The San Francisco call., 1896-09-25
Uncle Sam-"Hal hal Well, I should smile

yesl'1 We must hold fast to our present ex-
cellent financial system which they helped to
establish, and we must res tore that sp.e endid
industrial policy which enabled this country
to rapidly, distinctively and undisputedly sur
pass all others. [Great applause.l This can be
done by an overwhelming Republican triumph
at the polls in November, now not six weeks
distant. [Great applause and cries of at will
be doneR'l Men of Oil City and Venango
County, how will your ballots be cast? loud
cries OF ''For Mckinley, protection and sound
moneyr'1
am proud that my ancestors came from the
State of Pennsylvania. [Great cheering.l 1t
will give me sincere pleasure to meet and greet
all of my fellow-citizens who are assem- bled
about me. and am sure 1t will give Mrs. Nc
Klnley great pleasure to meet the young ladies
who are the bearers of the beautiful flowers,
representing our glorious and unbroken
Union. [Great cheeringl
Major McKinley's address in response
to the remarks of Colonel Huff, spokes-
man of the West Moreland County dele
cation, was as follows:
THANK you one and all for the good cheer
which you bring me to-day. In this contest
old party lines are being more or less effaced
and patriotic citizens are coming together
upon one common platform 10 sustain the
public honor and support the good faith of
the Government of the United States. [Great
cheering.l This contest in some OF its aspects
is the old yet ever new contest between the
right and wrong. Standing for the right as
we believe, for can there be any doubt that
standing for National honor and National
credit and National currency and the suprem-
acy of the law is standing for the right? Can
there be any doubt of that, my feIlow-citize7s
of West Moreland County, [Cries OF 'No,
neverP'1 Lincoln said, in one of those great
debates against Douglas; at is a question
between right and wrong that is the real issue
That is the issue that will continue in this
country when these poor tongues of ours are
silent 1t is the eternal struggle between these
two principles, right and wrong, throughout
the world. They are two principles that have
stood face to face from the beginning of time.
and will ever continue to struggle until the
right shall ultimately triumph"
The sublime principle for which Abraham
Lincoln eontended-the limitation of slave
territory and the final abolition of slavery it
self-did triumph most gloriously. to the salts
faction evidently of every patriotic citizen
both North and South. We are confronted
this year with question of not mere partisan
difference, but with great moral principle.
What is the proposition gravely presented to
us? Both OF the great political parties of this
country have at different times, the Repub-
lican and Democra attic, in the most deliberate
and binding manner, placed upon the statute
books of the United States the expressed
declaration that call our money, whether gold,
silver or paper, shall be kept equal in value by
every resort at the command of the Govern
ment." Tremendous cheering.l
In opposition to this formal, legal and bind.
ing declaration there are those who propose
to deliberately annul that solemn contract
by lawful means, it is tr9e-but without pre-
tense or intention to make good the loss II
would entail upon any citizen or provision
whatever for the great depreciation it would
occasion to every holder of our Government
securities or the just claims of our pensioners
and other honest creditors. The proposition
they make is to put this country upon sole
monetary basis and that monetary basis a
silver one, resting on a deprecated and depre-
ciating coin, a coin fuctuating in value from
| day to day. And what will be the result? II
will drive from circulation or impair the
value of all the other money of the country,
for IL must be remembered that the nations oil
| the world which are on silver basis use NO
gold and the nations that are on q gold basis
use silver. [Applause.l If the suggestion is
made that this course involves the good faith
| and honor of the Government and would for
the first time cause partial repudiation oi
| our Just obligations, the answer is made thai
| our creditors should expect nothing better
and that they have right TO expect nothing
better They have right to expect nothing
| of the sort from the Government of the United
States, that never repudiated a debt it made
| Applause.
To my mind the question involves. a distinct
issue between right and wrong between honor
and dishonor; and / believe 1t will on reflec
lion be so considered by an overwhelming ma.
jority OF American voters on the Sd of Novem
Der next. Tremendous applause and cheer
| ing.l We cannot afford to trife about mat
ter SO serious and vital to our standing and
! welfare as people; and appeal to YOU, fel
low-citizens of West Moreland County, and al
who love our country and our institutions tc
rise in their might and defeat this unworthy
appeal by such a vast majority ss will put ii
to rest forever. Applause and cries of eve
Wilt
The first speech of the dav was the
shortest. 1t was made in response to the
remarks of w. S. Van Dyke, who spoke
for delegation OF miners from West New.
ton. Major Mckinley devoted his re.
marks mainly 10 The tariff