The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-08
WHERE GIANTS SIN)VE
President and His Cabinet at
Galesburg, illinois.
ASSIST IN CELEBRATING
Forty First Anniversary of
LincoIn-OougIas Debate.
ASSIST IN CELEBRATING

years ago, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen
A. Douglas met in one of memorable
serfies of debates to determine which
should occupy seat in the United States
senate, President Mckinley and Postmas-
i ter General Charles Emory Smith this
morning delivered stirring addresses, COM
memorative of the contest between those
two great leaders of former days. The
! citizens of Gelesburg turned out erimasse
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.
The escort to the president, under COM
mand of Captain Charles c. Craig. met
Mr.. Mckinley at the residence of Colonel
| Clark E Carr, minister TO Denmark dur
ing the administration of President Har-
rison. where he spent the night. In the
carriage with President Mckinley were
Colonel Carr Mayor Fletcher Carney, and
Justice Alfred NJ. Craig of the Illinois
supreme court. The members of the cabi-
net, in company with DR.. John H. Fin
ley former president of Knox college. and
other prominent citizens of Galesburg, fol-
lowed in a long line Of carriages. Every
where along the line of march the enthus-
iasm of the people was unbounded, and
when the college campus was reached the
president received terrific ovation.
Colonel Carr presided and the invocation
was delivered by DR.. c. E. Nash, presi-
dent of Lombard University. Congress
man George w. Prince welcomed the
president to the Tenth congressional dis
trict 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 through
out it's delivery with outbursts of applause
The president said:
"Mr. Chairman and My Fellow Citizens
The time and place makes this meeting
memorable. Forty-one years ago on this
spot two mighty leaders representing op-
posing ideas contended for mastery be-
fore the tribune of the people 1t was
contest which history will not fail to re-
cord, and some are living yet to tell of its
interesting and thrilling story. 1t has
been recited around the fireside until, to
the people of Illinois, it has become
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 nation. Lincoln and Doug
las are inseparabIy connected in the pub
lie mind. Their association began in con-
flict and ended in cooperation. They
were in antagonism for more than q gen
Grafton over the Interpretation of the con-
stitution and were at last united when the
constitution was assailed. They might
differ. as they did. over tn meaning of
some of its provisions, but when the crisis
came they stood together for inviolability
and fnseparability of the unit established
One asserted the right Of slavery, under
certain conditions. to enter the territories
the other disputed that right under any
conditions: but both agreed that the
slave power should not divide the union
The debate was national land historical
It commanded profound attention IT in
terested all sections It was watched with
deepest anxiety by the followers of both.
Tt was read and studied as no other pub
lie discussion before or since. IT pre-
scented the best Of two conflicting schools !
of thought It was epoch-making. and
marked an epoch in our history. It touch
ed the public conscience. It Influenced /
public thought and purpose. It made the
issue impossible of escape: II could no
longer he avoided or evaded. 1t united /
the friends of liberty, as well as those Of /
slavery It FASTENED the irrepressible T.
conflict It was not the beginning og I;
the agitation. but 1t carried 1t into the /
lives and homes Of the republic. and no
issue is eve+ rightly settled until it is set /
tied there. It is no little source Of salts |
faction that upon the great question pre-
scented in these debates. while Douglass !
carried the legislature. Lincoln had a ma (
iority of the people. The torch Of liberty 4
was not lighted here but it famed forth /
with broader, brighter. holder light as
it was held M by the strong arm Of 4
Lincoln.
Three years-only three years-inter-
vened and the debate was removed from
the arena of peaceful discussion n that /
Of war and carnage. And then Lincoln
and Douglass stood no longer divided
Sumter was fred on April 70, 1861 on
the 18th % that month Lincoln issued
his call for 75.009 troops The position Of
Douglass at this critical iuncture was
that Of a patriot without hating or
hesitation. he aligned himself unon the
side of the national government and
threw the force OF his great personality
in support Of the executive. Upon the
occasion Of his memorable visit 10 Lin
roln Immediately after the first cal for
he dictated 70 the representa-
tive Of the Associated Press a dispatch
IN these words:
April Is. ISs1-Seaato- Douglass cali
II or the president and had an interest
ing conversation on the present condition
" the country. The substance Of Il vas.
on the part of NJ Douglass. that while
he was analterably opposed to the admin
stration in all its political issues. he was
prepared TO fully sustain the president
n the exercise Of all his constitutional
functions % preserve the union and de-
lend the capltaL'
"A firm policy and prompt action was
necessary. Tire capital was in danger
and must be defended al all hazards and
II any expense ~ men and money He
,poke Ct the present and future without
my reference To the past He no longer
Considered PARTY. His sole concern vas
or his country. He hsd no sympathy
With our enemies in the north who o1en-
y or secretly counselled Shs dissolution
4 the union. He was so- the fas and
or its cause. and the brave men who car
led IT had his blessing and prayers HIS
,a,r5otic course was a mighty factor IN