Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-02-06
.M'KINLEYs WORK
The Life and Deeds d. the Martyred
President Reviewed at Birth
day Anniversary,
MADE US 1 WORLD POWER
Secretary Taft Enumerated Some o.
X the Benefits Derived from Ma.
tionaI ExpansIon--Navy 40
Peace Insurer.

|
Cleveland, o., Jan. 30.-McKinley,
the martyred president, was the key.
note OF several addresses delivered at
the Tippecanoe clubs annual McKin.
ley day banquet here Wednesday night
at which Secretary Of War William H.
Taft was the guest Of honor. The sec
rotary spoke on 1.-THE Republic" All
Of the speakers confined their remarks
to the life and deeds Of Mckinley, who
was eulogized as an illustrious son Of
Ohio, and a discussion Of the problems
engendered by the Spanish-American
war and the acquisition of the Philip
pines and the islands Of the Caribbean.
Secretary Taft said In part:
Il shall venture to speak to you on
that which ! think will ever be remem
bered as the great and distinguishing
characteristics OF McKinley's admins
tration-the expansion Of the United
States into world power.
"A nation like that of the United
States. with 100000 of people, with
resources unexampled in the history
Of. the world, with ideals as high as
those of any nation, with the earnest
desire to spread the principles Of lib
erty and of popular government, can
not maintain a position of isolation
with respect to the peoples of the
world when fate, shall have thrust
some of those peoples under our con-
troll. We must assume responsibility
with respect to their development We
must exercise the power that the Lord
has given us for the purpose of assist
ing our neighbors The policy of iso-
lation, which would prevent us from
exercising our influence or direct con-
troll in matters where we are capable
Of doing good and advancing in the
worlds progress Is narrow, selfish
and altogether unjustihable policy.
what has been the result to the
United States Of this socalled colonial
policy? Well, 1T has added to her trade
something over $1OO,OOO,OOO. l do not
think that is important except as
beginning. II the government con-
tinues its friendly policy toward Porto
Rico and the Philippines and opens her
markets as well to the Philippines rs
to Porto Rico, this trade will treble
and quadrnple In a marvelously short
time, so that merely from the stand
point of material progress, the mutual
benefits for the people we are helpir
and ourselves win be no mean justif
cation for the policy.
Again, our action In assuming our
part of the responsibility of the world
powers for the development Of the
world, has added to our influence the
world round and has made our voice
influential In all international councils.
So great has been this growth that the
immediate successor of William Nc
Kinley, Theodore Roosevelt, has been
able to accomplish more In the preser- |
walton of the peace of the world than
any president that ever administered
or any monarch that ever reigned. The |
influence that we are exerting in South |
America, in Central America, in
Europe, and in China, is, much of 1t |
the result Of the policy Of expansion
adopted under William Mckinley. It
is said that this policy has entailed
upon US the enormous burden Of a
navy. l believe that 1t has increased
the necessity for a greater navy.
believe that navy Is the greatest In
surer of peace that we could possibly
have, a navy commensurate with our
resources, and commensurate with our
coast line and commensurate with the
number Of dependencies we have, and
commensurate with our population,
and commensurate with our influence
as a world power. The expression
world power has been made an &C.
caslon for ridlcule and sneers, but 1t
has a real meaning and real signif-
canoe. 1t means an influence through
out the world; and SO long as that In
fiuence is welded for the betterment
Of mankind, for the uplifting of our I'M
fortunate fellow creatures, for the
Of peace. for the encour
agement OF trade, for the promotion of
and civilization, we may well
be proud to have taken any part in
the change Of our national policy
which made us a world power. The
highest claim Of William Mckinley
for the gratitude of his countrymen
Is that, in spite Of the abuse and con-
tumely that was heaped upon his head
for this policy. be placed our country
In the forefront Of nations as
eivili1er and uplifter Of unfortunate
peoples"