Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-07
HISTORIC GROUND
Where the President Spoke
Today.
LINCOLN AND DOUGLASS
Were The Principals in a De-
bate There Two Score
Years Ago.
'rYYr~ M rn6 n rr~ ~~Ay~DAY
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
Was the Orator of the Day And Was
Received With Great Enthusiasm
1.-The Duty of American Citizens
Plainly Pointed Out.

OF historic Knox college, where Al years
ago Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A.
Douglass met in one of a memorable SER
les of debates to determine which should
occupy a seat in the United States SEN
ate, President Mckinley and Postmaster
General Smith this morning delivered
| stirring addresses commemorative of the
contest between the two great leaders of
former days.
The citizens Of Galesburg turned out
enmasse to honor the president and the
members of his cabinet. Colonel Carr,
presided over the exercises and the invo-
cation was delivered by DR. Nash, presi-
dent of Lombard university. Congress-
man Prince welcomed the president to
the tenth congressional district and the
greeting Of the people Of Illinois was spo-
ken by Senator Cullom.
The brief speech Of the president was
listened to with the closest attention
and punctuated throughout it's delivery
with outbursts Of applause.
The president spoke as follows:
"Mr. President and Fellow Citizens:--
The time and place make this meeting
memorable. FOrty-one years ago two
Ane rican heroes representing opposing
IDEAS stood on this SPOT. Lincoln and
Douglass are inseparably connected in
the public. Their friendship began in
conflict and ended in cooperation. They
might differ as they did over the meaning
of some of it's provisions, but when the
crisis came they stood together for it's
iEviolability and for the inseparabilitY
of the union. The one associated the
right of slavery under certain conditions
to enter the territories-the other dis
puted that right under any conditions,
but both agreed that the slave power
should not divide the union. The debate
was national and historical. 1t COM
manded profound attention. 1t interest,"
ed all sections. It was watched with
deepest anxiety by the followers of ooth..
Il was read and studied as no other pub
lie discussion before since. 1t pre-
sented the best of two conflicting schools
of thought. 1t touched the public con-
science, it influenced public thought and
purpose. 1t made the issue impossible
of escape. it could no longer be avoided
or evaded. 1t united the friends of lit-
erty as well as those of slavery. 1t has
tened the 'irrepressible conflict 1t was
nov the beginning of the agitation, but it
carried it into the lives and homes of the
republic and no issue is ever rightly set
tied until it is settled there.
"It is no little source of satisfaction
that upon the great question presented
in these debates while Douglass carried
the legislature, Lincoln had a majority
Of the people. The torch of liberty was
not lighted here, but it famed forth with
a broader, brighter, boider light as it
was lighted up by the strong arm of
Abraham Lincoln. Three years inter-
vened and the debate was removed from
the arena of the peaceful discussion to
that Of war and carnage. And then
Lincoln and Douglass stood no longer di-
vided. Sumter was fred on April II,
1861. On the 18th of that month Lincoln
issued his call for 1900 troops. The
position of Douglass at this critical june
ture was that Of patriot. Without halt
ing or hesitating he aligned himself upon
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 to Lin
coin Immediately after the first call OF
volunteers he dictated to the representa-
tive of the Associated Press in these
words:
april IS, 1SG1.-Senator Douglass call
ed on the president and had an inter-
esting conversation on the present condi-
tion of the country. The substance OF
it was on the part of Mr. Douglass. that
while he was unalterably opposed to the
administration in all its political issues,
he was prepared to fully sustain the pres
ident in the exercise of all his eonstitu-
tional functions to preserve the union,
MAINTAIN the government and defend hte
federal capital. A firm policy and prompt
acton was necessary. The capital was
in danger and must be defended at all
hazards and at any expense of men and
money He spoke of the present and
future without any reference to the past.
He no longer considered party. His sole
concern was for his country. He was for
the flag and for it's cause and the brave
men who carried it had his blessing and
prayers.
His patriotic course was mighty
factor in moldng the union sentiment
and in uniting the patriotism of the
country and should serve as an example
of good citizenship and an inspiration to
duty. Though Douglass espoused cause
doomed to defeat, yet his name was cher
shed by patriots everywhere because