Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-10-10
GALA DAY At GA[ESBURG.
President Mckinley and Cabinet At
tend Anniversary Of the Lin
colin Douglas Debate.
HEARTILY RECEIVED BY LARGE CROWDS.
Presidents Brief Speech Given the
Closest Attention and Punctunted
with Applnuse-Orntfono of the Day
Delivered by Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith.

with Applause-Orntiono of the Day
Delivered by Postmaster General
Charles Emory Smith.
Galesburg, ILL.,, Oct. 9.-On the cam
pus of historic Knox college, where Al
years ago Abraham Lincoln and Ste
phen A. Douglas met in one of a mem
orable series of debates to determine
which should occupy seat in the
United States senate, President Nc
Kinley and Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith Saturday morning deliv-
cred stirring addresses commemorative
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 exercises at the college began.
Col. Carr Presides.
Col. Carr presided over the exercises,
and the invocation was delivered by
DR.. G. E. Nash, president of Lombard
university.
Congressman George w. Prince well
coined the president to the Tenth con-
gressional district, and the greeting on
behalf of the people of Illinois was
spoken by Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom.
The brief speech of the president was
listened to with the closest attention
and punctuated throughout its deliv-
cry with outbursts of applause.
President McKinley's Speech.
The president said:
"Mr. Chairman and my Fellow Citizens:
The time and place make this meeting
memorable Forty-one years ago on this
spot two mighty leaders representing OPP
posing ideas contended for mastery be-
fore the tribune of the people. 1t was
contest which history will not fall to
record; and some are yet living to tell of
its interesting and thrilling story. 1t has
been recited around the family freside,
until to the people of Illinois IT. has become
a household tale, inspiring love of liberty
and devotion to free institutions. Here
therefore are sacred memories which will
be cherished by this community for all
time, and are permanently incorporated in
the life of the natieR,
Lincoln and Douglas ara inseparably
connected in the public mind. Their ASSOC
citation began in conflict and ended in CO.
operation. They We're in antagon1sm Tor
more than a generation over the interpre-
tation Of the constitution and were united
at last when the constitution itself was
assailed They might differ, as they did.
over the meaning of some of its provisions.
but when the crisis came they stood to-
gether for its inviolability and for the in
separability of the union 1t established.
The Torch of Liberty.
1.-THE torch OF liberty was not lighted
here, but it famed forth with a broader,
brighter, holder light as 1t was lighted up
by the strong arm of Abraham Lincoln.
Three years-only three yeais-inter-
vened and the debate was removed from
the arena of peaceful discussion to that of
war and carnage. And then Lincoln and
Douglas stood no longer divided. Sumter
was fired on April 12 1861 On the 18th of
that month Lincoln issued his call for 10
900 troops The position of Douglas at this
critical juncture was that of patriot.
Without hating or hesitation he aligned
himself upon the side of the national gov
ernmept and threw the force of his great
personality In support of the executive
An Example pf good Citizenship.
"He no longer considered party His sole
concern was for his country. He bad no
sympathy with our enemies in the north
who openly ef secretly counseled the dis
solution of the union, He was for the flag
and for it cause, and the brave men who
carried 1t had his blessing and prayers.
HIS patriotic course was a mighty factor
in molding union sentiment and in uniting
the patriotism of the country, and should
serve as an example of good citizenship
and an inspiration to duty.
Made Immortal in History.
Through Douglas espoused a cause
doomed to defeat yet his name was cher
ished' by patriots everywhere because when
the test came he was found supporting the
government and advising his followers to
uphold the constituted authorities. 1t is
the cause which lives, and it is the cause
which makes the men identified with 1t
immortal in history. Lincoln was the lead
er of the triumphant cause. Douglas,
ported and strengthened his arm. Both
will be remembered longest. not for the
debate, but for their part in the mighty
events which ensned They will live be-
cause the union which was saved and the
liberty which was established will endure
to perpetuate their names
ITO Lincoln, who in 1858 was struggling
here against the enroachment of slavery,
not for its destruction where it existed. but
against Its further extension, was finally
given by the people under the providence
of God the opportunity and the power TO
enthrone liberty in every part of the repub-
lic."
The Grafton of Day.
Then followed the GRAFTON of the
day. which was delivered by Postmas-
ter General Charles Emory Smith. Mr..
Smiths eloquent tributes to the char
acter and services of both Lincoln and
Douglas and his "reminiscences of old
days in the Illinois political arena were
much appreciated by the immense
crowd of listeners. some of whom had
been among the audiences which, in
1858, witnessed the polemic warfare be-
tween the great emancipation and the
champion of popular sovereignty.
The postmaster general said in part:
I'VE are here to commemorate the ia
mouse Lincoln Douglas debate. on the
very spot where we now stand the great
combatants met II years ago to-day in one
of the brilliant encounters of that glitter
ing intellectual and political tournament
Some of you saw and we'll remember the
CLEAN and the blows of the flashing swords
With the vivid traditions and the striking
figures ever living in the American memory
and Imagination. you can all picture the
dramatic scene.
ut is fit that the president with his
cabinet should como TO this memora BILE
ground. Here history was made and mold
ed. Here the mightiest issues of the age