Evening star., 1901-05-07
Nr. Mckinley and Iuwritten Law.

The President said two things at FL Paso
vrstcrfay-both of them addressed to the
Mexican visitors who We're assisting in the
demonstration in his honor-which deserve
- he read with unusual interest.
Looking across the border he declared
Il cannot fail also to recognize the cor
nisl welcome which has been given to me
ny the governor of the neighboring state
IF the Mexican republic. ! cannot go over
there. but they come here. and We bid
them welcome with open hearts. | can
book over there. but there is something in
the traditions of this republic something
5n it's preCedents. that does not permit the
President to go outside of the United
States during his term of office. But as
do not hold office all the time here. We
will have an opportunity of going there in
the future.
MIR. Mckinley. 1t will be observed. is
mindful Of traditions and 'precedents.
He respects the uuwritten law There Is
%" statute forbidding the President of the
'uited States the pleasure of crossing the
border into a friendly country, and of
course Mr.. Mckinley would have been
most welcome and altogether safe on Mex
ian territory yesterday He did not cross
the line at Ell Paso simply because tradi-
;ioH was against the step. A tradition
quite as strong is against a third term in
The White House, and this, We may be
sure. Mr.. Mckinley respects as highly
De does the other. The third term talk
therefore has been as good as knocked on
Sitr head by Mr. Mckinley himself.
+ Proceeding, the President referred to the
pleasant relations existing between the
United States and Mexico in these words:
-'pYr pride Is in the arts of peace in ma
trriJl and Intellectual development. in the
growth of country. in the advancement
If our people in civilization. in the arts.
in the sciences and in manufactures. This
i the great pride of the American people
Here We are on the border line between
the United States and another great re-
public. and on this side of the line have
thirty-tivc American soldiers and on that
side of the line there are less than a hum
dred and fifty Mexican soldiers. So that
We are dwelling in peace and amity, caus-
ing peace on earth and good will to men,
W. want 10 settle our differences, if We
''Eer have any with any of the powers of
thu world, by arbitration. We want to eX-
naust every peaceable means for settle
ment before We go to war and while we
have authority to raise a hundred thou
sand troops, the necessity does not exist
for that number. and We do not propose to
raise hut 5000.
So don't be alarmed about militarism or
Imperialism. We know Imperialism in
Jhe United States except the Imperialism
"f a sovereign people.
This deliverance was timely and in order
The people OF Mexico. along with other
peoples have been hearing a good deal of
late [" the effect that the spirit of impe-
ridlism has taken possession of the Amer
irnn people. They have been warned
against us, been told to be on their guard
against neighbor whose boundaries have
recently been extended and whose standing
army has been Increased. The President
wisely enough decided to take the spook
apart in public place. And so he drew
the sawdust from its little insides"
turned it upside down to show Its con-
struction. and then threw the fabby and
Uustuffed figure lightly over his shoulder.
1t was all done with ease and good humor
,tnd We may be sure that the Mexicans
present at FL Paso were left in no doubt
a. 10 the real meaning of the recent his
tory the United States has been making
. The President at FL Paso therefore
touched upon two most important ques-
tons. and in way to command the espe-
'ial attention of his own countrymen and
The outside world as well. He stands for
tho unwritten as for the written law, and
f'r the principle of peace among ourselves,
and with all nations Altogether it was
notable speech.