Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-30
The Preside,nt,s Address.


lens more momentous than any whose
solution we have ever attempted, save
only in the revolution and in the civil
war; and IL was under his leadership
( that the nation solved these mighty
problems Alright. Therefore he shall
staAd In the eyes Of history not mere
" - the first man Of his generation,
bat % among the greatest figures in
our national life. coming second only
! 70 the men of the two great crises in
(which the union was founded and pre-
served. =
The president outlined McKinley's
military and political career, down to
the date Of the convention when he
Svas hrst nominated for president, and
u this he said:
President Of All the People.
= > In 1895 he was chosen
Because the great mass of his party
knew him and believed in him and
regarded him as symbolizing their
ideals, a. representing their aspira-
lions. In estimating the forces which
brought about his nomination and
elsction do not underyalue that de-
voted personal friendship which he
had the faculty to inspire in SO
marked i degree among the ablest and
most influential leaders; this leader
ahip was Of immense consequence in
bringing about the result; but, after
Ill, the prime factor was the trust
IN and devotion to him felt by the
great mass Of men who had come to
;necept him as their recognized
spokssmsn. In his nomination the
national convention Of a great party
carried into effect in good faith the
deliberate judgment Of that party as
% who its candidate should be.
But even as a candidate President
Mckinley was far more than the can.
aidats Of . party. and as president he
MAS In the broadest and fullest sense
ehs president Of all the people Of all
ssctions OF the country"
Referring TO the conduct Of the
mar and the problems which followed.
especially in the Philippines, Presi-
dent Rockwell said:
81 Genuine statesmanship.
- But though now It is easy
enough to see that our duty was to
stay IN the islands, to put down the
lnsurrection by force Of arms. and
bhen TO establish freedoms giving civil
government, 1t needed genuine states
nnanship to see this and to act accord
lngly at the time Of the first revolt.
a weaker and less far-sighted man
khan President Mckinley would have
shrunk from q task very difficult in
ltself. and certain to furnish occasion
Tor attack and Misrepresentation no
less than for honest misunderstanding
But President Mckinley never fiinched.
he refused to consider the thought.
Of abandoning our duty in our new
POSSESSIONS. While sedulously en-
deayoring to act with the utmost
humanity toward the insurrection-
lists. he never faltered In the deter
nination to put them down by force
Of arms, alike for the sake Of our'own
Interests and honor, and for the sake
81 the interest Of the islanders, and
Z particularly of the great numbers Of
friendly netives, including those most
highly civilized, for whom abandon-
snent by us would have meant ruin and
Aseth. Again his policy was most
4 amply Asindicated. Peace has come To
the dslauds. together with greater
measure Of Individual liberty and
self-goyernment than they have ever
before known. All the tasks set us
9 - . result Of the war with Spain have
90 tar been well and honorably &c.
complished, and as result this nation