The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-03-27
NO IMPERIALISM.
THERE CAN BE NO IMPERIALISM,
SAYS PRESIDENT M'kiNLEY.
Those Who Fear, and Those Who Have
Faith in the Republic. Are Both Against
It-A Self-Governed People VIII Never
Permit Despotism In Any Government
Which They Foster and Defend.


icy is his speech at the dinner of the
Ohio Society in New York.
The toast, 1.-The President" was
drunk standing. President Mckinley
then arose amid tremendous applause.
In the course of his speech he said:
1T has been some years since 1 was
your guest. Much has happened in
the meantime. We have had our
blessings and our burdens and still
have both. We will soon have legis-
lative 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
neither in alliance nor antagonism nor
ENHANCEMENT with any foreign power,
but on terms of cordiality with all. We
buy from all of them and sell to all
of them, and our sales exceeded our
purchases in the past two years by
over S1,0o0, 100000. Markets have been
increased and mortgages have been re-
duced. Interest has fallen and wages
have advanced. The public debt is
decreasing 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,
among us, few in number l am sure,
who seem to thrive best under bad
times, and who when good times over
take them in the United States feel
constrained TO put us on bad terms
with the rest of mankind. With them
l have no sympathy. l would rather
give expression 10 what l believe to
be the nobler and almost universal sen
timent of my countrymen in the wish
not only for our peace and prosperity
but for the peace and prosperity of
all the nations and peoples of the earth.
After thirtythree years of unbroken
peace came an unavoidable war. Hap
PLY the conclusion was quickly
reached without suspicion of un-
worthy motive or practice or purpose
on our part and with fadeless honor TO
response of the people to the country's 5
need and the quarter of a million men
who freely offered their lives to their
country's service. 1t was an impress
sive spectacle of national strength 1t
demonstrated our mighty reserve
| power and taught us that large stand
ing armies are unnecessary when
every citizen is minute man. ready
to join the ranks for national defense.
"Out of these recent events have
come to the United States grave trials
and responsibilities. As it was the
nations war, so ore its results the
nations problem. Its solution rests
upon us all. 1t is too serious to stife.
1t is too earnest for repose. No phrase
or catchword can cancel the sacred OBJ
legation. No use of epithets, no asper-
sion of motives by those who differ
will contribute to that sober Judgment
so essential to right conclusions. No
political outcry can abrogate our treaty
of peace with Spain or absolve us from
! its solemn agreements. 1t is the
| peoples question and will be until its
determination is written out in their
enlightened verdict
There can be no Imperialism. Those
| who fear are against it. Those who
! have faith in the republic are against
| it. So there is universal adherence
for it and unanimous opposition to it.
t.,
do not agree with us have no conf
dence in the virtue or capacity or high
| purpose or good faith of this free
| people as n civilizing agency, while we
| believe that the country of free govern
ment which the American people have
| enjoyed has not rendered them faith
| less and irresolute, but has fitted them
| for the great task of lifting up and as
sisting to better conditions those
distant peoples who have through the
issue of battle become our wards. Let
us not fear. There is no occasion for
| faint hearts, no excuse for regrets
| Nations do not grow in strength and
the course of liberty and law is not ad-
vanced by the doing of easy things.
! The harder the task, the greater will
be the result, the benefit and the honor
| To doubt our power to accomplish is
| to lose faith in the soundness and
strength of our popular institutions.
| The liberators will never become the
| oppressors. A self-governed people
will never permit despotism in any
government which they foster and de
| fend.
and cannot shift it, And, breaking up
the camp of care and isolation, let us