The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-22
SPEECH TO ILLrNoIsANs.
to the State of Lincoln, Logan
and Other Statesmen.


In respose to the various delegations from
Illinois, their speakers being General John
McNulta, Hon. w. j. Calhoun, Mr.. Robert
tGivens and Mr.. p. J. Miniter, Major Nc
Kinley said:
My NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. has brought
me higher qualification than this vast as
semblage of my fellow-citizens from the
State of Illinois. Nothing could have been
more pleasant than to have had the men
them that sturdy old veteran and splendid
tero of the war, the friend OF General
GTant--your fellow-citizen. General Nc
Nuita- The other. the friend of my boy
hood. the college friend of more than thirty
years ago. your fellow-citizen Mr.. Calhoun.
Then, too, in behalf of the clubs of the
State Of Illinois, to have had Mr.. Owens,
whom. | believe, is the president of the
largest Republican club in the United
states, bring the good will of those clubs
10 me mere at my home; nor can l fail to
mention the supreme satisfaction II has
given me to have a representative of labor.
that which lies at the foundation of all
wealth and prosperity in our country. in
ances of support and confidence. / thank
them and you for all these encouraging
the other:
Not without your wondrous story,
Can be read the country's glory,
Illinois, Illinois,
1T has been my good fortune and pleas
ure to greet several notable Illinois dele
cations here at Canton during the present
campaign. All OF them have been cordially
welcome; but / beg to assure you that am
made especially glad in this celebration of
Illinois day at my home, commemorative.
i suppose. either of your admission to the
Union in 1918 or of some one of your many
recent achievements But whatever it COM
melnorateS. your presence here with rem
reSentativeS from all parts or your State.
t~estifies your devotion TO the cause of our
country. which is represented by the Re
next Tuesday will be tried before the great
tribunal or the American people.
with er 1879 aysn 81 i HIS sphtis,es an over
us with their glistening stars. No COM
mo, monw taaata can beast Of q better eiviliza-
No commonwealth of the Union can boast
or such agricultural wealth. and / have
seen IT. stated that no territory eff equal
size in the world shows such Il uniform
productiveness of soil as yours. You are a
mighty empire in territory-but mightier in
achievements and mightier in grander
names You have the immortal Lincoln.
Inats enough for one Sta'f:, You have the
his fame as he iourneyed in the pathway
OF the sun. Then you had Logan, and bid
the constituents from Logan's home, south
ern Illinois, hearty welcome to my home
to-day. Then you have Oglesby-grand old
Dick oelesby-and you have Tanner.
You have swept by your sister States
with a fieetness which commands admira-
ton and wonder You have an area ex-
ceeding, that of England and Wales COM
bined; but not a single league of sterile
land. Your farm products have reached
10000 900 in a single year and some people
seem TO think you would produce more ii
you had free silver, or more than SIS an
ecre for every acre of land. Now, that
the price of wheat is going up and silver
Is going down. and your crops have been
exceptionally good, I cannot see how even
the messy pessimistic can convine you. or
themselves. that our present gold standard,
which VIC have mad since 1879, can be Of the
least detriIncat to you.
MY friends. good money is rs essential
20 the farmer as good crops. It Is the boon
Of the farmer. Short dollars are us hurt
full to him as short crops, and cheap money
as Injurious as low prices. Illinois is the
first of the great corn States with n pro-
ducfion annually Of 325. 900. 600 bu, and for
the decade from 1874 to 1889. averaged go,
90, 600 bushels worth $70.0 900. 900. or more than
30 cents per bushel. This was under the
good times Of a protective tariff. This was
lieve that when we have restored the self
preserving. prosperity-producing, debt-stop-