The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-29
Mckinley Appreciated Words of
Bishop Arnett.
The Bishop Spoke for COlOrcd
Methodist Ministers.
REPLY OF M'KINLEY.
He Speaks of the Great Pro.
gresS Of Their Race.
Also Addresses a DeIegat ion
From a Tin Plate Town.

Canton, O., Sept 29.-To the delega-
ton of colored ministers from the Afrf-
can NJ. E. conference at Cleveland who
called on him yesterday, Major McKin-
ley said:
Bishop Lee Arnett and Ny Fellow
Citizens: This is to me a most inter
esting and inspiring call. I appreci-
ate the kind words, the earnest words,
the eloquent words spoken by Bishop
Arnett. They move my soul They
inspire me with confidence. I wish his
voice and his patriotic sentiments so
We'll expressed, might have been heard
by thousands rather than the few hun
dreds gathered about me today
1 am glad to meet the ministers of
the African Methodist Episcopal church.
That you should have set aside the
business of your annual conference
long enough to pay me a visit is an
honor which 1 greatly appreciate and
shall always remember. It is a match
less civilization in which we live;
civilization that recognizes the common
and universal brotherhood of man. It
is glorious constitution, the American
constitution, under which we live, that
secures to every citizen beneath our
flag absolute freedom Of religious doc
tTine and belief. A constitution that
recognizes neither creed, nor color, nor
race, nor nationality, nor caste, nor
GLASSES, Out pIOI6ClS anu Q6I0uQS ILL
and accOrds to each civil and religious
liberty.
THE history of your race is one of
wonderful progress under the most try
ing and difficult circumstances. You
have demonstrated your patience and
patriotism, courage and intelligence and
your Willingness to sacrifice for your
country and to sustain its honor at all
times and under all circumstances.
You have made marked and commend
able strides in the field of educa ton
and learning. Your educational insti-
tutions, public and private, are scat
tered all over the country, and within
their walls you are giving generous and
liberal education to the men of your
race, fitting them for the responsible
ties of life and equipping them for good
citizenship.
"Wiberforce university, in our own
state, is a proud monument to your en-
terprise and character, an institution
among the oldest. if not the Oldest, of
its kind, which is sending out teachers
and preachers and men for the learned
professions to every part of the co1n-
try. Not only have you been carefully
looking after the intellectual, but you
have not neglected the moral condition
of your race. Both should go together.
In twenty years the membership OfyOur
church alone has increased from IT,
900 to about 100000, and your preachers
from /, 1874 to 4.252. 1 am glad to note
the advancement of any organization
which has for it's first object the eleva-
ton of mankind and the Improvement
and betterment of our citizens. You
and the race to which you belong have
my heartfelt congratulations upon the
progress you have already made and
my prayer for still further progress.
Il recall as I stand in your presence
today, with peculiar pleasure, that dur
ing the great international exposition
at Chicago at the Worlds fair parlia-
ment of religion, when men of all coun-
tries and races and religions had as
sembled under one roof, your plshop,
Arnett was chosen to represent your
race It was a high and deserved hon
or. With what modesty and ability he
bore the honor; with what credit to
your race and to our country he dis
charged the duty every Ohioan knows,
and every OhiOan feels an increasing
pride in hirna and the race ne represents
May God bles you and keep you all 1t
will be nv pleasure, if 1T shall be yours
to meet and greet each one of you per-
Sonally.
To the Lisbon delegation which called
on him Major Mckinley said: Mr.
Taylor ladies and gentlemen: need
not say to you that I am deeply moved
by this call in this Indictment weather.
I am glad indeed to have been con-
nected with a piece of national legisla-
ton that gave to the town of Lisbon an
tin plate plant which gives
as I am Informed to more
than 325 people. You farmers and mer-
chants and business men know how
valuable that plant has been to your
and county; and submit
to you, no matter what may have been
your politics in the past, whether you
would not prefer to have that tin plate
factory in your county and in your
state than to have it in Wales It
demonstrates what has been said by
the statesmen OF the past and the lead
ers of the present that the more factor
les you can have in community, the
better will be it's condition"
After referring to his personal inter-
est in and friendship for the people of
Lisbon, who were his constituents when
he was in congress, Major Mckinley
concluded as follows:
Your presence here indicates that
YOU have not lost interest in Republi-
can principles and that you are quite
as much concerned, if not more con-
cerned, in their triumph this year, than
YOU have ever been before. am glad
to be assured that have your warm
and hearty sympathy and support as
have had always in years past will
not venture to enter upon any political
discussion this afternoon, feeling certain
that the good old county of Columbiana
has already determined that her votes
shall be given for a sound currency, an
national credit and
protective tariff and reciprocity, the
permanency of law and for the peace
and order Of society"