Evening journal., 1898-10-21
TO RAILROAD MEN.
President McKinley's Last
Speech In Chicago.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROFESSION
Splendid Character and High Intel
Hgence of the Men TO Whom
Are Intrusted the Lives and
Wealth of the Country.


CHICAGO, Oct. 21.-The weather for
the last day Of Chicago's peace jubilee
was even worse, If possible. than that
OF the preceding three days. Rain fell
fitfully, and a cold breeze blew con-
stantly The president was driven &c
the First regiment armory, where, to-
gether with Mayor Harrison. he was re-
celved by large gathering of railroad
employees. After the reception the
president addressed the railroad men,
eliciting from them the warmest APP
plause.
President Mckinley spoke as follows;
Il count myself fortunate to have the
privilege of meeting with this great
railroad organization in this great me-
tropolis / have had in the last ten days
very many most interesting and pleas
ing experiences as journeyed through
the country, but assure you that not
one of them has given me greater pleas
ure than 10 meet the men and women
connected with the great railroads OF
the country.
1T is fortunate that this great body
OF representative men and women have
met in this city at a time when the
people were celebrating the suspension
VI hOoAAAAAACS VIII tdllg IODt VI dn nbh-
orable, just and triumphant peace. The
railroad men Of the country have been
always for the country. The railroad
men of the country have always beer
for the flag of the country. and in ev-
cry crisis of our national history, In
war and in peace, the men Of your
great organization have been loyal and
faithful to every duty and obligation
Yours is at once a profession of great
risk and Of grave responsibility. 1 know
of no occupation in the sphere Of hu-
man endeavor which carries with II
greater obligations or higher RESPONSE
bilities than the profession of railroad
men. You carry the commerce of the
country, you carry the rich treasures
of the country from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, and you carry daily and hourly
the frelghtage Of humanity. They trust
to you, to your integrity to your intel
ligence and your fidelity for the safe
guarding of their lives, and / cOngrat
ulate the country from the bottom o.
my heart that in this great system 81
interviewer with the everyday life o
the citizens of the republic we have
such splendid character and such higl
intelligence.
II bring to you today not only m,
good will, but bring to you the gooC
will and respect of 7O,000O00 of Ameri
can citizens.
"Your work is before a critical au-
diences You go in and out every day
before your oountrymen, and you have
ever deserved from your countrymeT
the unstlnted praise and approval FOL
your fidelity to the great interest yol
represent. The virtue of the people liei
at the foundation of the republic; thI
power Of the people is in the American
fireside The virtue that comes out o
the holy altar of home is the mos
priceless gift this nation has, and whel
the voice Of the people speaks from tn
home Of the people it is a command t
congress and the executive; It is tn
law Of the republic.
81 thank you, my fellow citizens. 70
your cordial greeting, and I congratu
late you on the evidences Of returning
prosperity everywhere. What you wan
what we all wants. business pros
perity. When you have that. you hav
something to do; when you have II not
then you are idle. There are few emp
ties now on the side track and there ar
few railroad men not employed. Tn
more you see the freight car the oftene
you see the pay car.
Il am glad to observe that the Firs
Illinois regiment is in your presence to
day. That gallant regiment is made u
of the volunteers from the homes c
Chicago who took their lives into thei
own hands and went to Santiago t
fight the battle Of liberty against OF
preston. am glad to have this OF
portunity to meet and greet them an
to congratulate and thank them in tn
name of the American people.
"And now. having said this much
hope-I know-that 1 will carry froI
this place, from this audience, froi
these warm hearted men and womel
the pieasantest memories Of my Ion
trip through the west"
At the conclusion Of President Nj
Kinley's remarks the audience brok
into wild cheers, which lasted fully fiv
minutes. The presidential party the
left the hall.
The Lafayette Statue.
PARIS. oct. 21.-At the meeting {