The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-04-07
REPUBLICAN TARIFF BANQUET.

REPUBLICAN TARIFF BANQUET.
A Notable Gathering at Canton. o., ut
Which Gov. Mcninley aud other Leaders
Speak.
CANTON, O.. March 31-The republic
an tariff banquet here yesterday was
| political success Four hundred guests
were present from various cities in
Ohio The banquet was spread in the
| tabernacle, a mammoth structure which
was dedicated to political purposes in
1884, with speech by James G. Blaine.
The interior of the building was hand
somely decorated with flowers, flags
and portraits of prominent republicans,
while the walls were covered with BAN
ners inscribed with all the famous pro-
tective tariff maxims
The tables, five in number, each ac-
commodated eighty guests Gov. Nc
Kinley occupied the post of honor at
the first table, Hon. ]. P. Fawcett was
the toastmaster and at the conclusion
of the feast he read letters of regret
from exPresident Harrison, Senator
John Sherman, Gen. w. III. Gibson, of
Ohio; Hon. j. C. Burrows, of Michigan;
ex-Gov Foraker, ex-Speaker Reed, Sem
ator Manderson, of Nebraska, and Con-
gresham John Dalzell, of Pennsyl-
vania.
Gov Mckinley spoke first, respond
ing to the toast, ''The Republican Pres
idents" He said:
Mr.. TOastmaster and Gentlemen: The presi-
dents OF the United States since the beginning
q nj
character, chosen because of some distin-
guished service either in civil or military life.
w hile we are not military people, in the Eu-
rOpean sense still the country has never failed
TO reward its distinguished soldiers and has
crowned them with its highest honors. Not
only did the fathers of the country make Wash
ingtOn, who was their most illustriOus soldier
the first president, because OF his distinguished
war service, but their descendants bestowed
upon Gen Grant the most illustrious soldier Of
the late war, the same high honor, and both
were accorded triumphant reelection
Gov. Mckinley then reviewed the life
and services of the republican presi-
dents: paying an eloquent tribute to
Abraham Lincoln, of whom he said:
No man ever had harder task before him
No one will ever know, no one can know, the
perpleXities with which he was beset-the petty
annoyances, the iealousies in the army and out,
the DlckerlnES IL nlEn placeS anu Tow places,
the disSensions in Congress and in the cabinet:
and yet. amidst them all he stood unmoved in
his purpose TO save the union. an d nothing
could divert him from the accomplishment OF
that sublim purpose which he had taken an
oath to execute
Speaking of Benjamin Harrison, Mai.
Mckinley said that his administration
was pure, vigorous and patriotic, and
his own contemporaries will give him
his true place in history. His ;slminis-
tration taught the nations of the world
that no country can with safety modest
an American seaman or insult the
American flag. In conclusion he said:
The history Of the republican presidents is
the history of the party for more than thirty
years. The presidents. however, did not create
the party; the party created them They did
not create the cause for which the republican
party had contended That cause was created
in the consciences of the people OF the north
and it has been triumphanuy sustained and
vindcated by the repeated verdict of the Amer
lean people and the deliberate judgment of man
kind The cause is just as great and good and
triumphant as ii ever was in the past The
country needs the republican party. for its prin-
ciples and purposes and politics underlie every
American interest and are allied with it's true
growth and advancement We have now reached
in the national pathway the place where the
ways turn. Since 1853 until the 4th day of
March this year the democratic party has been
without power TO do anything with public
measures without the sanction Of the re-
publican party. In all these years until now
they have never had, at the same time, the
Legislative and the executive branches of the
government They cave both now, They are
in full and undisputed possession. They have
no divided responsibility. There is no longer
aF1t for
for hypocrisy. II Ihey believe in themselves
and their professions of thirty years, they can
now make them effective. What they will do l
do not know 1 cannot know for they do not
know themselves. There is no cause for dis
couragement on our part We have put TO
move on with our old-time vigor, yielding
nothing of principle. AS Mr. Lincoln said No
vember 80 1875: This fight must go on The
cause must not surrender At the end of one or
even hundred defeats
A significant feature of the event was
the references made by almost every
one of the speakers to Gov. Mckinley
as the one and only republican nomi-
nee for the presidency in 1896. Toast
master Fawcett voiced this sentiment
in introducing the governor and it
brought the audience to its feet with a
torrent of applause that was not quelled
for several moments.
Fawcett said: The names of our
republican presidents will live for ever,
and pass into history as the synonym
of loyalty, patriotism, purity of heart
and true greatness. Yet, great, good
and patriotic as these men have been,
the republican party of the state of
Ohio, and the city of Canton, in the
near future expect to furnish the party |
and the nation president whose
greatness and patriotism will outlive |
and outshine them all"