And State Papers 399 



Washington founded our government and the men 

 who, upholding the statesmanship of Lincoln and 

 following the sword of Grant, or Sherman, or 

 Thomas, or Sheridan, saved and perpetuated the 

 Republic. 



When 1898 came and the war which President 

 McKinley in all honesty and in all sincerity sought to 

 avoid became inevitable and was pressed upon him 

 he met it as he and you had met the crisis of 1861. 

 He did his best to prevent the war coming; once it 

 became evident that it had to come then he did his 

 best to see that it was ended as quickly and as 

 thoroughly as possible. It is a good lesson for na 

 tions and individuals tt learn never to hit if it can be 

 helped and then never to hit softly. I think it is 

 getting to be fairly understood that that is our for 

 eign policy. We do not want to threaten ; certainly 

 we do not desire to wrong any man ; we are going 

 to keep out of trouble if we possibly can keep out; 

 and if it becomes necessary for our honor and our 

 interest to assert a given position we shall assert it 

 with every intention of making the assertion good. 



The Spanish War came. As its aftermath came 

 trouble in the Philippines, and it was natural that 

 this State, within whose borders live and have lived 

 so many of the men who fought in the great war, 

 should find its sons eagerly volunteering for the 

 chance to prove their truth in the war that came in 

 their days; and it was to be expected that Califor 

 nia's sons should do well, as they did do well, in the 

 Philippines in the new contest. 



