The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-03-07
OUR SACRED OBLIGATION.
The Future Of Island Possessions
is Peoples Question.
THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
recent Events Have Imposed Great
Responsibilities in the
United States.

fourteenth annual banquet of the Ohio
Society of New York, held Saturday
night in the grand ballroom of the Wal
dorf-Astoria. The Ohioans assembled
HUI strong, with an additional hundred
or distinguished guests at thirty-ont
round tables, superbly decked with, flow
ers.
Senator Mark Hanna occupied seat
or honor, two removed from the Presi
dent, with Cornelius n Bliss as his
nelghbor Others at the speakers table
were Senator S. B. Elkins, Gov. Roose
welt, Lieut. Gov. Woodruff Gov. George
n: Nash of Ohio, John *. Richards, so,
ilcltor-general; former Gov. Levi Z. Nor
ton of New York, Col. James II. Hoyt OF
Ohio. Gen. HI. G.. Corbin, Addison
Brown, George B. Wilson, Gen. Wager
Swayne, Gen. Thomas HI. Hubbard OF
the New England society, Rev. Edwin
IL. kraus of the Canadian society, James
J. O'Gorman of the Friendly Sons of St
Patrick. Charles Diet, II. Clay Evans,
John Barrett, Tunis c. Bergen of the
Holland society, Julien t. Davies Of ST.
Davld's society and Henry r. Towns of
the Pennsylvania society.
President M. r. Southland Of the Ohio
society, acting as POSTMASTER, held the
center of the honor table, President Nc
klnley on the right and Gov. Nash on
the left. For an hour before the ban
quet President Mckinley had welcomed
ali Corners in the AstOr gallery adjoining
the ballroom
The speakers were the President Gov.
Nash Of Ohio, who spoke on "The Gov
ernOrs of Ohio" Lieut.-Gov. Woodruff,
who replied for the Empire State" So
licitor-General John X. Richards, Col.
James Fl. Hoyt.
1t was 10 o'clock before Toastmaster
Southland rose to deliver the address of
welcome. He spoke briefly.
President Mckinley arose to reply amid
a storm of plaudits, napkins were waved
and cheers were given with will.
President Mckinley then spoke as fol
lows:
Speech of President Mckinley.
I appreciate your welcome and thank you
for this renewed expression of goodwill.
IT is proper that ! should say that the man
aging board of the Ohio society has kept the
promises made to me that / would not be
expected or required to speak at this ban
quet. shall not be guilty of rejecting on
their good faith breaking my own resOlu-
ton not to speak i'll indulge in some 0bser-
yatiOns while expressing in the briefeSt
manner the pleasure which have in greet
ing my old friends of the Ohio colony in
New York. There is bond of close fellow
ship which unites Ohio people,. Wherever
cherish tcnderest. sentiment for their moth
er state, and she in turn never fails of af-
fectionate interest in her widely scattered
children
The statement which has been so often
made is not far from the truth. Once an
Ohioan always an Ohioan.' 1t has been
some years since l 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 legislative
assurance of the continuance of the gold
standard, with which we measure eX-
changes, and we have the open door in the
far East, through which to market our prod
ucts. We are neither in alliance nor an
tagonism nor ENHANCEMENT with any for
eign power but OH terms of amity and COR
diality with all. We buy from all of them
and sell to all of them, and our sales eX-
ceeded our purchases in the last two years
by over one billion dollars.
Country Prosperous and Happy.
Markets have been increased and mort
cages have been reduced. Interest has fall
en- 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 those among us,
few in number. | am sure, who seem to
thrive best under bad times and who when
good times overtake them in the United
States, feel constrained to put us on bad
terms with the rest of mankind. With them
can have no sympathy. | would rather
give expression to what | believe TO be the
nober and almost universal sentiment 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 thrty-three years of unbroken
peace came an unavoidable war. Happily
the conclusion was quickly reached, without
a suspicion of unworthy motive of prac-
tice or purpose on our part and with fade
less honor to our arms. | cannot forget
the quick response of the people to the
country's need and the quarter of million
men who freely offered their lives to their
country,'s service. 1t was an impressive
spectacle of national strength. 1t demon
strated our mighty reserve power and
taught MS that large standing armies are
unnecessary when every citizen is a min
ute man. ready to join the ranks for ma
t0nal defense.
Nations Trials and Problems.
Out of these recent events have come to
tne United States grave trials and response
Dliltles. AS it was the nations war, so are
tion rests upon us all. 1t is too serious to
stlne. 1t is too earnest for repOSe. No phase
or catchword can cancel the sacred obliga-
ton it involves No use OF epithets, no as
persior of motives by those VINO differ will
contribute to that sober judgment so essen
tlal to right conclusions. No political cutlery
can abrOgate our treaty Of peace with Spain
or absolve us from its solemn engagements.
1t Is the peoples question and will be until
its determination is written out in their en-
llghtened verdict We must choose between
manly doing and base desertion. 1t will
never be the latter. 1t must be sOberly set
tied in justice and good conscience, and it
VIII! be- Righteousness which eXalteth Il
nation, must control in it's solution.
NO great emergency has arisen in this ma
tons history and progress which has not
been met by the sovereign people with high
capacity. with ample strength and with
unf1inching fidelity to every honorable OBJ
legation. Partisanship can hold few of us
against solemn public duty. We have seen
this so often demonstrated in the past as to
mark unerringly what it will be in the fu-
ture The national sentiment and the ma
tlonal conscience were never stronger or
higher than now. There has been a re-
union OF the people around the holys altar
consecrated to country and newly sancti-
NED by common sacrifices.
The followers of Grant and Lee have
fought under the same flag and fallen for
the same faith. Party lines have ioosened
ana the ties of union have been rooted in
the hearts Of the American people. Polit-
lcal passion has altogether subsidized and pa
triotism CLOVIS with ineXtinguishabe fer
vor In every home in the land. The flag
has been sustained on distant sea and is
lands by the men of all parties, and sec
tlons and creeds. and races. and national
ties, and its stars are only those of radiant
nope TO the remote people over whom it
floats.
Can be No imperialism.
There can be no imperialism. Those who
fear are against it, Those who have faith
In the republic are against IT. So that there