Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-03-01

oars DV FtEHV VI
for humanity. They come 70
as the fruits of victory and alter
wards confirmed and ratified by
treaty. When the sun rose on the
morning of Nav LIST, 1898 those
islands belonged to the sovereign
power of Spain, out before 1t bad
reached its meridian heighth, they
had been transferred to the sovereign
mower of the United States; they
had been transferred at the mouth
of blazing cannon, by the we'll con-
structed ships of the American navy;
by the heroic valor, the brave heart
aud the patriotic purpose OF our
greatest living hero, Admiral Geo.
Dewey.
The soil of L.uzon has been water
ed with the rich blood CT American
patriots. The American soldier Is
living upon these islands in the cold,
still coach of death. IL Abraham
Lincoln were alive tonight he would
l have no doubt, say wherever the
boys in blue fall fighting to maintain
che supremacy of their country's dag
that there above their sacret dust,
should that proud banner float ana
float forever. President Mckinley
aad the American people are not
TO be deferred from the execution
of the great task before them
by democratic quotations from
the Constitution and from the Dec
laration of Independence. Let the
student of history turn over the
pages of a history of this country to
ascertain which party has been the
mott conspicuous in adhsring to the
Constitution whether the republican
party or the democratic party, and
we have no fear of the result.
There is not a charge made against
President Mckinley but what was
also made against Abraham Lincoln
in 1864. In substance that he is
seeking to build a monarehial form
Of government on the ruins OF the
republic.
Let me read you a few lines from
the Indictment found against Lincoln
by the democratic party in 1864:
Resolved that this convention does
explicitly declare, as the sense of the
American people, that after four
years of failure to restore the union
by the experiment of war, during
which, under the p~retense OF a mill
tary necessity greater than the Con-
stitution, the constitution itself has
been disregarded in every part, and
public liberty and private rights
alike trodden down"
@And they hereby declare that they
consider the administrative usurpation
of extraordinary and dangerous powers
not granted by the Constitution: The arbi.
trary military arrest, Imprisonment, trial
and sentence of American citizens in
states where civil laws exist in full force;
the open and avowed disregard of state
rights, has calculated to prevent "a res.
t~oration of the union and the perpetuatior
of a government deriving its just powers
from the consent of the governed"
Where do you think Lincoln would
stand on that question today.
In 1864 the American people after
full consideration of the question intrust
ed the Constitution and the Declaration
OF Independence and the reins OF govern.
meut to the keeping of the republican
party, and my friends, | have the utG.ost
confidence that in 1900 the American
people will again take those precious in
struments and will again give them int
the keeping Of the republican party anc
to that great and trusted standard bearer
William Mckinley.
| believe, my friends. that he is indpt,
u little American who, knowing til
traditions aud history Of this gloriou
land OF ours, has 20 little confidence il
his native land and its flag to belieyt
that il eau be anything else but an un
mixed blessing to che people of the Phil
ippine Islands, or TO IL country oye
which it floats. There are a multitud
Of reasons which time will not permit IN
to present why the retention of thes
islands j. Il duty that we owe both to TIT
people there aud To the people here a
we'll as to humanity.
Bat there is one duty which Is p~ressin.
upon the people OF this state with peculi
ar force. We are placed before til,
world today in a false light and are mis-
represented. We are occupying a falls,
position. We are loyal. we love on
country and we love our flag. When tn,
war broke out with Spain We furnishe,
to the government more troops in pro
portion TO u population than any othe
stat" in the union. The first South Oak
ota regiment made a record on tie firm,
line in the Philippines unsurpassed b,