The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-11-28
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
The Significance OF His Victory-The
Gold Standard Endorsed and the
Colonial Policy Approved.

President Mckinley was tho guest
OF honor at the banquet of the Union
| League IN Philadelphia, one OF the old
est and most influential Repu bilcan or
ganizations in TIE country. His recl d.
| tiOn was enthusiastic, and much in Dor
| tance M9s attached to his address, AS
1t was his li"st public uIteranco since
the recent victory OF his p~rty. The
President spoke Us foIIo|s:
Gentlemen OF The Union LeaErc
An alter dinner speech Is to me ALWAYS
| dlfiiCQ!t performance an after elec-
tion speech after dinner Is still q
more diiiicuit task, and ! shall DO little
| more than make Acknowledgement to
this patriotic association for it's un-
ceasiDg loyalty TO the government for
the earnest support it has given to the
preseut administration in the trying
yeare through which it has passed, and
express my sinccre thanks for the
great honor this meeting and demon
stratlon bring TO me, watch should be
shared by my distinguished associate
| on the national ticket, tho vice Dresi-
ldcnt-elcct, as we'll as those connected
with me IN the conduct Of public affairs.
We are always IN danger OF eXeggera-
tion on an Occaa on Of eXaltatiCn over
political victory, and while the result
splendid party there is sometimes a
tendency to give too little credit to
other forces which, silent though they
may have been, we're none the less p0
tcntiel. We must not withhold gener-
Gus acknowledgements from thai great
body OF our ctz rs who, belonging to
another party, powerfully assisted in
the achievement OF tho result which
you celeb ate tonight; nor from that
other large body, former members OF
our own party who, with honesty OF
purpose separated from us few years
ago on financial issues, have now re-
turned, and are homo again TO stay
Nor Is any accounting for tho victory
either just or accurate which leaves
out OF the calculation the almost un-
broken column OF labor engaged in me-
chanics and agriculture, which reject.
| ed the false doctrine Of class distinction
as having no place in this republic,
and which rebuked those teachings
which would destroy the faith OF Amer
! lean manhood In American character
| and American institutions. Tho busi-
ness men in every part OF the country,
represented by this great organic alton,
were mighty factor in the recent con-
test. And may we not also 8scribe
much to the influence OF the home,
with its atliiliation? In any previous
election was it greater, or in any did
the cOunses Of the tireside determine
more largely the vote OF the electors
| " Nothing in government can be
| more impressive than d national eec.
tion, whore the people delegate their
power and invest their constitutio
| agents with auth )riJy to execute their
behests The very character of the
transaction clothes it with solemnity
1t Is serious blsiness. lts issue5 are
always m0mentous. What q lesson In
scif-govcrDmentit IT. teaches. SiXteca mil.
lion voters on the same day, through
out every section OF the United States,
depositlne their mandate and record.
ing their will. Done by the people In
their communal ties In the very precincts
OF the home, under the supervision OF
their own fellow citizens and chosen
OMcials, and to insure it's freedom and
independence the ballot secret one.
God forbid that any citizen selected for
that sacred trust should over attempt
to divert the will OF the sovereign pgo.
pie, or tamper with the sauctity OF their
ballots.
"Somc disappointmcnt5 follow all
elections but all men rejoice when an
election is 80 dec sive as to admit OF
neither dispute nor contest The value
of u naiiCral victory can only DA right.
ly measured and appreciated by what
it averts as we'll rs by what It accepts.
I 1t is fortunate for the party in power
If 1t understands the true meaning OF
the result. Those charged by the peo.
pie with administration and legislation
!, are required to interpret as well as to
execute tho public will and it's rightful
r Interpretation ie essential to It's faith
. fui execution. We cannot over-esti.
mate the great Importance ard the far
r reaching consequences of the electoral
contest which ended on the 9th OF No
vember. 1t 10 not the triumph OF an
individual, not altogether OF party,
but on emphatic declaration OF the
people OF what they believe and would
have maintained In government. A
! great variety of subjects was presented
aud discussed In tho progress Of the
campaign. We may differ as to the