Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-19

advantages and opportunities that be-
long of right to the American people.
Under his administration we shall COM
mand the respect of the nations of the
earth; the American flag will never be
hauled down; the rights of American citi-
zenship will be enforced; abundant reve-
nues provided; foreign merchandise will
remain abroad, our gold kept at home;
American Institutions will be cherished
and upheld; all governmental obligations
serupulously kept, and on the escutcheon
of the republic will be lndeliby engraved
the American policy, Protection, reci-
procity and sound money"
My countrymen, let not your hearts be
troubled the darkest hour is just before
the day-the morning of the twentieth
century will dawn bright and clear. Lift
up your hopeful faces and receive the
light. The republican party Is coming
back to power, and William Mckinley
will be president of the United States.
In an inland manufacturing city, ON
election night "a, after the wires had con-
firmed the news of sweeping republic
can victory, two workingmen started to
climb to the top of a great smokeless
chimney.
That chimney had been built by the in
vitation and upon the promise of repub-
can protective legislation. In the factory
over which 1t lowered was employment
for twice 1000 men. It's mighty roar had
heralded the prosperity of "a whole COM
munity. 1t had stood a cloud by day and
a pillar of fire by night for "a busy, indus
trieus, happy people. Now bleak, black
ened, voiceless and diSmantled, like
grim spectre of evil, 1t frowned upon the
hapless city, where poverty, idleness,
stagnation and want attested the COM
plete disaster of the free trade expert
ment
Up and up and up they climbed, watch
ed by the GREATNESS multitude below
Up and up and up, until at last they
stood upon its summit and there in the
glare of the electric lights, cheered by the
gathered thousands, they unfurled and
nailed an American flag. Down in the
streets strong men wept the happy tears
of hope and mothers, lifting up their
babes, invoked the blessings of the nag,
and then inpassoned lips burst forth IN
song-the alleluiah of exulting hosts, the
mighty pean of a peoples JOY. That
song, the enthusiastic millions sing 1t
yet:
''Hurrahi hurrah. we bring the jubilee;
Hurrah! hurrah. the flag that makes us
free,
So we sing the chorus from the noun
tains to the sea-
Hrrrah for Mckinley and protection"
over the city that free flag waved, ca
ressed by the passing breeze, kissed by
the silent stars And there the first glad
sunshine of the morning fell upon IT,
luminous and lustrouS with the tldlnsS Oh
republican success.
On behalf OF those stalwart workmen
and all the vast army of American toll
ers; that their employment may be GER
tain, their wages just, their dollars the
best of the civilized world on behalf OF
that dismantled chimney and the de-
serted factory at its base; that the fur-
haces may once more fame the mighty
wheels revolve, the whistles scream, the
anvils ring, the spindles hum; on behalr
of the thousand cottages roundabout and
all the humble homes of this broad land;
that comfort and contentment may again
| abide the firesides glow, the women sing,
the children laugh; yes, and on behait
of that American flag and all 1t stands
for and represents. for the honor of every
stripe, for the glory of every star that
it's power may fill the earth and Its spien.
dor span the sky ask the nomination OF
that loyal American, that Christian gem
tleman, soldier statesman, patriot, WIZ
liam MpKin1pV