The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-21


WELCOME TO THE PRESIDENT.
To-day the gates Of Indianapolis are wide
open to receive and the hearts of its people
go out in loyal and patriotic greeting to
the President of the United States. Mr.. Nc
Kinley will be the sixth President who has
visited indianapolis during his term of Of
fee. though of presidential candidates,
Presidents-elect and ex-Presidents there
have been more. In the larger list the first
in point of time was Gen. William Henry
Harrison, for many years Governor of Indi-
ana Territory and closely identified with
the early history of the State. He visited
dinner and other attentions. and again in
1885. but never afterwards. Martin Van
Buren,, who served as President from 1886
to 1S40 visited the city on June IL, 1872 on
Western and Southern tour. He came in
by stage from the East over the old Ma
tional road, and was met on Washington
street, east of Pogues run. by a procession
of citizens, headed by four militia compa-
MES and the volunteer fire companies CT
that day Escorted into town, he delivered
a short speech from carriage, and in the
evening held a reception at the old State
house. This was a Saturday, and the ex-
President spent Sunday here attending di-
vine service at Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's
Church. He left the next day by stage for
Terre Haute, and when near Plainfield the
vehicle upset, giving the sage of Kinder
hook a shaking up and fright. Four months
later Henry Clay. three times candidate
for President. and defeated twice by jack
son and once by Polk, visited the city on a
tour of political prospecting. He was a
greater celebrity than Van Buren,, and, ac-
cording to contemporaneous accounts, drew
a much larger crowd and created much
greater enthusiasm. In 1855, ex-President
Willard Fillmore. who became President on
the death of Zachary Taylor and served
till 1852, visited the city. He was received
with respect, but there was very little popu-
lar demonstration.
Abraham Lincoln, President-elect, stopped
here on his way to Washington to take the
oath of office. He had a great reception,
and from the balcony of a hotel made his
first speech dimly foreshadowing his views
regarding the impending crisis and his con-
stitutional duty. In concluding a brief adj
dress he said, in his quaint, interrogative
way:
Upon what principle upon what rightful
principle may a State, being more than
one-fiftieth part of the Nation in soil and
population break up the Nation. and then
coerce prorortionately larger subdivision Wis,
nc in Eo CT a hif pa
mysterious right to play tyrant is con-
ferred district of country. with its
people, by merely calling it State? Eel
low-citizens / am not asserting anything
l am merely asking questions for you TO
consider.
Mr.. Lincoln spent a night here and left
the next morning for the East. The next
time he came to Indianapolis it was as
corpse and his body lay in state on a cata-
falque at the Statehouse. while the Nation
mourned.
Andrew Johnson visited Indianapolis dur
ing his Swing around the CIRCLE in 1866
but his visit excited more derision than APP
plause. President Grant was here on the
22d of April, 1871. and received great pop
ular ovation. Similar honors were accorded
to President Hayes when he visited the city
in 1878. President Cleveland came in Sep
TENDER, 1855, and had a distinguished nom
partisan reception. Benjamin Harrison is
still with us. and now comes President Nc
kinley. In the list of those named, and it
includes the greatest Presidents since
Washingtons time, there was none who
possessed the confidence, esteem and adj
miration of the American people in a high
er degree than does President Mckinley.
Under any circumstances the office of
President of the United States is one of
great responsibilities and onerous duties,
but for Mr.. Mckinley it has been excep-
tionaily, even peculiarly so. The circum-
stances that nave made it so are known to
all and are still a part of current unfin-
shed history. Without reciting them it is
enough to say that he has risen grandly to
the occasion and proved fully equal to the
emergency. Politically, he has always been
strong in this State but never so strong as
now when the people of Indiana, in COM
mon with those of the entire country, per-
character that go to the equipment of a
President he is fully equal to the great Of
flee. Therefore, in the name of all the peo-
pie who admire true Americanism, pure
patriotism and fearless ana untiring devo-
ton to duty, the Journal bids President
Mckinley welcome to Indianapolis.