The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-27
TO CLEVELANDERs.
Brief Address to NnturaIized Citizens
md First Voters.

To the Peoples Club of Cleveland and
the many who accompanied it, Mr.. Nc
Kinley said
Mr.. McKisson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
| can imagine no audience that better pro-
tests against the false ana un-American
doctrine of classes against the masses than
this splendid audience. / welcome the
first voters the Germans the Bohemians
the Hungarians, the Italians American
born and naturalized citizens, everyone
equal in privileges and opportunity beneath
United States has equal interest in the
conduct Of the government and its admins
sympathy with those who would seek to
create inequalities and promote antagon-
isms wherein conflict the spirit of our in
situations. All responsibility of govern
ment rests with the people. who have equal
voice. interest and power in shaping its
future policy. The ballot of the humblest
citizen thank God is as powerful as that
of the most exalted. The vote Of the poor
est citizen counts as much as the vote of
the most opulent. There is inequality
under Constitution and laws, and those
who seek to make distinctions are not the
(ApplauseD In voting, every man is a free
man and every ballot should express the
best opinion of the votes. He should con-
suit both his intelligence and conscience
before he deposits his ballot. 1t is trust,
therefore. of supreme importance which Is
conferred upon the American citizen and
carries with it grave doubts which affect
not only the country, but every home and
fireside in the land Our government, more
consent of the governed. and is controlled
in its policies by the will of the ma iority.
MY fellow-citiZens, there have been few
times in our history when the ballot was
more important than now or when 1t meant
more to the country in its credit and well
fare. it's honor and prosperity. (Applause.)
l have seen somewhere that 'Suffra ge
means principally the hough the pastern
of the horse, so called, because 1T bends
in and not over like the knee joint
When a horse is lying down and wants TO
rise on his legs. IL is this joint which is
thrown into action and when a horse
stands his legs. ii is these ankle joints
which support him. Metaphorically.' says
the dictionary of phrase and fables. voters
are the pastern Joints of the country where
by it is supported Whether this definition
be true or not. it accurately describes
telligent and well-directcd use of suffrage
can alone lift it up. Nothing else can
do it, 1t has been borne down by a mis-
taken policy. and 1t Is threatened with
further prostration arising from the men
ace of a debased currency. Ii wants to
get up its legs again. and want 1t to
do so. (Applause.) Suffrage must be
brought into action TO accomplish IT, They
can elevate 1t TO it's old and better stand
ard and start IL again on the pathway of
progress and prosperity. They can pre-
serve it's untarnshed credit and lift aloft
the currency and honor of the country
appeal to every citizen to use the ballot
this year so as to conserve the national
interest. elevate the national name and
bring to every tireside and American heart
light. hope and cheer. ] thank you for this
call and your assurances OF support"