The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-02

proclaim their devotion to the principle,
of protective tariff, which, while supply
ing adequate revenues for the government
will restore American production ant
serve the best interests of American Labor
and development. Our appeal, there
fore. is not to Il false philosophy or vair
theorists, but to the masses of the Amer
lean people, the plain, practical people
whom Lincoln loved and trusted, anc
whom the Republican party has Away,
| faithfully Strivcn to serve. The plat
form adopted by the Republican nationa
convention has received my careful con
sideration and has my unqualified an
prOval. 1t is Il matter of gratilication t.
me- as | am sure it must be to you. anu
| to Republicans everywhere and to all oul
people that the expressions of its decla'
ration Of principles are so direct, cleal
and emphatic. They are too plain and
positive to leave any chance for doubt OF
| question as to their purport and meaning
But you will not expect me to discuss its
provisions at length at this time. 1t will
however. be my duty and pleasure at some
| future day to make to and through you
| to the great party you represent, formal
acceptation of the nomination rendered.
| No one could be more profoundly grateful
| than | for manifestations of public conf
! dcnce of which you have so cloquently
spoken.
1T shall be my aim to attest this APP
probation by an unsparing devotion to
what | esteem the best interests of the
people, and in this work | ask the council
and support of you gentlemen and OF
every other friend of the country.
"'rhe generous expression with which
you, sir, convey the 0filclal notice OF my
nomination are highly appreciated and as
,,U tnl |
your associates of the notification com
mittee and the great party and convention
at whose instance you come for the hlgh
and exceptional distinction bestowed
upon me"
When the applause after Governor
McKinley's response to Senator Thurs
ton had subsidized, Mr.. Harry III. Smith,
for many years clerk in the national
house of representatives at Washington
and parliamentary secretary or coach
for the last four Republican national
conventions. said:
"The various gavels presented to the
st. Louis convention | need not enumer-
ate. The one presented to it for the
nominee of the convention for president.
which | now hold in my hand, possesses
a far greater historic interest than any
of the gavcls presented to previous con-
Mr.. W. II. Bartells of Carthage, ILL.,, and
was made from log taken from the
cabin occupied by Abraham Lincoln in
1852 ut New Salem, Ill.
On one end of the head of the gavcl
is inscribed on Il silver plate the name
of the donor and the above stated facts,
while on the other on a gold plate are
the words National Republican CON
vention. held at st. Louis. June 16, 1896,
nominating William Mckinley for pres
idcnt."
This gavcl, which stands as an EN-
blcm and type of sturdy Amcricanism
and American homes and industries, was
placed in my hands as assistant sccrc
tary of the convention and of the not;
fication committee for presentation II
YOU on this most happy occasion. II
gives me profound pleasure to discharge
this duty and to say that in handing yot
this gavel. | but express the opinion not
alone of the great mass of the members
of the Republican party of the United
States, but of many thousand indcpend-
cnt Democrats. who stand for honest
money, that in November next the work
of the convention which nominated you
will be crowned by Il majority never re-
ccivcd by but one member of the Re
publican party, and that following in the
IIdll Vi INC NItu lIlltOlll, WHOSE
memory is prescribed by this gavCl you.
like him. will discharge the duties of the
great Office, TO which you will surely be
elected in November next with unsclfsh
patriotism and answering fidelity to the
constitution and principles of American
liberty represented by our party"
As the applause subsidized after Mr.
Smiths presentation of the gavel. Gov
crnor Mckinley stepped forward to the
edge of the vcranda and said:
Mr.. Smith. | thank you for this beau
tiful gift and for the courteous terms
in which you have conveyed the wishes
of the convention. | am glad to have so
valuable souvenir of the great nation
Ill Republican convention, and especially
am | grateful for the remembrance on
account of the historic associations con-
Meeting it with the name of the martyrcd
Lincoln, whose memory is an inspira-
ton to every American.
Il thank you again" (Applausc).
Before the notification party could get
seated for lunch, representative dele
cation from Columbus, who had come 125
miles, called. there being 325 in the party
Governor Mckinley responded to n
presentation by cX-Attorncy General d.
X. Watson.
You have done me a great honor,
when L nlSnly appreciate. by the call
you have made upon me today. | recall
with the greatest pleasure the four
years | sat in the capital city and that
old place has become very dear to me.
| felt through all those years that there
was not Il moment of time that | did not
have the sympathy and the support and
the good will and encouragement of the
men of Columbus. irrespective of polit-
cal affiliations, and | recall no four years
of my puOic service that were more
agreeable to me, and that have left more
| agreeable. memories. which | shall cher
iSh forever, than the four years | spent
among you.'
Il thank you, Congressman Watson.
for the gracious words You have spoken
personally to myself. | do believe in my
country; believe in its vast possibilities.
and | believe it is entirely within us what
shall be the possibilities of the future of
| the government of the United States. and
am sure that the people of this coun-
| try, from ocean to ocean, will stand by
those principles and those policies that
will secure to the people of the United
States the greatest prosperity and high
est blessings"
Continuing, the governor said: awe
have present with us, and it gives me
the greatest pleasure to present to YOU
some of the notification committee from
the national convention. The first gentle
man L desire to present is that illus.
triouS citizen of Nebraska, United States