The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-08
CHARLES EMORY SMITH
Makes an Eloquent Speech to a
Crowded Audience at Hamil-
ton Hall

ton Hall
Hamilton hall was crowded shortly
after o'clock last night to hear Post
master General Charles Emory Smith.
AS Chairman Charles F. Spencer said
in his Introductory remarks. it is not
often that the people of Topeka get a
chance to see a real live cabinet Off
Ger, and many awaited themselves Of the
opportunity last night.
The Republican hambeau clubs pa
raded Kansas avenue prior to the ad-
dress, but they did not add much to the
audience, because the hall was full
while the parade was going on.
On the platform with General Smith
sat Fourth Assistant Postmaster Bris-
tow, Chairman Mort Albaugh of the
republican state central committee, H.
Judge Guthrie, Tom McNeal, Judge
Carver and other prominent Kansas
Republicans.
John T. CLANCY. chairman of the
committee called the meeting to order
and introduced Charles f. Spencer, as
the presiding officer
General Smith was then introduced
and received a hearty ovation. After
the enthusiasm had subsidized he express
sed the pleasure he felt in coming to
Kansas, and after euIogizing the state
and its history, he said:
You will, am sure, pardon me for
saying thel they have sometimes
seemed to take a wayWard form, but
that occasional alteration is some-
times associated with the highest de-
gree of intelligence and independence
and have always felt that the appeal
of reason and right could be success
fully addressed to the sober second
judgment of such a people. I have a
profound conviction that Kansas the
fair daughter of eastern thrift and Gull
ture and the true type of western enter
q nd wiz IL - -
of national movement and progress,
and I am glad to look in your eyes and
read your faces, and see for myself
whether that may not be expected to
shine in your action"
At this point the f1ambeau clubs ar
rived headed by Oscar Swayze bearing
an immense banner on which was a
portrait Of Mckinley and the OTtb11rst
Of applause which followed interr11pted
the speaker for several minutes At
ter it had subsidized General Smith con-
tinued:
81 am glad to see the spirit with
which you welcome the effigy of our no.
bic president. I do not believe there
could be an assemblage within the
bounds of our republic, either Republf-
con or Democrat that would not greet
that picture with the same enthusiasm
that you have. If there was ever a time
in all our history when the American
people should stand together in support
OF the government, and when there
should be a mighty and irresistible up
rising tor the complete fulfllment of
great achievements, that time is now
We have lived more than a decade Of
ordinary existence in the last six
months. The tide of unforeseen and
transcendent events has swept US for
ward on its mighty current and brought
US face to face with new duties and
with a broader destiny. The echoes of
that glorious May day, when, in the ;
gray dawn, the heroic Dewey sailed in !
to the harbor OF Manila and won a vic |
tory which had more meaning than any /
other sea fight of modern times, still |
ring in our ears and thrill our hearts |
on sea and land, added to the lustre of /
our arms. The American people make /
war; as they make peace, upon their !
own principles and their own ideas We |
made war, not for conquest, not for |
power, but for humanity and justice. |
Europe lifted no hand when Armenia |
cried in piteous appeal through the |
slaughter OF $4,000 innOcentS. But we /
could not be silent when desolation and /
havoc stalked through Cuba and de- |
manded our interposition. In April we /
faced war with the Etuestion in every /
mans mind whether It would last one !
or two years or more, what checkered !
course Of victory and reverse might /
mark its career and what loss and sac /
rife might be required to achieve the !
ultimate triumph which all felt would
be its sure outcome. In August, only /
113 days from the outbreak of the war; !
after Obliterating two Spanish fleets and /
armies. after annihilating Spanish pow
ar on the sea and extinguiShing Spanish
colonial remains on land, the war was
over with such splendor and complete
ness as astonished the world, and in
these October days we are considering
the tremendous questions of national
development which this victory has
brought to US.
''The country once more witnesses an
era of good feeling such as it has not
Known since the administration of Mon
a 1n TTr91 Of q wa hos
sectiOnaIism. It has brought
the north and the south together in
such harmony and fraternity as have /
not prevailed since the differing insti-
buttons of the two sections began their
rrepressible conflict in our early his
tory"
General Smith then appealed for the
overthrow of narrow partisanship, and |
sulOgized President Mckinley and his
conduct of the war in the highest terms.
The remainder of his address he devo-
led to a, discussion of the tariff QueS-
lion.