The Washington bee., 1896-08-22
WHAT HE SAID.

CANTON, OHIO, Aug. 10, logo nc
IOuveture Rifles; handsomely uni
formed. well-drilled military company
composed of colored men, came on
sneciaI train from Cleveland, with
large number oftheir friends to call on
Major Mckinley early this afternoon:
They maChed behind their own band
from the station to the Mckinley resi-
dencc and were freely cheered by the
'snectalors on the sidewalks and COM
piimented upon their handsome ap-
nearance. IL. c. Smith, colored
member Oh the Ohio Legislature, ad-
dressed Major Mckinley on behalf OF
the visitors and presented him with a
certificate of hOnary membership III
the Rifles, the first one ever issued.
Mr.. Smith is a speaker OF force and
eIoouence and his pertinent vigorous
remarks called from Major Mckinley
a spirited response, which was moment
ariiv punctured with luSty cheers and
long continued applause.
1t was one of the most enthusiastic
meetings that has been witnessed IN
Canton. Major Mckinley was in ex-
cellent form. Replying to Mr.. Smith
and acknowledging the compliment OF
honary membership IN the L'Ouver-
ture Rifles, he SAID:
Mr.. Smith and My Fellow Citizens
1t gives me extreme pleasure to meet
and greet this company of rifles and
NV colored fellow citizens from the
city of cleveland and of Northern
Ohio, and | rejoice to learn from your
eloquent spokesman that your race
this wear, as in all years past, stands
faithfully to our Republican cause,
which | believe is the cause of our
country. (Applause.) | do not forget
no man can forget-that whether in
war or in peace, the race which you
represent never turned its back on the
glorious old Stars and Stripes. Great
applause and cries of {: Hurrah for
Mckinley"
EQUALITY OF POWER.
When that great civil war COM
menCed, no man could tell what its
outcome would be in regard to its
effect upon your race. There were
those who believed that it must result
in the abolition of human slavery.
There were those who believed other
wise. The result was the immortal
proclamation of emancipation by the
best friend you ever had-Abraham
Lincoln tremendous cheering), whose
name you will cherish and revere for
ever and evermore. James G.. Blaine
once said that the first instinct of an
American was equality-equality of
right, equality of privilege, equality Of
political power.
That sentiment long ago found ex-
preston in the Constitution of the
Unites States, and the people of this
country placed in that great instru-
ment where II had never been before
and where under God it shall ever
remain, civil and political equality to
every citizen everywhere beneath the
flag. (Applause.)
| congratulate you, gentlemen, upon
the splendid progress that your race
has made since emancipation. You
have done better, you have advanced
more rapidly than it was believed pos
sible at the time; you have improved
greatly the educational advantages
which you have had. Your people
everywhere North and South are accu-
mulating property and today you stand
as among the most conservative of the
citizens of this grea- Republic. (Ap-
plause.) | congratulate you from the
bottom of my heart on the advance
ment you have already made and
sincerely wish for you and your race,
fellow citizens of common country,
the highest realization of your hopes
and your prayers. Great cheering.)
Major McKinley's speech to the
LOverJure Rifles of Cleveland was
full of fine oratory and hopes.
Major Mckinley spoke of their
prayers. That is what the trouble
is now. The negro has been pray
ing too much.
Again, Major Mckinley said that
he hoped they would realize what
they hoped for. That is just what
The BEE wants to know if the
Major is elected if the Afro-Amer-
leans will realize what he is hoping
for to-day? There is the rub. Ma
jOr Mckinley did not say in his
Canton speech that our hopes would
be realized in the event Of his cleo
tion.
Neither has Mr.. Bryan held out
any inducement to the Afro-Amer-
leans who are showing themselves
10 be fools by organizing Demo-
cratic Silver clubs.
Will the Afro ever
learn the art of reasoning?
The L'Overture Rifles will return
and tell their comrades that Ma
jor Mckinley said great things to
them, when the fact is he has com
mitted himself on nothing except
the money question.
We all know what Abraham
Lincoln has done and we also know
what the black soldiers have done
on land and sea, and we all know
what the Republican party has not
done and ought to do, and We all
know what the Democratic party
has done to the colored man and
is still doing.
Major Mckinley is a great states
men an honest man and = patri-
otic citizen, but it is time for the
Afro-American to know where he
stands.