The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
Major MckinIey's Speech.


Major Mckinley's Speech.
Major Mckinley was greeted with the
greatest enthusiasm when he arose to re-
ply. He said:
Mr.. Morris and Gentlemen of the Re-
publican Press Association Of West Virgin
ia-It affords me sincere pleasure to give
you welcome TO my State, my city and my
home. From no quarter could visitors be
more welcome, nor from any body of men
than the representatives of the Republican
press of West Virginia, from a State in
which L am intensely interested as a citi-
zen and a republican, and because be-
lieve that upon the success OF Republican
principles her advancement and welfare
largely depends. (ApplauSe)
The cause in which you are engaged
this year is one coInanding both conscience
and interest. The Republican cause never
was more lust and righteous than this
year, and the triumph of it's principles was
never more essential to the general welfare>
Of the American people than now. We
have had great political contests in the
past, but | doubt il any was ever waged
pie and to the country at large than those
presented in this campaign. Applause and
cries of That's right.) Nothing is more
vital to the standing and progress of q
country than the preservation OF it's credit
and financial, honor applause and cries
dispensable to business and prosperity than
that the currency of the country shall be
cheering.) Nothing is of greater moment
to the welfare of the country than the
adoption of a policy which will give to
IapOI anu Cdlbll0l CoilSldll tiIQIOy illGill
with fair returns. applause and cries of
'Good.) But, gentlemen, lying beneath all
these, and more important than all these,
is the preservation of law and order--the
reign of domestic quiet. CCheers.) All
these are embraced in the contention which
is upon US this year.
In connection with these questions, as
editors and publishers, you have the gray
est responsibilities. You help to make pub
lie sentiment. and a right public sentiment
is what IS most needed at this juncture Of
our national affairs. Never was the press
sues than now. Never did the Republican
cause have such mighty support from the
newspapers. of the United States as it has
to-day. This help is not confined to the
Republican press alone, but includes many
of the greatest newspapers which have
hitherto advocated the Democratic cause.
Great applause.) All this is an evidence
that the people appreciate that a great
crisis is upon them, and that the way TO
avoid that crisis is for patriotic men of
every section of the country to unite and
act together in the common cause of coun-
Germ, therefore, that prompts me to ex-
press the hope that West Virginia may be-
Cheers and cries of 1t will go Republican
this fall all right.). And that what she
gained so gloriously in 1894 will not DE lost
in 1896. Great apolauSe.)
AIM OF THE PARTY.
The Republican party aims higher than
that-it is not merely the success of in
dividuals, but the good of the country it
seeks; and it is in that spirit, animated
only by patriotic sentiment. that [ wish
always to constantly speak and act. Gap
plause.) There is, in my judgment, no
State whose prosperity is linked more
closely to Republican policies than West
Virginia. You have extensive river COM
merce. both on the Ohio and the Kanawha;
and this is never SO prosperous and active
as when your great steel and iron interests,
your mines. your mills, your factories are
busilv empIoyed. (Cries of That's righti)
Your railroads. feHGDlnG now more IMAM
two thousand miles. with their employees,
are all better off when every field of indus
try is employed. Every railroad employe,
from tracknnan to manager, appreciates
this as he never appreciate fed it before.
no other equal territory, no other 2?,V0Q
square miles of the soil of the United
States, mighty as her resources are, could
contain SO many interests whose develop
ment. growth and progress are so de-
pendent upon the maintenance of the great
Republican doctrine of protection. Great
applausC.} Your development is new. Your
rich resources are scarcely touched. You
have the best Of coal in nexhapstibie
State. producing last year more than
ceeds about 1,250, 900 tons, equal in quality
to the outpu of any other State except.
YOUR interests are of remarkable i'm
%portance, with an annual product OF over
$50, 600. 900 feet. your sawmills giving en-
plovment to thousands of men and boys,
with an annual pay roll Of thousands of
dollars, not including your logging opera
tons. The products of your stave mills,
the output OF your great tie industry,
which certainly added as much more in
wages when running in full and successful
operation prior to 1893. Your oil product has
approximated 10, coo. 60 barrels per annum.
This industry is but in its infancy, and the
possibilities Of your oil fields are almost
incredible in extent. But your wealth does
not end in railroad and river trade. steel.
glass, coal. coke, timber, oil, pottery or
other manufactures or mineral products,
for West Virginia is a great State in her
agricultural resources. (Applause.) Only
about one-half the State is not in use for
farming and grazing, but agriculture is the
chief interest in the majority of your coun-
ties. while wool growing and stock raising
have assumed large proportions.
How much these several industries have
suffered in the last six years, you know
better than l can tell you. How much the
wool-growers have lost, those who have
sheep and raise wool know accurately.
They know what the experience of the last
eleven years has cost to the very cent. All
these interests are directly affected; all are
benefited or injured by our industrial leg
~isIation. You know. and the people know,
that every one Of these was advanced by
Republican policies tapplause). and that gil
of them have been more or less injured by
Democratic legislation. Great applause and
cries of You are right!) With such al
most inexhaustlble Heaith in your midst.
with elrpb p9SSibilifiaS of lpyafonmenf and