The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-09
MCKINLEY TO VIRGINIANS.
A TRIBUTE TO THEIR GHEArMEN

The President Referred to the Old
Dominion In War and Peace-The
Great Historical Events at York.
town and Appomattox.
The launching of the torpedo boat
Shubrick, built In Richmond, Va, and
named in honor OF Commodore Shu-
brick, a Southern man, was u notable
event in the history Of Virginia, and
dance Of President Mckinley and nom
bers of his cabinet. The launching Of
the boat was great success, and the
boat was duly christened by little Miss
Carrie Shubrick, Of Rocky Mount, N.
c., q great-grand niece Of Commodore g
Shubrick, with the usual formalities.
The President was introduced by the
mayor OF Richmond, and responded as
follows: .,t,,.:, !: ..''
"Mr. Mayor, Ladies and ID Gentlemen:
am glad to meet my fellow citizens
OF Richmond and join with them in
this interesting celebration in honor
Of the launching OF the torpedo boat
Shubrick, built in this city of Amerl-
can material, BY the labor Of American
workingmen for the use of the Ameri-
can navy. l congratulate the builders
and wOrkmen upon this evidence of
their skill and industry. 80 creditable
to the manufacturing company and 80
highly commended by the officers of
the government.
"This Is not the first contribution
which Richmond has made to our
splendid navy. She equipped the war
ship Texas with all her machinery,
and tested with entire satisfaction in
In {bn
harbor of Santiago, when that gallant
vessel so gloriously assisted in the de-
struction of Cervera's fleet, winning
memorable. victory and fastening an
honorable and enduring peace. |
heartily rejoice with the people Of this
great city upon it's industrial revival
and upon the notable prosperity it is
feeling in all Of it's business enterprises.
You are taking advantage Of the COM
mel cial opportunities Of the hour. You
are advancing in manufactures, extend.
ing your markets and receiving q dc.
served share of the worlds trade.
"What can be more gratifying to us
than the present condition Of the coun-
try? a universal love Of country and
noble national spirit animate all the
people. We are on the best of terms
with each other and on most cordial
relations with every power on earth.
We have ample revenues with which
to conduct the government. No deficit
menaces our credit. Money Is abun-
dant In volume and questionable In
value. Confidence In the present and
faith in the future are firm and strong.
The people are doing busir ess On bust.
ness principles and should be let alone
encouraged rather than hindered in
their efforts to increase the trade Of the
country and find new and profitable
markets for their products. Manufac-
turing was never 80 active and go uni
versally enjoyed throughout all the
States. Work was never SO abundant.
The transportation companies were
never SO taxed to handle the freight
offered by the people for distribution.
The home and foreign markets contri-
butte to our prosperity. Your locomo-
tives go 10 Russia ; the watch cases
from my little city of Canton go to
Geneva,1. 1.-The bridges of Philadelphia
span the Nile, and the products of the
American farm and factory are carried
upon every sea and are found In most OF
the ports of the world.
"In what respect would we change
these happy conditions with the prom
ises they give Of the future ? The
business activity in every part Of the
country !; the better rewards to labor,
the wider markets for the yield of the
soil and the shop; the increase OF our
shipbuildiug not only for our govern
ment but for purposes Of commerce; the
enormous increase OF our export trade
in manufactures and agriculture the
greater comforts of the home and the
happiness of the people ; the wonderful
nf n
Virginia and the South, and of the
whole country, mark this not only ar
era Of good will, but ar era OF gooG
| times. 1t is great pleasure to mo tt
stand in THE historic capital and tC
look into the faces Of my cCuntrymer
here assembled and to feel and know
that we are all Americans standing al
one for the government we love an(
me8nto uphold, united for the honor
of the American name and for the
faithful fulfillment Of every obligation
which national duty requires. i can
not forget In this presence to make m.
Acknowledgement to the men Of Vir
ginia for their hearty and patriot
support of the government in the wa
with Spain and for he continued an
unflinching loyalty In the suppression
Of the insur rection in Luzon agains
the authority of the United States
They came in swift response to tn
call OF countryside best blood of tn
State, the sons of noble sires, askin
for service at the battle front wher
the fighting WAS hardest and the dar
ger the greatest. The rolls of the VIII
ginia volunteers contain the names {
the bravest and best, some OF them tn
descendants Of the most illustriou
Virginians of its earliest and lates
times. They have shed their blood 70
the flag of their faith and are now dt
Tending 1t with their lives in the dis
tant islands Of the sea. All honor t
the American army and navy. A
honor has been shown the men return
ing from the field OF hostilities and q
honor attends those who have gone t
} take their places.
"My fellow citizens, two great hi
tOrical events, separated by period {
Sd years, affecting tho life OF the IT
public and of awful import to mar
kind, took place on the soil OF Virgi,
Ia. Both were participated in by vi
ginians and both marked might
, epochs In the history OF the natiol
The one was at Yorktown in 1881 whe
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