The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-03-06


we desire only their peace and pros
perity. Europe knows that we cher.
ish no dreams but those of world. wide
commerce, the benefit of which shall
be to all nations. The state is aug
mented, but it threatens no nation
under heaven. As to those regions
which have come under the shadow
of our flag, the possibility of their
being damaged by such change OF
circumstances was in the view of Nc
Kinley thing unthinkable. To be-
lieve that we could administer them
to their advantage was to turn infidel
to our American faith of more than a
hundred years.
I'm dealing with foreign powers,
he will take rank with the greatest of
our diplomatists. 1t was a world of
which he had little special knowledge
before coming to the Presidency.
But his marvellous adaptibility was
in nothing more remarkable than in
the firm grasp he Immediately dis
played in international relations. In
preparing for war and in the restora-
ton of peace he was like adroit, cour-
teouS and far-sishted. When sud
den emergency declared itself, as in
China, in a state of things of which
our history furnished no precedent
and International law no safe and
certain precept, he hesitated not a
moment to take the course marked
out for him by considerations of hui
manity and the national interests.
Even while the legations were fight
ing for their lives against bands of in
furiated fanatics, he decided that we
were at peace with China; and while
that conclusion did not Linder him
from taking the most energetic meas
ures to rescue our important citizens.
it enabled him to maintain close and
friendly relations with the wise and
heroic yiceroys of the south, whose
resolute stand saved the ancient en-
pire from anarchy and spoilation.
But the achievements of the ma
ton in war and diplomacy are thrown
in the shade by the vast economical
developments which took place dur
ing Mr.. McKinley's administration.
Up to the time of his first election the
country was suffering from long
period of depression, the reasons of
which | will not try to seek. But
from the moment the ballots were
counted that betokened his advent
to power great and momentous
movement in advance declared itself
along all the lines of industry and
commerce. In the very month of his
Inauguration steel rails be gan to be
sold at $1S ton-One of the most sig
niticant facts of modern times. 1t
meant that American industries had
adjusted themselves to the long de-
pression-that through the power of
the race to organize and combine.
stimulated by the conditions then
prevailing, and perhaps by the pros
pect of legislation favorable to indus
try, America had begun to undersell
the rest Of the world. The movement
went on without ceasing The Presi-
dent and his party kept the pledges
of their platform and their canvass.
The Dingley bill was speedily framed
and set in operetion. All industries
responded to the new stimulus and
American trade set out on it's new
crusade, not to conquer the world,
but to trade with it on terms adyan-
tageous to all concerned. | will not
weary you with the statistics: but
one or two words seem necessary to
show how the acts of Mckinley as
President kept pace with his profess
slons as candidate. His four years OF
administration were costly; we car
ried on war which, though brief,
was expensive. Although we borrow
ed $2O0,0OO,000 and paid our own ex-
penses without asking indemnity, the
effective reduction of the debt now
exceeds the total of the war bonds.
We pay $4,000, 900 less in interest than
we did before the war and no bond of
the United States yields the holder 9
per cent. on it's market value. So
much for the Government credit: and
we have $546, 900, 900 of gross gold in
the Treasury.
Among the most agreeable Incl
dents of the Presidents term of office
were the two journeys he made to the
South. The moral reunion of the
sections-so long and so ardently de-
sired by him-had been initiated bv
the Spanish war, when the veterans
q both sides, and their sons, had
marched shoulder to shoulder to-
gether under the same banner. The
President in these journeys sought.
with more than usual eloquence and
pathos, to create a sentiment which
should end forever the ancient feud.
He was too good politician to ex-
meet anV results in tho WOW Of uNfae