The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-16
PATRIOTIC CATHOLICS
:
President Mckinley Greeted at
Their Summer School.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.

DIscourses on the National Emblem,
and Proclaimed That wherever 1t
Was Assailed 1t Would BE Carried
to Triumphant Peace.
Plattsburg. N. Y, Aug. 16.-PresIdent
Mckinley accompanied by Private
Secretary Cortelyou. left Hotel Cham-
plain yesterday and was driven
down to the auditorium on the grounds
of the Catholic Summer School Of
America, at Cliff Haven. on Lake
Champlain. A triumphal arch of ever
grens interlaced with American flags
had been erected at the entrance to the
grounds and the auditorium and many
OF the cottages on the grounds had
been gaily decorated with flags As the
president entered the auditorium the
spectators arose and sang a song COM
posed for the occasion and set to the
music of Donizetti's "El Puritani"
Rev. M. ]. Lavelle. president of the
Catholic Summer school, introduced
President Mckinley. Father Lavelle's
speech was frequently interrupted by
hearty applause. and when during the
course of his remarks he predicted that
the many millions of people recently
brought under our protection would
make American citizens as loyal, as
sturdy and as true as those that are
here today" the audience cheered en-
Enthusiastically.
When quiet was restored the presi.
dent spoke, In part. as follows:
81 had not intended to say a word,
but cannot sit in silence in the pres-
ence of this splendid demonstration OF
your good will and patriotism. I can
not forbear TO give expression to my
very high appreciation of the gracious
welcome you have given me here to-
day, and the more than gracious words
of commendation uttered by your
president Whatever. the government
of the United States has accomplished
since | last met you here has been be-
cause the hearts of the people have
been with the government Of tho
United States. Our patriotism Is
neither sectional nor sectarian.
I'VE may differ in our political and
religious beliefs, but we are united for
country. Loyalty to the government Is
our national creed. We follow, all of
us, one flag. 1t symbolizes our pur-
poses and our aspirations, 1t represents
what we believe, and what we mean to
maintain. and. wherever it floats. it Is
the flag Of the free, the hope of the op-
pressed, and wherever 1t is assailed, at
any sacrifice. it Will be carried to a
triumphant peace. We have more flags
here than we ever had before. They
are in evidence everywhere. | saw them
carried by the little ones On your
lawn, and as long as they carry these
flags in their little hands there will be
patriotism in their hearts.
THAT flag now floats from the
homes of the millions, even from our.
places of worship; it is seen from ouf
school houses. from the shops, the
factories, the mining towns, and 1t
waves from the camp of the pioneer
in the distant outpost and on the
lumberman's hut In the dense forest.
1t is found in the home of the humblcst
toiler and what 1t represents Is dear
to his heart Rebellion may delay. but
it can never defeat its blessed mission
of liberty and humanity. Thank you
again for this most cordial and gra-
cious greeting"
The president spoke slowly and de-
liberately. in a moderate. but earnest
tone. Only once did he raise his voice.
when he said that the flag, wherever
1t is assailed. will be carried to a
peace" The cheering which
interrupted his speech at this point
fairly shook the roof. and he was un-
able to make himself heard for nearly 4
a minute.
At the close Of the presidents speech
the audience Joined in singing the
Star Spangled Banner" and they
sang it with will The audience then
formed in line and filed across the
stage and shook hands with Mr.. Nc
Kinley. The president and Father La
velle then left the building and walked
around the grounds, followed by the
crowd