Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-03-19
President Mckinley
Voices Royal AmeriCaniSm


speech was made at the annual banuet
of the Ohio Society of New York. In
the course of his remarks az the guest
OF the society, the President said:
1t has beer some years since | was
your guest Much has happened In the
meantime. We have had our bless
ings 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 exchange, and we have the open
door in the Far East through which
to market our products. We are Meth
er in alliance nor antagonism nor en-
tanglement with any foreign power,
but on terms of amity and cordially
with all We buy from all Of them,
and our sales exceed our purchase In
the past two years by over one bill
| lion dollars. Markets have been in
creased and mortgages have been re-
ducod. Interest has fallen and wages
have advanced. The public debt Is de-
creasing. 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, | am sure.
who seem to thrive best under bad
times, and who, when good news over
takes them In the United States, feel
constrained to put us on bad terms
with the rest of mankind. With them
l can have no sympathy. | would
rather give expression to what / be-
lieve to be the nobler and almost uni
versal sentiment Of my countrymen
in the wish not only for peace and
prosperity of all the nations and peo-
pies of the earth. After thirty-three
years Of unbroken peace came an un-
avoidable war. Happily, the conclu-
sion was quickly reached, without a
suspic'o" Of unworthy motive of
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 million of men who freely
offered their lives for 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 un-
necessary when every citizen Is a min
ute man. ready to join the ranks for
the national defense.
"Out of the recent events have come
to the United States grave trials and
responsibilities. AS IL was the ma
tons war, so are its results, the ma
tons problem. Its solution rests on
us all. 1t Is too serious to stifle. It is
too earnest for repost No phrase or
catch word can cancel the sacred obi
cation. No use Of epithet, no asper-
sion of motives by those who differ
will contribute to that sober Judgment
so essential to right conclusions. No
political cutlery can abrogate our treaty
Of peace with Spain or absolve us from
its solemn engagements. 1t is the pos
sible 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-
ton. II will never be the latter It
must be soberly settled in justice and
good conscience, and II will be. Right
eousness which exalteth nation must
control its solution.
mo great emergency has arisen In
this nations history and progress
which has not been met by the sover-
eign people with capacity, with ample
strength and with unflinching filedity
to every honorable obligation. Par
tisanship can hold few of us against
solemn public duty. We have had this
so often demonstrated In the past as
to mark unerringly what It will be In
the future. The national sentiment
and the nations conscience was never
stronger or higher than now. There
has been reunion of the people
around the holy altar consecrated to
country newly sanctified by common
sacrifices. The followers of Grant and
Lee have fought under the same flag
and fallen for the same faith. Party
lines have loosened and the ties of
union have been rooted in the hearts
OF the American people. Political pas
sion has altogether subsidized, and pa
triotism CLOVIS with inextinguishable
fervor In every home in the land.
THE flag has been sustained on dis
tant seas and islands by the men of
all parties and sections and creeds and
races and nationalities, and its stars
are only those OF radiant hope to
the remote peoples over whom II floats.
There can be no Imperialism. Those
who fear are against 1t. Those who
have faith In the republic, are against
1t. So there is universal adherence
for 1t and unanimous opposition to It,
The only difference is that those who
don't agree with us have no confidence
In the virtue or capacity or high pur-
pose or goou laith of this free people