, 1900-10-17
GEN. BLACK FOR MCKINLEY.

II VI pensions unuer PRESIDENT tleNc-
and and democratic congressman-at-
from Illinois. is II for the re
publican national ticket. In an ad-
at Springfield he said:
1T is the fashion now to quote the
Declaration of independence. and | re
to that passage which says lpara-
phrasing it,, when it becomes neCes-
for one citizen to dissolve the pO-
bonds hat bind him to party. a
decent regard for the opinions of man
kind require that he should declare the
that impel him to that scpara-
associated with democracy. but before
| was a democrat | was an American,
and | have nevCr seen the day yet
when | did not regard my allegiance to
country as being always para
mount, and | try to follow the lcadings
of my conscience and my judgment in
what | do. | claim the right to be alb
solutely independent in regard to ev-
cry issue before the American people.
party creed
in 1896 the democracy of me nation
was split in twain by the adoption of
the silver declaration in the Chicago
platform, with its insistent demand for
the immediate free coinage of silver,
its assault upon the judiciary, its popu-
listic utterances and its attempts to ar.
ray the American people in classes.
In that position, with a million 9th
the party, men of profound convictions
and of deep and earnest patriotism. |
declared that my duty to my country
compelled me to oppose the success of
the Chicago platform and nominees.
You know how great that battle was.
You know hat the Chicago platform
was condemned by a vast majority at
the polls and in the electoral college.
The reasons that impel me to op.
| boo' At AihhS' ~ 10 h'bllNihIi nv" 90
they We're in 1896. | have not beer
able to convince myself what was
wrong then is right now. Nor do | be
lieve hat the American people have
changed their minds upon this subject.
| believe they will vote as strongly
against this proposition as they did in
1896, unless some compelling case has
arisen in our politics since hat time
which will lead then to vote for a
is present in the Philippine war, i'm
perialism and militariSm. ! desire, my
fellow Countrymcn and comrades, who
sit about me here. to speak on that is
sue We all desire peace. Douglas, in
this city in 1861, said the way to peace
was through the most stupendous
preparations for war, and in 1900 ! say
that the way to peace in the Philip
pines is through the judgment of the
American people that they will sustain
their government in this foreign war:
that after that war is ended discussion
may be had of the relations to be es-
tablished. but that while war is on the
American people must show a united
front. emphatic APPLAUSE 1t is the
highest wisdom to end strife. and then
to discuss politics. 1t is true that
while a large body of men is support.
ing the instruction in the archipela.
go, the insurrection will continue. with
its EOS of money and of blood, but that
the instruction will instantly end in
the event of the success of William Nc.
Kinley in November next is my firm
belief. (Applause.) | think with Law
ton. who fell or the firing line, under
the American flag. that the bullet that
killed him might as well have come
from his own ranks. because the isur.
~rection there is kept alive by sympa.
thy and moral support here"