The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-05

Directly after the close OF the Vice Pres
idents address Mr.. Elderkin introduced
Governor Mckinley, who was warmly well
coined by the immense audience. His re-
marks were substantially as follows
"Mr. President, Members of the Illinois
State Federation of Labor, OF the Trade
Fellow-citizens-I am glad 10 Join you in
observing this our 18TH national anni-
yersary. that we may gather fresh inspira,
equality, and dedicate ourselves anew. IN
common with our fellow-citizens every
the free government which our fathers
inaugurated more than century ago. No
city in America has a better right or bet
strength than Chicago. No citizens OF any
city in any State should celebrate IL With
more zeal and Joy than her working peo-
pie, who have done much 10 make
Chicago the great inland metropolis OF our
country whose marvellous progress is the
are a nation Of working people. Some one
has said that Americans are born busy.
and that they never find time TO be idle or
the dignity and elevation OF labor we find
our greatest distinction among the nations
.The United states possesses practically
Great Britain. Germany and France COM
aas 10 eae IS IS ah
of two of any other nation. But with our
improved and superior machinery each
American laborer is enabled to accomplish
relatively still more than his European
competitor. The American laborer not only
does more and better work, but there are
more skilled, intelligent and capable art;s-
ans here now in proportion 20 the total
population than I'm any other country In
so great a percentage of producers among
her instructed population. and none other
can point 10 so large a number Of enlight-
'.The census Statistics OF 1880 place the
number Of our citizens over ten years Of
~ GOO s%bSSe Sir Wicbae, ~ uv,h.i1 ~
noted statistician. refers 10 the 4act that
no other civilized country could ever before
deed. We may find in the able review Of
the industrial activities OF our country re-
Gently published by this distinguished au-
thority many striking texts for patriotic
contemplation. He states very frankly:
IL were to take survey OF mankind
in ancient or modern times as regards the
of nations. we find nothing TO compare
with the United States in this present
power which has enabled a community OF
woodcutters and farmers 10 become in less
than one hundred years the greatest nation
In the world is the aggregate OF the strong
power machinery and steam power. applied
TO the useful arts and sciences OF everyday
life. The power that traces a furrow
IN the prairie. sows the seed. reaps and
thrashes the ripe grain; the power that
converts wheat into nOur, tnat WeaFts
wool or cotton into textile stuffs and gar
ments; the power that lifts the mineral
from the bowels OF the earth. that forecs
iron and constructs railroads: the power
that builds up towns and cities-in a word.
whatever force Is directed for the pro-
duction. conveyance or distribution of the
ncccEsaries. comforts or luxuries OF life.
may be mearured at each national census
with almost the same precision as that
with which the astronomer indicates the
distances OF the heavenly bodies
We shall not enter upon such computa-
ton study. interesting IL might be.
but you are TO be congratulated upon the
fact that In every field % progress and de-
velopment Chicago has always been to the
front and borne most conspicuous part.
Upon tins proud record | feel that you are
10 be especially congratulated. for 1 am
sure that TO no class OF her citizens IL this
great city much indebted for her mar
velous growth as 10 her wage-earners arti-
sans and working people Ii can fruthfuily
be said that no other city In the country
has been 50 shining a light. so truly an ex-
ample and model IN enterprise and energy
for 50 many people In 80 many States as
Chicago. Her people have set the pace for
the great Northwest. now chasing other
parts OF the country I'm the race OF pfcc-
ress and supremacy. IL Is fitting that they
should rejoice. and above all most approori-
ate that they should select this grand alnz-