Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1900 — Striking Phrases from President McKinley’s Letter. [ARTICLE]

Striking Phrases from President McKinley’s Letter.

It will be noted that the” (Democratic) demand is for the immediate restoration of the free coinage of silver at 16 to 1. If another issue is paramount, this is immediate. It will admit of no delay and will suffer no postponement. We accept the Issue and again Invite the sound money forces to join In winning another and we hope a permanent triumph for an honest financial system which will continue inviolable the public faith. It is our purpose to establish in the Philippines a government suitable to the wants and conditions of the inhabitants, and to prepare them for self-govern-ment, and to give them self-government when they are ready tor it, and as rapidly as they are ready for it. There has been no time since the destruction of the enemy’s fleet when we could or should have left the Philippine archipelago. After the treaty of peace was ratified no power but Congress could surrender our sovereignty or alienate a foot of the territory thus acquired. Every effort has been directed to their (Filipinos) peace and prosperity, their advancement and well-being, not for our aggrandizement or for pride of might, not for trade or commerce, not tor exploitation, but for humanity and civilization. * * * The American question Is between duty and desertion. The American verdict will be for duty und against desertion, for the republic against both anarchy and imperialism. Honest co-operation of capital is necessary to meet new business conditions, and extend onr rapidlv increasing foreign trade, but conspiracies and combinations intended to restrict business, create monopolies and control prices should be effectively restrained. For labor a short day is better than a short dollar. * • • Unless something unforeseen occurs to reduce onr revenues or increase our expenditures, the Congress at its next session should reduce taxation very materially. ... We ought to own the ships for our carrying trade with the world, and we ought to build them in American shipyards and man them with American sailors.