The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-15
10000 PEOPLE
Turned Out to Hear the President at
the Coliseum.


st. Louis, Mo, Oct 15.-The largest
crowd under cover that the president
has come in contact with during his
present trip gathered at the coliseum
last night to hear his address. Probably
twenty thousand people were inside the
building when the address was deliver
ed and twice as many more were un-
able to get any where within the sound
of his voice.
The president was escorted to the
coliseum by the. president and directors
of the exposition. Mr.. Mckinley walk
ed to the big stage in the center of the
building while the people filed the air
with terrific applause and Sousa's bahd
played Hail to the Chief"
After a short address of welcome by
President Sampson, President Mckinley
was presented
After referring pleasantly to his prev
said:
1t must be a matter of great gratif-
cation to the people of the United
States to know that the national credit
was never better than now; that for the
first time in the country's history the
government is floating a three per cent
bond, every dollar of which was sold at
par and are now at a premium of 5
cents on the dollar and that this profit
has gone to the people. The loan was a
of much satisfaction that the people
with their surplus savings, were able
to buy the bonds. 1t is an interesting
fact that while we offered but two
hundred millions of bonds for sale. over
fourteen hundred millions were sub
scribed by the people of the country.
and by the terms of sale no one was
able to receive bonds in excess of five
thousand dollars.
1T is not without significance, too,
that the government has not been re-
it's current obligations until the war
with Spain, while it's available balance
on October 1, 1898, was upwards of
$307 900 900, Of which sum over S243, ,000,-
600 was in gold. Nothing more i'm
pressed the nations of the world than
the appropriation of a large national
defense fund, which the treasury was
able to pay from its balances without
resort to a loan. While the credit and
finances of the government have i'm
proved, the business conditions of the
people have also happily improved.
Both government and citizens have
shared in the general prosperity. The
money circulation of the country was
larger on the first of July, 1898. than
it has ever been, and there has been no
depreciation of the value Of our money.
1.-The people have borne the additional
taxation made necessary by the war
with the same degree of patriotism that
characterized the soldiers who enlisted
to fight the cOuntry's battles. We have
not only prOspered in every material
sense, but we have established a senti-
ment of good feeling and a spirit of
brotherhood such as the nation has not
enjoyed since the earlier years of its
history. Not since the beginning of the
agitation of the question of slavery
have there been such a common bond
in name and purpose; such genuine af-
fection; such a unity of the sections;
such obliteration of party and geo
graphical divisions. National pride has
been again enthroned; national patriot
ism has been restored; the national
union cemented closer and stronger; the
love for the old flag enshrined in all
hearts. North and south have mingled
their best blood in a common cause, and
today rejoice in a common victory.
I'VE must guard this restored union
with jealous and sacred care, and,
while awaiting the settlements of the
war and meeting the problems which
will follow we must stand as one man,
not in the spirit of party and unite IN
a common effort for that which viii
give to the nation its widest influence
in its sphere of activity and usefulness
to which the war has assigned it. Let
nothing distract you; let no discordant
voice intrude to embaTrass US in the
solution of the mighty problems, which
involve such vast consequences to our
selves and pOsterity. Let US remember
that God bestoWs upon no nation such
supreme opportunity which is not ready
to respond to the call ofssupreme duty.
The address of the president was re-
! ceiVed by his 10000 auditors with the
widest cheers, and at its conclusion the
demonstration was simply indeScrib-
able For a short time the president
then viewed the sights of the st. Louis
exposition, after which he left for the
! train. The departure from the city was
made at IL o'clock over the Vandalia
road.