Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-05-18


the prosperity that had departed from
them.
Those who opposed said, No, it can not
be possible; unless they pursue this
or that policy, it can not be
done. 1t is sufficient to say that, through
the action of the republican party and the
republican administration, prosperity has
been restored to all the people of this
land, so that we stand once again a
united republican party. The doubts
and the uncertainties, the differences of
opinion, are all settled, and we are back
again in one household, all upon one
equal plane-republicans, every one of
us. From that standpoint let us speak
and let us act. Let us overlook the diff
ferences because they were honest differ
ences.
We will take the republican party just
where we find il today with its record for
the last four years, and if it had been
born four years ago its record is glorious
enough, its achievements are great
enough, to commend it to the people of
the United States today as the only safe
guardian of their peace and of their liber-
ties.
Scarcely had it assumed the power that
the last national election delegated to it
until the cries fwar began to rise. The
eneny-will you pardon me for using
that expression-it is SO hydra headed l
can not class it under another name-the
opposition to the republican party was
screaming for war with Spain. And be-
fore the administration could prepare it
for that conservative, sure action that
alone could bring success, they con-
demned the administration as cowardly,
as betraying the trust of the people be-
cause, forsooth, it would not send the
troops to the front before war was de-
clared or the cause of war had arisen
They wanted war for what purpose
They wanted us to attack Spain or Cuba
for what purpose2 They wanted us to
attack Spain wherever we could find her.
For what purposee To have a fight and
then each to retire to their own cabin
again like two savages. After they had
won the battle in the field they would
abandon the principles and refuse to sus-
tain the subject for which they fought.
The republican party, acting through
its chosen leaders, exercised that conserv-
ative, cool judgment that has always
characterized its action, the conservative
judgment of Lincoln or a Grant, the
conservative judgment of Mckinley and
his cabinet that saw TO it that before the
American people struck blow in war
that they were ready to back it up to the
last ditch; that our army and our navy
were where they should be and i'll a con-
dition that they should be before we took
the aggressive step. When the time did
come, when in the deliberate judgment
of the administration the time had come
when its hand could no longer be stayed
and the blow was struck, and out of the
flames of war came victory such as no ma
ton on earth ever enjoyed, this very ell
ement that had been screaming for war
Immediately begun abusing the admins
tration because it had begun the war and
won the victory and is today clamoring
: that we should give up the philippines
of which became possessed as a result OF
+, our victory and undo the results of the
war.
Why, ladies and gentlemen, the objec,
of that war was to loosen the grasp o
Spain upon the throats of those people
who were liberated by that war. Should
we, after having done that, step back
= and let them resume their hold upon the
: weakling? Was that the object of having
a fight in order to show that we were
strong and great and powerful ? be
: lieve that the policy of the republican
party today is in perfect accord with the
policy of the administration when il Ell
. tered upon that war. 1t was not only t.
;, break the grasp of Spain upon the throat
of those people. Ii was to civilize tn,
: people who live upon these islands, t,
educate them and, when we reach tina
place, give them sovereignty-not to Civ,
, them selfgovernment and say, "tak
your chances with all the nations of th
earth," but to give them that kind O
: lf-government that you and l enjo
'. here today under the protection of tina
:. flag and the blessings of our institutions
cannot pursue the question of tn
y policy of this administration, SO far as
" understand it, except in the most casua
y manner upon an occasion Of this kint
There is not the time nor is the time fl
ting, but it is safe to say that we are sal
i'll the hands of this administration; q
', we are safe under the protection of til
:, institutions of this country, so will thos
:, people be safe. You can rely upon Ii
conservative wisdom of those in power
g secure and perpetuate to those people IL
,, same blessings in the proper measui
~ that you yourselves enjoy.
=" Expansion-there it is, written upo