The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-10

Before an audience which packed the
Methodist church last night, former
Vice President of the United States
Charles W. Fairbanks delivered an ad-
dress IN eulogy of the late President
William Mckinley, an address which
fairly rang with true Amerieanism. its
ideals of government and statesmen. 1t
was one of the clearest expositions of
the events leading up to the declara-
tion of war against Spain, the reasons
why war was declared and why Amer
lea gave back to the Cubans the land
Wrested from Spain, and why America
paid $2o,oo0,0O0 for territory which had
become prize of war. The address
was also one of the most thorough and
logical defenses of the action of the
Senate in retaining the Philippines that
has ever been delivered in Honolulu.
Upon the platform with Mr.. Fair
banks were Governor Frear DIR. J. w.
Wadman, and DR.. John T. Jones of the
Methodist church, each gentleman wear
ing white earnation in honor of
Mothers Day. The church was flied
with representative gathering, includ-
ing large numbers of marines and sol
diers.
Mr.. Fairbanks traced the life of
William Mckinley down through his
war and civil careers, telling how he
had won the confidence of the people in
all offices he held prior to the time he
became chief magistrate of the republic.
He was thorough lawyer, devoted to
the interests of his clients. AS a SOL
| der he did his duty well and fought
on many battlefelds. He had the con
! fidence of President Hayes while he
was member of Congress. There were
great problems in those DAYS to CON
slider, great questions affecting the in
terests of the entire people. To the
solution of these problems he gave the
| best that was In him. He became the
master of the problems. Then, after
fourteen years of service in Congress.
| he became Governor of the State of
Ohio, and during this time the nation
was In sore distress, and it was then
! that he was called to become chief
magistrate of the republic.
Then the speaker referred to Cuba
and her internal troubles, with the
| islanders attempting to wrest their
| freedom from Spain; when the United
States learned of Americans confined
In prisons without charges being placed
against them, and there was demand
by the people that they be liberated.
Mckinley knew what war was, and he
thought, if the matter could be proper
~ presented to Spain, that the kingdom
would grant adequate relief. There was
| marsh criticism of Mckinley then. The
| speaker heard his courage impeaehed
| IN Congress and in the hastings. It
was cruel, for in his young manhood he
| gave proof of his courage How cruel
1T all seems in view of the tragic Sc
| quence. Mckinley knew, as no one
| else did, that the United States was
unprepared for war; Mr.. Fairbanks re-
ferred to the President IS request for
Soo, 000,0o0 to prepare for war, sum
which would bankrupt many nations.
| Mr.. Fairbanks said he could never for
get the spectacle when the bill was
passed IN the Senate of the United
States. The measure had passed the
lower house and came to the Senate in
the evening. A great audience was in
the galleries Vice. President Hobart
asked if anyone wanted to debate 1t,
| for 1t was an exceptional measure.
/ There was not one no against the meas
ure-an voted as Americans and not as
| party men.
Mr.. Fairbanks said that Mckinley
was wise and prudent. He knew that
the result of the opening engagement
might mean an engagement with all
| Europe. Mr.. Fairbanks, during the
! tendency of this matter, had received
savage letters from people, all severely
critlcizlng the President. One was the
very quintessenee of brutality The
writer wanted to know why the Presi
dent did not make war on Spain or
why Congress did not command him to
do it, etc. Mr.. Fairbanks wrote a
courteous, though somewhat sarcastic
letter, saying that the government was
rapidly shaping things that way and
| that battleship was fitting out to &C
to Cuba and it would be the first to
engage the enemy on the seas; that
there would be two places aboard fol-
landsman, and one of these could BIZ
had by the letter writer Mr.. Fair
banks telegraphed and asked for al
immediate reply. No answer Finally
an answer did come, saying that the
letter writer was extremely busy bu
| if war came he would get into it be
fore it was over. It reminded him Of
Artemus Ward who wanted the Rebel
lion put down even if it took the las
blood of his wife IS relatives to do it
He spoke of the Declaration of Va
by Congress as mastery document
| worthy of place in the most worth,
! Continued on Page sevenl.