The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-21

war with Spain. The result Is history
known Of all men. We have the
prospective now Of only a short two
years. and yet how clear and bright ths
great facts stand out, like the noun.
tain peaks against the sky. while ths
gathering darkness Of a just oblivion
Is creeping fast over the low grounds
where lie forgotten the trivial and un.
important things. the criticisms anC
the fault-hndings which seemed 81
huge when we still fingered among
them.
Here they are. these great factors
"a war Of a hundred days, with
many Victories and no defeats. with
no prisoners taken from US and no ad.
vance stayed, with a triumphant out.
come startling In It's completeness and
in is worldwide meaning. Was ever a
war more Justly entered upon. more
successfully fought, more fully won
more thorough in It's results? Cuba i
free. Spain has been driven from the
Western Hemisphere. II was the work
OF the American people. but the Re-
publican party was their instrument.
Have we not the right 70 say that here
too. even as In the days Of Lincoln, we
nave AHnbHl q bVy4 We nave kEUl
the faith; We have finished the work.
War however, Is ever like the sword
Of Alexander. IL cuts the knots. II Is
a great solvent and brings many re-
suits not TO be foreseen. The world
forces unclaimed in war perform In
hours the work OF years in quiet. Spain
sued for peace. How was that peace Il
be nader The answer 10 this great
question had 70 be given by the presi,
dent Of the United States. We were
victorious in Porto Rico. In the Philip
pines.
Should We give those islands back
10 Spain? Never, was the presldent's s
reply. Would any American wish that
he had wished otherwise? Should we
hand them over to some other power?
Never. was again the answer. Would
our pride and self respect as a nation
have submitted 10 any other reply2
Should we turn the islands, where we
had destroyed all existing sovereignty,
loose upon the world to be a prey TO
domestic anarchy and the helpless
spoil Of some other nation? Again the
inevitable negative. Again the presi-
dent answered as the nation he repre-
sented would have him answer. He
boldly took the islands, took them
knowing well the burden and response
bility. took them with a deep sense Of
duty TO ourselves and others. guided
by a just foresight as 10 our future in
the East. and with an entire faith in
the ability of the American people TO
grapple with the new task When fu-
ture conventions point 10 the deeds by
which the Republican party has made
history, they will proclaim with special
pride that under a republican admin
istratiOn the war Of '9S was fought. and
that the peace with Spain was the work
OF William Mckinley.
$50 much for the past We are proud
of it. but we do not expect to live upon
II, for. the Republican party is preemi-
nently party of action and its march
is ever forward. We are not so mad
that we can be content 10 retreat, or
to mark time The traditions Of the
early days OF our party are sacred to-
us. and are hostages given to theI
American people that We viii not be-
of the great leaders who
have gone. The deeds Of yesterday are
in their turn a pledge and a proof OF
what we promise, we perform, and that
the people who put faith In our declar-
ations in 1896 were not deceived and
may place the same trust In us in 1900.
But our pathway has never lain among
dead issues. nor have We won our vic
tories and made history by delving in
political graveyards. We are the party
Of today, with cheerful yesterdays and
confident tomorows.
The living present is ours. the pres
ent prosperity and activity in business,
Of good wages and quick payments of
labor employed, and capital invested;
cf sunshine in the market place, and
the stir Of abounding life in the work
shop and on the farm. Ii is with this
that We have replaced the depression,
the doubts, dull business, the low
wages, the idle labor. the frightened
capital, the dark clouds which over
hung industry and agriculture in 1895.
This is what we would preserve. so far
as sound government and wise leglsla-
ton can do. This is what we brought
to the country four years ago. This is
what we offer now. Again we promise
that the protective system shall be
maintained, and that our great indus
trial interests shall go on their way
by the dire fear OF tariff
agitation and Of changing duties.
Again we declare that we will guard
the National credit, uphold a sound
currency based on gold, and keep the
wages of the workingman and the en-
terprlse Of the man of business free
from that most deadly of all evils--a
standard of value. The de-
hcit which made this country in time
of profound peace a borrower of money
10 meet its current expenses, has been
by abundant revenues, being
4 surplus, due alike to prosperity and
wise legislation. so ample that we can
now safely promise a large reduction of
taxation without imperiling our credit
or risking a resort to loans.
We are prepared to take steps to
revive and build up our merchant
marine and thus put into American
pockets the money paid for carrying
American freights. Out of the abund-
ant resources, which our financial
egislation has brought us. we will
build the Isthmian canal. and lay the
cables which will help to turn the cur
rent OF eastern trade to the Golden |
Gate. We are on good terms with all !
nations, and mean to remain so, while |
We promise to insure our peace and |
safety by maintaining the Monroe |
Doctrine, by ample coast defenses. and /
oy building up navy which no one
AN challenge with impunity.
The new problems brought by the !
var We can faceD with confidence in |
ourselves and still deeper confidence
n the American people. who will deal /
Justly and rightly with the islands |
which have come into their charge. |
The outcry against our new possess
ions is as empty as the cant about |
nilitarism and imperialism" is devoid
# sense and meaning. Regard for a
moment those who are loudest in
that the American people are
bout to enter upon a career of de-
'ression, and that the Republic is in
langsr. Have they been in the past
he guards for freedom? Is safety for
liberty now to be found most surely in
he party which was the defender of
slavery? Is true freedom to
'e secured by the ascendancy Of the
'arty which beneath our very eyes