The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-21

nave the perspective now Oh only Snort
two years, and yet how clear and bright
the great facts stand cut, like mountain
peaks against the sky. while the gathering
darkness of just oblivion is creeping
fast over the low grounds where lie for
gotten the trivial and unimportaIt things.
the criticisms and the fault findings,
which seemed so huge when we still lin
gered among them. Here they are, these
great facts-a war of hundred days with
many victories and no defeats, with no
prisoners taken from us and no advance
stayed, with a triumphant outcome start
ling in its completeness and il its world
wide meaning. Was ever a war more just
ly entered upon, more quickly fought more
fully won, more thorough in its results
Cuba is free; Spain has been driven from
the Western Hemisphere. Fresh glory has
come to our arms and crowned cur flag.
1t was the work of the American people,
but the Republican party was their in
strument. Have We not the right to say
that here. too, even as in the days of
Abraham Lincoln. We have fought good
fight. We have kept the faith, we have fin
ished the work?
War. however, is ever like the sword OF
Alexander. 1t cuts the knot. 1t is 2 great
solvent and brings many results not to be
AOiSsSOl- NC NOliu iolSSs III
war perform in hours the work of years
of quiet. Spain sued for peace How was
that peace to be made? The answer to
this great question had to be given by the
President of the United States. We were
victorious in Cuba. in Porto Rico. in the
Philippines. Should We give those islands
back to Spain? Never was the Presi-
dents reply. Would any American wish
that he had answered otherwise? Should
We hand them over to some other power
Never was again the answer. Would our
pride and self-respect as nation have
submitted to any other reply? 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 ma
ton? Again the inevitable negative.
Again the President answered as the ma
ton he represented would have had him
answer. He boldly took the islands. took
them knowing well the burden and iespon-
took them from a deep sense Of
duty to ourselves and others, guided by a
just foresight as to our future in the
East. and with an entire faith in the
ability of the American people to grapple
with the new task. When future conven-
tons point to the deeds by which the Re-
publican party has made history they will
proclaim with especial pride that under a
Republican Administration the war of 1898
was fought and that the peace with Spain
was the work of William Mckinley.
The Party OF Today.
$50 much for the past. We are proud CT
1t, but we do not expect to live upon it,
for the Republican party is pre-eminently
the party OF action, and its march is ever
forward. We are not so made that We can
be content to retreat or to mark time.
The traditions of the early days OF our
party are sacred to Us. and are hostages
given TO the American people that we VIII
not be unworthy of the great leaders who
have gone. The deeds of yesterday are in
their turn aspledge and a proof that what
We promise We perform. and that the peo-
pie who put faith in our declarations 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 victories and made his
tory by delving in political graveyards.
We are the party of today, with cheerful
yesterdays and confident tofnorrows. The
living present is ours, the present of pros
perity and activity in business, of good
wages and quick payments, OF labor en-
pioyed and capital invested, of sunshine
in the market place and .le stir of
Astounding life in the workshop and on the
farm. 1t is with this that We have re-
placed the depression, the doubts. the dull
business. the low wages. the idle labor,
the frightened capital the dark clouds
which oyerhung industry and agriculture
in 1886. This is what we would preserve,
SO far as sound government and wise leg
islation can do it. 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 main
tanned, and that our great industrial in
terests shall go on their way mistaken 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-
terprise Of the man of business free from
that most deadly of all evils, a fiuctuating
standard of value. The deficit which made
this great country in time Of profound
peace a borrower of money to meet the
current expenditures has been replaced by
abundant revenue. bringing a surplus, due
alike to prosperity and to wise legislation,
so ample that We can now safely promise
a large reduction of taxation without i'm
periling our credit or risking a resort to
loans.
I'VE 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 abundant resources which our finan-
cial legislation has brought us we will
build the isthmian canal and lay the ca
bles which will help TO turn the current
Of Eastern trade to the Golden Gate. We
are on good terms with all nations. and
mean to remain SO. while we promise to
ensure cur peace and safety by mair.tein-
ing the Monroe Doctrine. by ample coast
licences, and by building UP a navy which
10 one can challenge with impunity.
The 'sImperinIism" Cry.
1.-THE new problems brought by the war
We face with confidence In ourselves and
still deeper confidence in the American
,eopIe, who will deal Justly and rightly
With the islands which have come into
heir charge. The outcry against our new
possessions is as empty as the cant about
militarism,' and imperialism Is devoid Of
ense and meaning. Regard for a moment
hose who are loudest in shrieking that the
American people are about to enter upon
career of oppression and that the Repub-
ic is in danger. Have they been in the
,ast the guardians of freedom? Is safety
or liberty now to be found most surely in
he party which was the defender of do
nestle slavery? Is true freedom to be Sc
.ured by the ascendaucy of the party
which beneath our very eyes seeks to es-
ablish through infamous laws the de,
,otic rule of small and INSCRIPTIONS
,and of usurpers in Kentucky who trample
here not upon the rights of the black men
My but of the whites, and which seeks to
.xtend the same system to North Carolina
md Missouri?
HAS It suddenly come to pass that the
Democratic party which today aims when
.ver 1t acquires power to continue in Office
" crushing out honest elections and popu-
ar rule; has it,indeed. come to pass. / saw
hat that party is the chosen protector of