The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-09-27

An audience such as never before in
the history of the city of Kenosha
greeted political speaker, packed the
Rhode opera house Monday evening
when the Hon. Robert Nj. La Toilette
made his first appearance before our
people. Before eight o'clock the body
of the house and the gallery we're filled
to their capacity. Many stood, many
took seats on the platform, and many
were turned away who could find
neither sitting or standing room. When
Mr.. La Toilette arrived at the opera
house the Ladies Prosperity Quartette
was singing, and the speaker evinced
such an interest in the music that he
nearly forgot when it came his turn to
come on.
Mr.. La Toilette was introduced by
the Chairman of the evening, Attor-
ney James Cavanagh. His speech IN
brief outline was as follows:
He began with tribute to McKin-
ley. He said that he had worked side
by side with the President when he
was yet only Congressman, that he
knew him as few knew him, and that
his acquaintance has taught him not
only to admire and respect William
Mckinley, but to love him. Never, ;"
said the speaker, ''was man more
na1igned than President Mckinley,
and never has man deserved it less.
He.is accused of treason to the letter
of the Declaration of Independence,
and to the spirit of the constitution.
So long as l have the power and intel
1ect enough to win a hearing, shall
defend President Nc Kinley from the
Infamous charge with all the power
that is in me-"
He then gave a brief review of the
life of Mr.. Mckinley, both private and
public, from the days when, at the age
of seventeen, he shou1dered the mus
ket and knapsack and went out to
fight for the country and the const1-
tuition to which he is now accused of
treason, through the days of his ardu-
Gus service to his nation in Congress,
and up to the time he became the
unanimous choice of the Republican :
as their leader, and finally, their
President. In that career the speaker
believed that no court or jury could
find anything that would make Presi-
dent Mckinley a fair object of such a
charge as the Democrats are now
making against him. From this point
the speaker took up the administration
of Mr.. Mckinley as President of the
United States. He took up the action
of the administration in the war with
Spain, out of which grew the policies
that have led to the charge of the Dem
ocrats against Mckinley and the Re-
publican party.
He reviewed the history of the war
from the timeswhen the exigencies in
Cuba became such that, the people Of
this Republic could no longer endure
at their threshold. He pointed out the
Impotence of the public mind, after
the disa ster in the harbor of Havana,
at the delay in the beginning of hos
ti1ities, through all the Glamour and
censure of which the President
passed with a marvellous patience and
dignity, hoping that war might be
avoided and determined that 1T 1T must
come the government of the United
States should not be found in condi-
ton of unpreparedness. He told how,
in the process of that war made IN the
cause of liberty and independence for
an oppressed people, at the vociferous
demand of the people of this Republic,
a fleet of the enemies boats cruising in
the Pacific threatened our western
coast and the commerce of this country
on that ocean: how President McKin-
lev dispatched orders to Admiral
Dewey, in command of our Pacific
squadron at Hong Kong, to find and
destroy that hostile fleet; how Dewey
left Hong Kong in obedience to those
orders, picked his way among the mines
that crowded the mouth of the Bay OF
Manila, began an engagement with
the fleet of Spain found there at
o'clock on Sunday morning on the
first of May, and by noon of the same
day had carried out the order of the
President to the letter.
He told how, with Cevera's fleet re-
ported on it's way to the relief OF
Manila Admiral Dewey sent dis,
patch coat with ali haste to Hong
Yone 70 cable 10 Washington for men
witn which to hold the bay and the city
against the fleet of Spain and make
good the brilliant victory over the