The San Francisco call., 1896-10-29
ACRES OF PEOPLE
VISIT MCKINLEY
Canton Has a Day of It's
Own With the
Major.
Visibly Affected as He Surveys
the Sea of Upturned
Faces.
ELOQUENT CLOSE OF A CASE
"The Argument Made and the Jury
Impatient to Render Its
Verdict"
ELooURNT CLOSE CT A CASE

CANTON, OHIO, Oct. 2S.-All Canton
was divided in two parts this evening
those who marched to Major Mckinley:
residence and those who viewed and
cheered the marching throngs. The busi.
ness men of Canton, irrespective of party
announced a few days ago that on
Wednesday about sundown they would
call in body on Major Mckinley. To.
night they made good their promise and
they were joined in their demonstration
by most of the other men i'll the city.
More than 5000 men formed i'll line and
marched with banners and bands to the
Mckinley residence just at sundown.
Darkness fell as they gathered in solid
phalanx in the street around the candi-
dates home. There were acres of people.
Far as the eye could reach the glittering
erclights revealed sea of upturned faces.
Major Mckinley has not been greeted by
a larger or more earnest assemblage than
that of his own townsmen which con-
fronted him tonight. He was visibly
affected and there was thrill of emotion
in his voice when he spoke.
Introductory remarks were made by
Alexander Buford, one of Canton's most
venerable business men, and by w. w.
Clark. Then the cheering for Mckinley
commenced anew, and rolled in waves up
and down the street for many minutes.
1t was the most engaging and most in
spring scene of a day that has been
crowded with pleasant and interesting in
cidents. To his fellow townsmen and
neighbors Msior Mckinley said:
The people are aroused as never before, and
I believe that the elections next Tuesday Will
show much larger vote than was ever polled
in the history of our country before. We
polled II, 900, 900 votes four years ago, and
will be surprised if the vote on the Sd does not
far exceed that. In every State, county, city
and voting precinct. every American elector
feels this year that he has grave duty rest
ing upon him, and 1 don't believe that any
polls. They are not only going to vote. but
they are going to vote right as God gives them
10 see right, independent of old party or politi-
cal relations. [Cheers.l
1t is not question of candidates, it is not
contention for office; it is contention for
country; not a contention inspired by sec
tfoaaI considerations, but of devotion to the
d lty which affects and inspires the great heart
OF the American people. Not since the first
ter, rudely awakening the startled Nation to
the realization that civil war had commenced,
have the masses OF our fellow-countrymen
been aroused as now. With what shall
Hlways seem TO me an unaccountable ra shness,
1t is proposed at the end of 120 years of 8
glorious National life, proposed IN earnestness,
for the first time in our history, to cast re-
proach upon the honor of the American Ma
ton. To give effect and force TO that NOT
merely by an act of a State Legislature or
Congress, bad as that would be, the American
people are asked as they enter their booths
next Tuesday to solemnly ratify proposition
that means National dishonor and repudia-
tion. don't believe they will ever do it.
The issue may be obscured as it viii; bril-
liant orators talented writer's may weave
the most alluring sophistries, but the plain,
bald propositions can't be hidden. The voters
of the United States are asked TO say by their
ballots that they are willing that our National
obligations shall be redeemed by the Govern
ment in money worth only about half as much
as the Government received for them; and that
the pensioners of this Government-the men
who were willing TO give the best they had,
the best that any man possesses, their own
lies blood-shall have their pensions cut in
two. The proposition is unworthy American
citizenship and is an insult TO the integrity,
the good faith and the inspiring history of
our great Republic. 1t should receive, and I
believe twill receive. fitting reDuke from the
ballots of 100000 freemen. 1t should be
so overwhelmingly defeated that no National
convention of any great party will ever are
to make so debasing proposition in any i'm
portant political campaign again. Why, if it
prevails, how can the American name escape
dishonor?
What use to boast of the glories of the past If
we discredit them all in the living present?
Shall we proceed by reason of them to cast
Teproach upon The honored names of the past
by actual dishonesty now? No nation can by
the fiction of the law justly absolye itself from
any honorable obligation. No nation can by
the wrongful exercise of power contravene the
eternal principles of truth and jnstice and not
escape deserved and fearful retrlbution. Zap
plause.
The American people viii never take SO rash
and wicked a step as to invalidate or impair
the value OF their own Government obliga-
tlons. They Will never consent by popular
vote or otherwise, to the reputation OF one
farthing of their National debt. They will
never brook the thought of not looking the
Whole world in the face and challenging any
nation to point to a more honorable or credit
able record than ours.
There can be no danger of American citizens
having to go bowed with shamed faces, either
at home or abroad; but. my fellow-citizens,
the arguments have been made; the case is
ready 10 go TO the jury and the jury is waiting
to announce its verdict, and we.
as Republicans, confidently submit our con-
tenllon to the great tribunal of the American
people, the highest and best hope in the world.
They will, am sure demand the continuance
Of our glorious Institutions unimpaired and
which for more tnan a century
past have made this the most highly honored
as well as prosperous Nation of the world.
They will be true TO their time-honored traits
as mighty people.
Major Mckinley made stirring speech
TO an intensely enthusiastic delegation of
100 Buffalo Republicans, which arrived
shortly after noon to-day. The delega-
ton was com posed of mem bers of the Re-
publican League and the Central Italian
Club Of Buffalo. The men were hand
somely uniformed. and marched with
military precision. The spokesman of the
Buffalo Republican League was Emory z.
Close, its president. Among other things
he said:
An Oriental city became famous in medieval
days for its numerous pilgrims; but those pill
grimages were in fuillment of religions vows.
hred by religious enthusiasm ut the shrine OF