Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-10-09
HISTORIC GROUND.
The President and Cabinet
on Knox College Campus
Where Lincoln and Douglas Met in
Series Of Debates Al Years Ago.
Speeches Made by President. Secretary Hav
and Postmaster General Smith.

years ago, Abraham Lincoln and Ste
phen A. Douglass met in one of a mem
orabe series of debates to determine
which should occupy seat in the Unit
cd States Senate, President Mckinley
and Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith. Saturday. delivered stirring ad-
dresses commemorative of the contest
between those two great leaders of
former days.
The citizens Of Galesburg turned out cn
masse TO honor the President of the
United States ana the members of the
cabinet. The escort to the President met
Mir. Mckinley at the residence of con
Clark T. Carr. minister To Denmark dur
ing the administration Of President Har-
rson, where he spent the night
Everywhere along the line uf march thc
enthusiasm Of the people was unbounded
ana when the college campus was reached
the President received a great ovation.
Col. Carr presided over the exercises
and the Invocation was delivered BY Dr.
g. +. Nash. president Of Lombard Uni
vcrsity. Congressman George w. Prince
welcomed The President to the ION Con-
gressional district and the greeting On
behalf If thc people VI Illinois was
spoken by Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom.
The brief speech ~ the President w1s
listened to wiki tho clos 81 attention anil
puncturcd throughout it's delivery with
outbursts of applause
The President spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and My FclloW-Citi-
zens: The time and place make this
meeting memorable Forty-one years
ago on this spot TWO mighty leaders.
representing opposing ideas contcndat
cor mastery before the tribune of the
people 1t was a contest which history
lid not fail To record. and some are Yet
living u tell of its interesting ana
thrilling story. II has been rrcitrd
around thr family tireside until, 70 the
people OF Illinois. it has hcc"ne
household tale. inspiring love of liberty
and devotion to free institutions.
Here, therefore. are sacred memor-
les which will be- cherished 10y this
community for al timc. and are per
manently Incorporated in the life of
the nation.
Lincoln and Douglass are INSOFAR
ably connected in thr publy mini
Their association began in conflict and
ended in cooperation. Thcy we're i'll
antagrniSm Tor more than generation
over the Interpretation of the consti-
tuition. and were united ut last when
the constitution itself was aSSailcd.
They might differ. rs they did, over
the meaning Of some of its provisions
but when the crisis came they stood
together for its inviolahiity ard for the
inscp cparabilty Of the Union il estab-
lishcd.
The one asserted the right Of siaV-
cry under certain conditions to enter
The tcrritories-the other disputed that
right under any conditions; but both
agreed that the slave power should not
divide the Union. The debate was ma
tional and historical. 1t commanded
sections 1t was watched with deepest
anxiety by the followers Of both. II
was read and studied as no other pub
lie discussion before or since. 1t pre-
scnted the best of two conflicting
schools Of thought. 1t was eprch-
ma king and marked an epoch in our
history. 1t touched the public con
science. 1t influenced public thought
ana purpose. 1t made the issue inn
POSSIBLE of escape, it could no longer
be adoided or evaded. 1t united the
friends Of liberty. as we'll as those OF
slavery. 1t hastened the irrepressible
conflict.
1T was not the beginning of agita-
ton. but it carried it into the lives and
homes of the republic. and no issue is
ever rightly settled until it is settled
there. 1t is no little source of salts
faction that upon the great question
~, debates while
Douglas carried the Legislature. Lin
coin had a majority of the people.
The torch of liberty was not lighted
here. but il famed forth with a broad
er. brighter. bolder light as it was lift
ed up by the strong arm of Abraham
Lincoln.
Three years-only three years-in-
tervened. and the debate was removed
from the arena Of the peaceful discus
sion to that of war and carnage. And
then Lincoln and Douglas stood no
longer divided. Sumpter was fired upon
on April u, 1861. on the 18th OF that
month Lincoln issued his call for 10000
troops.
..'The position of Douglas at this crit
ical juncture was that of patriot |
Without halting or hesitation. he
aligned himself upon the side OF the
national government and threw the |
force of his great personality in sup |
port of the executive
Upon the occasion of his memoir |
able visit to Lincoln. Immediately after |
the first call for volunteers, he dictated |
to the representative Of the Associated |
Press Il disDatch in these words:
"'Senator Douglas called on the /
President and had an interesting con-
versation on the present condition OF
the country. The substance of it on |
the part Of Mr. Douglas was that while
he was unalterably opposed to the ad-
in ali its political issues,
he was prepared to fully sustain the
President in the exercise Of all MS con-
sttutional functions to preserve the
Union. maintain the government and
defend the federal capital. A firm
policy and prompt action was neces-
sary. The capital was in danger. ana
must be defended at all hazards and at
any expense of men and money. He
CONTINUED on page 50