The San Francisco call., 1896-02-13
Virtues of the Great Liberator
Extolled in Patriotic
Speeches.
DEPEw's ELOQUENT PRAISE.
Principles Enunciated by the Dead
Statesman Form the Basis of
Republicanism.

Republican greeting tonight to the Re-
publican leader from Ohio, William Nc
kinley, at the tenth annual banquet of the
Marquette Club, held in the banquet halls
OF the Auditorium Hotel.
More than HOO prominent Republican
citizens of this and other cities listened to
praises of Lincoln and Republicanism and
made the event a memorable one, polit-
ically, by voicing their pent-up admira-
ton for the Canton citizen as Presiden-
tial candidate.
Standing beneath portrait of the mar
tyred President, fianked and framed with
the flag he died to preserve, Major
Mckinley faced mass of his fellow Re
publicans to deliver a patriotic eulogy to
the memory of Lincoln, couched in elo-
quent and fervId language.
Distinguished Americans in public life
sat to the right and left of the chief ora
tor, whose introduction by President Ell
den c. Dewitt of the club was made the
signal for an overwhelm ing outburst of en-
thusiasm. While President Dewitt was
delivering a brief address he stopped to
inform the assembly that crowd of men
was standing on the storm swept street IN
front of the hotel and would not disperse
0hbAi 4u IOA 01SIAA111Cy SpOhG W tllGm HUH
the balcony.
Wrapping a coat about him and stand
ing without hat in the clustering east
wind from the lake, Ohio's Ex-Governor
spoke TO 100 men from the Michigan ave-
nue. balcony few words about Lincoln
After President Dewitt had spoken under
embarrassing difficulties General Arthur
H. Chetlain of Chicago spoke forcibly of
the duty which faced Republican clubs in
the impending contest.
Then William Mckinley rose to re-
ceive the plaudits of his low-Republi-
cans, who listened in unusual silence
while he spoke to the toast, Abraham
Lincoln
Mr.. Mckinley said in part:
1t requires the most gracious pages in the
worlds history to record what one American
achieved. The story of this simple life is the
story OF plain, honest, manly citizen, true
patriot and profound statesman, who believing
with all the strength of his mighty soul in the
institutions of his country, won because of
them the highest place in its Government
then fell precious sacrifice to the Union he
held so dear, which Providence had spared his
life long enough to save.
We meet tonight to do honor to this i'm
mortal hero, Abraham Lincoln whose achieve
ments have heightened human aspirations and
broadened the field of opportunity To the races
of men. While the party with which we stand
and for which he stood can Justly claim him
and without dispute can boast the distinction
OF being the first TO honor and trust him, his
fame has leaped the bounds of party and eoun-
try and now belongs to mankind and the ages.
Among the statesmen of America, Lincoln is
the true Democrat and, Franklin perhaps ex-
cepted, the first great one. He had no Illus
trious ancestry; no inherited place or wealth.
and none of the prestige, power, training or
culture which were assured to the gentry or
landed classes Of our own colonial times.
Yet Lincoln's antecedent life seemed to have
been one OF UNCONSCIOUS preparation for the
great responsibilities which were committed
TO him in 1860. As man of the masses him
sell and living with them, sharing their feel
lugs and sympathizing with their daily trials
their hopes and aspirations, he was better
fitted to lead them than any other man of his
age. He recognized more clearly than any one
else that the plain people he met in his daily
life, and knew so familiarly, were, according
TO the dictates of justice and our theory of
Government, its ultimate rulers and the arbi-
ters of its destiny.
In the selection of his Cabinet he at once
showed his greatness and magnanimity. His
principal rivals for the Presidential nomina-
tion were / vited to sit in his council cham
Der No one but great man, conscious of his
own strength, would have done this.
During the Civil War he was tower of
strength to the Union. Whether in defeat or
victory he kept right on, dismayed at nothing,
and never 10 be diverted from the pathway of
duty.
The crowning glory of Lineoln's administra-
tion and the greatest executive act in Ameri-
can history was his immortal proclamation of
emancipation.
NJ Dra.
correct estimate on the character OF Lincoln
He was the greatest man of his time, especially
approved OF God for the work he gave him
to do.
witnessing the Government as we do to-day,
with It's debt-increasing, bond-issuing, gold
depicting labor destroying low tariff policy,
the words of Lincoln. written more than half q
century ago, come to us in this hour and
emergency. AS far back as March l. 1S43 at
Whig meeting in Springfield, Lincoln offered
series of resolutions relating to the tariff
which could well be accepted here tonight
Let me read to you the Lincoln platform on
tariff, adopted on May IT, 1860, by the second
Republican National Convention. Here is what
it said:
RESOLVED, That while providing revenue for the
support OF the general Government by duties on
imports, sound policy requires such an adjustment
of these imports TO encourage the DEVELOPMENT
OF the industrial interests of the whole country;
and we recommend that policy Of National ex-
changes which secures to the workingman liberal
wages. to agriculture remunerative prices to
mechanics and manufacturers adequate reward
for their SKILL labor and enterprise. and to the
nation commercial prosperity and independence.
Better protection no Republican could ask or
desire. The Republican party is competent TO
carry this policy into effect. Whenever there
is anything TO be done for this country, it is to
the Republican party we must look to have it
>-one. We are not contending for any particu-
lar tariff law or laws, or for any special
schedules or rates, but for the great principle
the American protective policy-the temporary
overflow OF which has brought distress and
ruin 10 every part of our beloved country.
Senator Thurston followed the ex-Gov-
ernor of Ohio, speaking to the toast, 1.-THE
Impending Contest His stirring elo-
quence on behalf of Republican doctrines
was punctuated with rounds Of applause,
and when he said that 1.-THE glory OF the