Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-07
GREAT MEN HONOR[D.
Mckinley and Party Present at the
Celebration Of the Lincoln.
Douglas Debate.
Eloquent and Impressive Address by
the Chief Executive-Charles
Emory Smith Speaks.
His Grafton a Forensic Effort 0
Great Merit--Ovation for the
President.

L pus of historic Knox College. where
rorty-one years ago Abraham Lincoln
and Stephen A. Douglas met in one O,
the memorable series of debates to de.
termine which should occupy the seat II
the United States senate, President Nc.
kinley and Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith this morning delivered
stirring addresses commemorative oi
the contest between those two great
leaders of former days. Citizens OF
Galesburg and the surrounding country
turned out en- masse in honor of the
president and members of his cabinet
and an opportunity was given them to
greet the distinguished guests as they
drove through the streets before the
exercises at the college began. Every
where enthusiasm was unbounded and
when the college campus was reached
the president received a great ovation.
| Congressman George w. Prince well
coined the president to the Tenth con-
gressional district and the greeting In
behalf of the people of Illinois was
spoken by Senator Cullom. The briei
speech of the president was listened tc
with the closest attention, and was
lpunctuated throughout its delivery with
Ioutbursts of applause.
| Cullom, in the course of an address
said
Fellow citizens: I congratulate you
upon the presence among us of the
president of the United States. No mar
| in the 10Oyears and more of our national
| existence has given greater devotion tc
duty than he. No man ever guided the
ship of state through the storms of wal
with more consummate wisdom. Presi-
dent Mckinley, l commend to you ths
| people now before you as the highest
| type of citizens worthy our great re-
public
| The president said:
| The time and place make this meet.
ling memorable. Forty -one years ago OF
this SPOT two mighty leaders. represent
ling opposing ideas. contended for mas
terry before the tribune of the people
was contest which history will no
fail to record. Some are yet living L
tell of its interesting and thrilling story
| 1t has been recited around the family
/ firesides until to the people Of Illinois
lit has become a household tale, inspir.
| ing love of liberty and devotion IL
free institutions. Lincoln and Douglas
| are inseparably connected in the public
mind. Their association began in con
| flict and ended in co-operation. They
We're in antagonism for more than g
generation over the Interpretation OF
the constitution and We're united at last
when the constitution itself was as
sailed. One asserted the right of slav-
cry under certain conditions to enter the
| terrtotes-the other disputed thai
fright under any conditions. But botl
agreed that the slave power should MOI
divide the union. The debate was ma
tional and historical and commanded
lprofound attention. 1T interested al
sections. 1t was watched with the deep
est anxiety by the followers of both. Il
was read and studied as no other public
discussion before or since. 1t marked
an epoch in our history. 1t touched this
public conscience. 1t made the Issue
Impossible of escape. 1t united the
friends of liberty, as we'll as those OF
slavery, and hastened the .irrepressiblt
conflict
Three years-only three years-in
1 tervened and the debate was removed
from the arena of peaceful discussion t.
that of war and carnage. Then Linco,
| and Douglas stood no longer divided
Sumpter was fired on April 18th, 1861
On the 18th of that month Lincoln is.
sued call for 10000 troops The posi-
ton of Douglas at this critical junctur,
| was that of a patriot Without haltins
or hesitation he aligned himself upor
| the side of the national government ant
threw the force of his great personality
in support of the executive. His pat
riotic course was mighty factor il
moulding union sentiment and uniting
| the patriotism of the country, ant
| should serve as an example of goot
| citizenship and inspiration to duty
| Lincoln was the leader of a triumph
ant cause. Douglas, though opposed t.
| him for a lifetime, supported ant
strengthened his arm. Both will be re
membered longest. not for the debate
but for their part in the mighty event.
which ensued. They will live becaus,
I the union which was saved and the lib
erty which was established will endure
| to perpetuate their Names"
| Then followed the Grafton of the da,
| by Postmaster General Smith.
After n few Introductory remark:
giving a vivid description of the polt
lical events that led up to the great de
bate, Charles Emory Smith, Presiden
McKinley's postmaster general as ora
tor of the day said of the debate:
mir. Douglas was then the foremos
figure in public life; Calhoun. Clay an,
Webster, the great triumvirate of TIL,
middle period, had passed away. Ben
| ton and Cass had closed their careers
Seward and Chase had yet their highes
place and fame to make. Buchanan wa.
president, but nerveless, plastic ant
without the fibre of the master. Doug
Has was left the most conspicuou.
chief on the stage of public action. III,
had been in the very center and thicl
of the stormy fight of the previous fou
years, which, at times. had ranged di
lrectly in and around his rugged per
sonality, and his high courage, his in
dependent action, his combative power
and his picturesque and perilous role
concentrated the attention and inter
ests OF the country to an extraordinar!
degree.