The Washington times., 1903-01-28
MCKINLEY, THE THIRD
HERO OF THE NATION

others
In Porto Rico the task vas simple.
The island could rot be independent. It
became IN all essentials o part of the
Union. It has been given all the benefits
of our economic and financial system.
It's inhabitants have been given the high
est individual liberty. while yet their
government has been kept under the
supervision Of officials so well chosen
that the island can be appealed to as af-
fordipg model for all such experiments
in the future. and this result was main
~ owing TO the admirable choice of in
struments by President Mckinley when
he selected the governing officials.
In Cuba. where we were pledged to
give the island independence. the pledge
was kept not merely in letter. but il
spirit. It would have been a betrayal OF
our duty to give Cuba independence out
of hand President Mckinley. with his
usual singular sagacity in the choice Of
agents. selected in Gen. Leonard Wood
the man Of all others best I'll to bring
the island through its uncertain period
Of preparation for independence. The
result Of his wisdom was shown when
last May the island became in name and
in fact a free republic. for il started
with a better equipment and under more
favorable conditions than had ever pre-
viously been the case with any Spanish
American Commonwealth
Wicked to Abandon Philippines,
Finally. in the Philippines, the prob
/ lem was one of great complexity- There
was an insurrecuonary party claiming
TO represent the people of the island
and putting forth their claim with a Ger
tain speciousness which deceived no
small number of excellent men here at
home and which afforded TO yet others
IA chance to arouse a factious party
Ispfrit against the President OF course.
+ looking back. # is now easy to see that
/ it would have been both absurd and
wicked TO abandon the Philippines and
ilet the scores of different tribes Chris
( tan. Mohammedan and pagan in every
/ stage OF Asiatic semi barbarisnl-turn
! the islands into a weIter Of bloody sav-
agery. with the absolute certainty that
some strong power would have TO step
/ in and take possession. But though Iow
/ il is easy. enough to see that our duty
was TO stay in the islands to put down
the insurrection by force OF arms and
then to establish freedom giving civil
! government, it needed. genuine states
manship 10 see this and to act accord
ingly at the time Of the first revolt.
"A weaker and less far-sighted man
than President Mckinley would have
shrunk from task very difficult in itself
and certain to furnish occasion for at
/ tack and Misrepresentation no less than
for honest misunderstanding But Presi-
dent 8cKinlev never fiuched- Re refused
20 consider the thought of abandoning
/ our duty in our new possessions. While
sedulously endeavoring to act with the
utmost humanity toward the iusurrec-
tionists he never faItered in the de-
termination to put them down by force OF
/ arms. alike for the sake of our own in
terest and honor. and for the sake OF
the interests of the islanders, and par
JicuIarly of the great numbers Of friend
y natives. including those most highly
civilized, for whom abandonment by Us
would have meant ruin and death.
Again his policy was most amply
vindicated. Peace has come to tht
islands. together with a greater measure
of individual liberty and seIf-govern-
ment than they have ever before known
All the tasks set US as result Of tht
war with Spain have so far been wei anf
honorabIy accomplished, and as a result
this nation stands higher than ever be
| fore among the nations Of mankind.
!. The Lessons of His Life.
we are gathered together tonight Il
recall his memory, to pay our tribute
/ Of respect TO the great chief and leader
who fell in the harness. who was strick-
en- down while his eyes were bright witt
the light that tells of triumph tasted
We can honor him best by the way va
show In actual deed that we have taker
10 heart the lessons Of his life. We
must strive 70 achieve. each in the meas
ure that he can, something Of the quail.
ties which made President Mckinley Z
Header Of men, a mighty power for good
his strength, his courage. his courtesl
and dignity, his sense of justice. hi.
ever present kindIiness and regard fol
the rights of others
He won greatness by meeting anr
/ ( solving the Issues as they arose-aot by
sinking them-meeting them with wis
dom, with the exercise of the most skill
fuI and cautious judgment, but Will
/ fearless resolution when the time o
crisis came He met each crisis on It.
own merits; he never sought excuse fol
sinking a task IN the fact that IL wa.
different from the one he had expecle.
TO face
The long public career. which opaue,
when as boy he carried musFzet il
the ranks and closed when as q man u
the prime Of his intellectual strength u.
stood among the worlds chief statesmen
came 10 what il was because he treated
each triumph as opening The road {,
fresh effort. not as an excuse for ceas
ing from effort. He undertook might
tasks Some OF them he finished com