Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-12
PRESIDENT AT GALESBURG
Citizens Turned Out En- Masse
to Honor Him and Men,
hers of His Cabinet.
AN ADDRESS BY THE EXECUTIVE
Commemorative OF the Mem
orabie Contest B Q TIVE g n
Abraham Lincoln and
Stephen A. Douglass.


Galeshure, ILL.,, Oct 7..-on the cam
pus of historic Knox College, where,
| Stephen A. Douglas met In one of q
memorable series Of debates to deter
mine which should occupy seat in
| the United States Senate, President
Mckinley and Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith, this morning,
delivered stirring addresses commence
rative of the contest between those two
great leaders of former days.
The citizens of Galesburg turned out
en- masse to honor the President of the
| United States and the members of his
| cabinet, and an opportunity was given
| them to greet their distinguished guests
as they were driven in carriages through
the streets Of the city before the ex-.
ercises at the college began. The escort
to the President, under command of
Capt Charles y. Craig, met Mr.. Mo
Kinley at the residence of Col. Clark
Z. Carr, minister to Denmark during
the administration of President Har-,
rson, where he spent the night. In
the carriage with President Mckinley,
were Col. Carr, Mayor Carney and
Justice Alfred M. Craig of the Illinois
Supreme Court. The Numbers of the
cabinet, in company with DR.. John II.
Finley, former president OF Knox Col
lege, and other prominent citizens of
Galesburg followed in a long line of
carriages.
The greeting on behalf of the people
of Illinois was spoken by Senator
Shelby M. Cullom. The brief speech
OF the President was listened to with
the closest attention, and punctuated
| 1o1s tturc re-
of applause. The President said:
"Mr. Chairman and my fellow-citi-
zens: The time and place make this
meeting memorable. Forty-one years
ago. on this spot, two mighty lenders,
representing opposing ideas, commended
! for mastery before the tribune of the
people. 1t was q contest which his
! tory will not fail to record, and some
are yet living to tell of its interesting
, and thrilling story. 1t has been re-
cited around tho family Preside, until,
to the people of Illinois, it has become
household tale, inspiring love of
liberty and devotion to free institu-
| tiops. Lincoln and Douglas are in
separately connected in the public mind.
! Their association began in conflict. and
ended in cooperation. They were IN
antagonism for more than q generation
tuition, and we're united at last when
J the Constitution itself was assailed.
They might differ, as they did over the
I meaning of some Of its provisions, but,
when the crisis came, they stood
together for its inviolability and OF the
, inseparability of the Union it estab-
fishes. The one asserted the right Of
+ slavery, under certain conditions, to
enter the Territories-t other disputed
s that right under any conditions, but
: both agreed that the slave power should
s not divide the Union. The debate was
national and historical. 1t commanded
n profound attention. 1t interested al
sections. 1t was watched with tht
9 deepest anxiety by the followers O.
both. 1t was read and studied as no
/ other public discussion before or since
q 1t presented the better of two conflict.
ing schools of thought. 1t was epoch
q making, and marked an epoch in oul
history. 1t touched the public con
n science. 1t influenced thought ano
purpose. 1t made the issue impossible
of escape. 1t could no longer be avoid
ed or evaded. 1t united the friends o
liberty, as we'll as those of slavery. /
e FASTENED the 'irrepressible conflict.
Three years-only three years-in
tervened, and the debate was removed
!. from the arena of peaceful discussion t.
e that of war and carnage; and then
y Lincoln and Douglas stood no longe
IS divided Sumter was fired on Apri
b 18th, 1861. On the 18th of that month
n Lincoln issued his call for rs, 900 troops
If The position of Douglas, at this critica
n juncture, was that of a patriot. With
VI out hating or hesitation, he alienes
n himself upon the side of the nationa
l. government, and threw the force Of hi
y great personality in support of tn
II Executive Though Douglas espousei
10 a cause doomed to defeat, yet his nam.
u was cherised by patriots everywhere
= because, when the test came, be wa
a found supporting the government ant
y advising his followers to uphold th
I. constituted authorities. Lincoln wa
IS the leader of the triumphant cause
ii Douglas, though opposed to him for
" lifetime, supported and strengthens
his arm. Both will be remembers
rs longest, not for the debate, but TO
10 their part in the mighty events which
ty ensued. They will live because tn
30 Union, which was saved, and the lib
OF erty, which was established, will endur
Id to perpetuate their names. 10 Lin
W coin. who, in 1858. was struggling her
against the encroachment OF slavery
ne not for its destruction were it existed
ne but against its further extension, wa
oe finally given by the people, under th
to the power to enthrone liberty In ever
I'd part of the Republic"
is Then, followed the GRAFTON of Oh
of day, which was delivered by Postmaster
or General Smith. IS