The Irish standard., 1901-03-09
mcKlNlEY's INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

|
messed. Republican simplicity was
cast to the winds and imperial splendor
characterized the event. Thousands
congregated at Washington from all
parts of the country to participate in
the parade and attend the Inauguration
festivities. 1t is unnecessary to say
that the farming and laboring classes
were not represented at the gorgeous
display. 1t was the plutocratic ele-
ment which was most in evidence, for
! Mckinley is the president of the rich
and not of the poor.
The inaugural address deserves some
attention from the fact that it is of un-
usual brevity and more easily under
/ stood than his messages. 1t is dema-
gogical, of course, but that was to be
expected from Mark Hanna's facto-
tum. He refers to "the prophets of
evil'' who act as obstructonists to
j destroy the confidence in the ability
of our people to solve wisely and for
civilization the mighty problems rest
Ing upon them" He means the colon
ial policy in Porto Rico and the Phil
ippincs. "Our institutions will not de-
tcriorate by extension" he says, land
our sense of justice will not abate un-
der tropic suns in distant seas"
That sounds pretty nicely, but it is
nothing but clap-trap. '.rhe path Of
progress is seldom smooth" he contin-
ucs. New things are often found
hard to do. Our fathers found them
So" They never tried to govern other
people without their consent as he is
doing or trying to do thousands of
miles from this continent. "But are
sacrifice" he says, land are not those
we serve lifted up and blessed?" What
cant and hypocrisy!
He declares that the promises made
to Cuba must be made good, and they
will, for the American people will not
allow him to play false with the little
island which they freed from Spanish
misrule in spite of his opposition. On
this subject he says:
''rhe peace which we are pledged to
leave to the Cuban people must carry
with it the guarantees of permanence
| We became sponsors for the pacfica-
ton Of the island, and we remain ac-
| fol II tf, 1,n H,1ho tLor
to our own country and people, for the
reconstruction of Cuba as a free COM
monwealth on abiding foundations Of
right, justice, liberty and assured or
der. Our enfranchisement of the PEG
pic will not be completed until free
Cuba shall 'bc Il reality, not name;
Il perfect entity, not a hasty expert
ment bearing within itself the ele-
ments of failure"
Touching ON the Philippines the
president declares that eve are not
Waging war against the Filipinos," but
that a portion of them is "making war
against u.s." He says the greater part
of the inhabitants recognize American
sovereignty and welcome it as guar
anty of order and security for life,
property, liberty, freedom of con-
science and the pursuit of happiness"
That is mere buncombe. eve will
not leave the destiny of the loyal mil
lions OH the islands to the disloyal
thousands who are in rebellion against
the United States" he goes on to say.
He has no loyal millions in the archi-
pclago, and he knows it. II there are
only "disloyal thousands" what have
the American troops been doing for the
past two years, and why is Macarthur
asking for more? "Our countrymen
should not be deceived" says the en-
peror of the Philippines. They are not
deceived by such statements in regard
to the inhabitants, and he must i'm
agine them destitute of intelligence if
he believes them capable of swallow
ing such statements. I'VE are at
peace with the world" exclaims Mark
Hanna's puppet. If so, why does he
ask for Il big standing army in time of
peace? Is it to put down few "dis-
loyal thousands" of Malays who never
owed allegiance to the United States
and are fighting for the right of self
government in their native land?
He hints at the unconstitutionality
Of his colonial policy and conveys the
idea that the supreme court will de-
eide that the constitution is effective
over the late Spanish-American islands.
He evidently knows what the judges
decision will be- or he would not have
referred to 'organic impotency in the
nation as he does. But enough. Nc
kinley is president for four years
more, and there is not the remotest
probability that he will ever be i'm
peached for trampling the constitution
under foot so long as the Republicans
led by Hanna 4 Co. control both
houses of congress.
The Grafton on st. Patrick's day in San
Francisco will be delivered by Father
Yorke. The subject he has chosen fol-
his discourse is God Save the Queen
In referring to the title of his address
the Monitor says: ut is appropriate
for the first festival since the death OF