Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-28
HON ]. F. HILL
Continued from page -

and declared by President Cleveland TO
be an outrageous injustice unworthy
of his signature. a law under and part
IN by virtue of which the country for
four years was in a most deplorable
condition one third of its railroads in
The hands of receivers, hundreds of its
banks with closed doors, furnace fires
out, spindles silent, factories closed,
capital too timid for investment. labor
demoralized, millions of willing men
out of work. and other millions work
ing for greatly reduced wages. 1t was.
too. a failure in revenue, resulting in
an increase of the public debt of $3.50
900 900 during Cleveland's admnistra-
lion.
Under Republican legislation the
prosperity of the country after the
close Of the Civil War was the marvel
of the world. We advanced in mining.
manufacturing and agriculture until
we outstripped all rivals, our popula-
ton doubled, our wealth increased by
leaps and bounds until it reached the
enormous aggregate of more than
sixty billions of dollars. Has the party
lost its vigor. its progressive spirit. its
devotion to the interests of the people?
Is ii any less entitled to confidence
now?
While we We're in the Democratic
slough of despond, in 1896. it met in
national convention, promised in its
platform adequate protection to our
working men, necessary encouragement
10 our industries. Il sound currency,
every dollar of which would be the
equal III value of every other. and 4
renewal of Republican prosperity. We
nominated William Mckinley. soldier,
patriOt and statesman, for the Presl-
dency, and triumphantly elected him
with a Republican Congress to support
him.
We redeemed every one Of our prom
ises: promptly repealed the Wilson
law; enacted into the law the Dingley
bill so called; restored to vigorous life
the dying and dead industries; estab-
Ilshed others, gave courage to capital,
employment to all who sought if. re-
stored ana increased wages; enacted
into law a financial bill adopting the
gold standard, making every dollar
minted, and every government promise
to pay. the equal Of every other dollar
and every other government promise in
the NoIll, anu uIl''-l Inv I'll lil7 VI tAiAS
same law. We authorized the issue of
, per cent. bonds. the lowest rate Of
interest ever provided for on any ma
tional bond, yet by the first Of May.
We had exchanged for outstanding
bonds bearing a higher rate Of inter-
est $3.50. 900 0H0 and saved the govern
m"nt So, 900 900 in interest.
Prosperity has been restored, great
or and more widespread than ever be-
fore. The farmer, the miner and the
manufacturer. all have participated in
it, Our exports of agricultural pro-
ducts during the last three years have
been 500 000.0 900 greater than in the
preceding three years. while OF our
manufactured goods. they were, in
1899 and 1899. 100 per cent. greater
than those in 1896. reaching, in 1898, to
81 .000. 900 a day. and for the last eight
months to 81 $50 900 daily. In March
last. they reached s44, 100000. three
times greater than in March, 1895. The
balance of trade in our favor during
the three years of McKinley's admin
istration was 81 .534, $40. 900. while from
1896 to March l. 1897. it was $685., 900.
We have exceeded our promises We
have annexed the Hawaiian Islands,
the Paradise of the Pacific. In the
present fiscal year our exports to them
will amount to $4,000 Gao. 400 per cent.
greater than in 1896. We have acquir-
ed a magnificent harbor there: have es-
tablished a naval and coaling station.
and taken "A mpst important step toward
commercial supremacy in the East. At
the last session of Congress we pro
vded a government for the island ana
The President appointed all the neces-
sary officers, citizens Of Hawaii
We automatically escaped from the
tripartite treaty with Germany and
England for the preservation of the
autonomy of Samoa and saved to our
selves Tutuila with the finest harbor
i'm the Pacific. capable of holding in
safety our entire fleet. and have a
naval ana coaling station established,
already equipped with wharves, docks
ana necessary structures, another adj
vance for US in the commercial war
unon which the world has entered.
Humanity ana n decent sclf-respect
compelled Congress to declare war with
Spain The conflict was sharp, short ana
decisive In a few months that proud
empire was a suppliant for peace. We
readily accorded it, for we loved peace
ANA hated war. \ treaty was made. IN
der its terms Spain yielded the sOvcr-
eighty Of cuba ana Puerto Rico, with
drew its deSputic power from TINS heinl
sphere. removing from Us forever what
had been for years a constant source -
NeX,ttion. ana Il serious menace u peace
This. too. will be Of commercial import
lnce to us. our exports to CUBA atone
will reach this fiscal year. $23.OoVWH'
while in lNh they were only $t.5NtNu. Nr
are using our best rndcaVur$ 10 ala tl'
tublns in establishing an indcpendtn
government. capable of protecting me
and property. maintaining peace ana Or
der. When success shall have crowned
our Efforts ana the promise Of il \
brighter now than ever before. clpltai
will pour into the island. aud its com
mcrce will increase amazingly " VIII y,
ours, for gratitude ana contiSuty VIII
surely give il To us.
We also provided a government i"l
Puerto Rico. and its people are To ENJOY
for the first time in many generations
all the rights and privileges of freemch.
We also acquired Guam. important i"l
the landing of Il cable and Tor 4 coailHS
station. and we have already appropfl-
ated money for improving its harbor
The most important acquisition was IL
Philippine archipelago, right on m M M
threshold Of the Orient. with It's lOO'Vv,V,o
people. Manila will he i great dlStrlpitS
ing point for our products, more val :
To us than Hong Kong has been to oirti
Britain. All Of these Paciilc ISLANDS WI
he to us way stations en- route Tor tHe
East, and of vital Importance from !; i