creeds and races and
rationalitics, and its stars are only
those OF radiant hope to the remote
peoples oyer whom it tloats.
There can be no imperialism
Those who fear it are against it. Those
who have faith in the republic are
against it. So that there is universal
abhOrrence for 1T and unanimous oppO-
sitiOn to it. Our only difference is that
those who do not agree with us have
no confidence in the virtue or capacity,
or high purpose or good faith OF this
free people as civiliZipg agency ;
while we believe that the century of
free government which the American
people have enjoyed has not rendered
them faithless ana irresolutc, but has
| fitted them for the great task Of lifting
up and assisting to better conditions
those distant people who have through
the issue Of battle become our wards
Let US fear not. There is no occasion
| for faint hearts, no excuse for regrets.
Nations do not grow in strength and
| the cause OF liberty and law Is not al
vanced by the doing Of easy things.
The harder the task the greater will
| be the result, the benefit and the honor.
70 doubt our power to accomplish 1t is
| to lose faith in the soundness and
strength OF our popular institutions
The liberators will never become the
oppressors. a self.governed people
will never permit despolism in any
government which they foster and dc.
| fend.
Gentlemen, we have the new care
and cannot shift it. And, breaking the
camp OF ease, and isolation, let uS
bravely and hopefully and soberly con
tinue the march OF faithful service anC
lalter not until the work is done. 1t Il
not possible that seventy.hve million o
| American free men are unable to es
tablish liberty and justice and gooG
government In our new possessions