The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-28
DELIVERED IN THE CAPITOL
BY INVITATION
FEBRUARY II, 1902

Caribbean is assured beyond the possibility of future
question. The doctrine called by the name of Mon
long derided and denied by alien publicsts,
evokes now no challenge or contradiction when uttered
ia the world. 1t has become an international rusm.
Our sister republics to the south of convinced
that desire only their peace prosperity Eu-
rope knows that we cherish no dreams but those of
worldwide commerce. the benefit of which shall be to
all nations The state Is augmented but 1t threatens
nation under heaven. AS those regions which
have come under the shadow of flag, the possbil
ity of their being damaged by such change of cir
cumstances in the view of Mckinley thing un-
thnkable TO believe that we could administer
them to their advantage was to turn infdel to our
american faith of more than hundred years
In dealing with foreign powers, he will take rank
with the greatest of our dipomatsts. 1t was a world
of which he had little special knowledge before coming
to the presidency But his marvellous adaptabity
in nothing remarkable than in the firm
grasp he Immediately displayed in international rea-
tions In preparing for and in the restoration of
peace he was alike adro courteous and far-sighted
When sudden emergency declared itself, in China
in state of things of which our history furnished no
precedent and international law safe and certain
precept he hesated not moment to take the course
marked out for him by considerations of humanity
and the national interests Even while the legations
fighting for their lives against bands of nfurat-
ed fanatics he decided that we were at peace with
China; and while that conclusion did not hinder him
from taking the most energetic measures to rescue Our
impered citizens it enabled him to maintain close
and friendly relations with the wise and heroic vice.
roys of the south, whose resoute stand saved that
ancient empire from anarchy and spoliaton. He dis
posed of every question it arose with prompness
and clarity of vision that asonshed his advisers, and
he never had occasion to review Judgment or re-
verse decision
BY patience by frmness by sheer reasonabeness
he improved our understanding with all the great
powers of the world and rightly gained the blessing
which belongs to the peacemakers.
But the achievements of the nation in war and
diplomacy thrown in the shade by the vast eco
nomca developments which took place during Mr.
McKnley's administration Up to the time of his
FIRST election the country was suffering from long
period of depression, the 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 began TO
be sold at SIS ton-one of the most significant facts
of modern times. 1t meant that American industries
had adjusted themselves the long depresslon-that
through the power of the to organize and
bne stimulated by the conditions then prevailing
and perhaps by the prospect of legislation favorable
to industry America had begun to undersell the rest
of the world The movement went on without ceas-
ing. The president and his party kept the pledges of
their platform and their canvass. The Dingley bill
speedily framed and set in operation. All indus
tries responded to the stimulus and American
trade it's crusade not to conquer the
world but to trade with it terms advantageous to
all concerned. will not weary you with statistics;
but one or two words seem necessary to show how
the acts of Mckinley president kept pace with his
professions candidate. His four years of adminis-
tration costly; carried which,
though brief was expensive. Although we borrowed
two hundred millions and paid our own expenses
without asking for indemnity the effective reduction
Of the debt exceeds the total of the war bonds
We pay six millions less in interest than we did be-
fore the 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 have five hundred
and forty-sy millions of gross gold in the treasury.
But, coming to the development of our trade in the
four Mckinley years, we seem to be entering the
realm OF fable In the last fiscal year our excess OF
exports imports 1864 S26 In the last four
years it $2,354442,213 These figures so stu
pendous that they mean little to careless reader
but consider! The of exports over imports for
the whole preceding period from 1870 to 1S97-from
Washington to McKinley--was only $356,SOsS22
The most eXtravagant promises made by the san
guine Mckinley advocates five years left out
of sight by these sober facts. The debtor nation"
has become the chief creditor nation The financial
center of the world which required thousands of
years journey from the Euphrates to the Thames
and the Seine, passing to the Hudson between
daybreak and dark.
l will not waste your time by explaining that do
not invoke for any the credit of this vast result
The captain claim that it is he who drives the
mighty steamship the tumbling pillows of the
rackless Deep but praise is justly due him If he has
made the best of her tremendous powers If he has
Alright the currents of the and the lessons of
the stars And should be ungrateful. if in this
hour of prodgous prosperity we should fail to remem-
Der that William Mckinley with sublime faith fore
it, with indobitable labored for it. put
his whole heart and mind into the work of bringing 1t
about that it his voice which, in dark hours
rang out herading the coming light the twi-
light waters of the Nile the mystic cry of Memnon
announced the dawn to Egypt waking from sleep.
Among the most agreeable incidents of the presi-
dents term of office the two journeys he made to
the South. The moral reunion of the sectons-so
long and so ardently desired by him-had been ni-
tiaed by the Spanish when the veterans of both
Sides and their had marched shoulder to shoul-
der together under the same banner The rhresdent
in these journeys sought, with more than usual elo-
and pathos, TO create sentiment which should
end forever the ancient feud He was too good poll
tican results in thesway of votes in his
favor and he accomplished But for all that the
good seed did not fall on barren ground In the warm
and chivarous hearts of that generous people, the
echo of his cordial and broherly words Will lineer
long and his will be cherished in many house,
hold where yet the Lost Cause is worshipped
Mr.. Mckinley reelected by an overwhelming
majority There had been little doubt of the result
among we-nformed people; but when it was known,
a profound feeling of relief and renewal of trust
evident among the leaders of capital and of industry,
only in this country but everywhere. They felt
that the immediate future secure and that trade
and commerce might safely push forward in every
field of effort and enterprise He inspired universal
confidence which is the life blood of the commercial
system of the world. 1t began frequently to be said
that such state of things ought to continues
after another of prominence, said that the presi
dent his best successor. He paid little at
ention to these suggestions until they repeated
by of his nearest friends. Then he that
Of the most cherished traditions OF our public life
in danger. The generation which has the pro-
pliecy of the papal throne-Non videbis amos Petr
twice contradcted by the longevity of holy men
i'm peril of forgetting the unwrtten law of our Re-
public: Thou shalt not exceed the years of Washing
ton. The president it was time TO speak, and in