Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-06
FIFTY YEARS OLD
Semi-centennial of Republican Party
Observed at jackson,
Mich.
NOTED MEN IN ATTENDANCE
Secretary Hay, CHER Speaker. LaudS
the achievements of the
Party.

Jackson. Mich. July Give thous
and people assembled in LOOMS parE
here today to celebrate the 5Oth ami
versary Of the birth Of the republican
party under the oaks John Hay
was orator of the day. Other distin
guished guests present We're Speaker
J. G. Cannon and Senators Fairbanks
Alger and Burrows.
Hays address,.
Speaking Of the birth of the republi.
can party, Mr.. Hay said:
who Of US that was living then will
ever forget the ardent enthusiasm of
those days? 1t was one OF those peri
DDS, rare in the life of any nation.
when men forget themselves and. in
spite of habit, of interest. and of preju-
dice, follow their consciences wherever
they may lead. In the clear. keen air
that was abroad the best men in the
country drew deeper breaths and rose
to a moral height they had not before
attained. The movement was univcr-
sal. Sumner in the east. Seward in
New York, Chase in Ohio, Bates in
Missouri. Blair in Maryland, all sent
forth their identical appeal to- the high
most popular man in the state boldly
and cynically announced, 4 don't care
whether slavery is voted up or voted
down "A voice. new to the nation, re-
piled, There are some of us who do
care. If slavery is not wrong, moth
ing is wrong'-and Abraham Lincoln
came upon the field not to leave it un-
til he was triumphant in death.
IF there is one thing more than an
other in which we republicans are en-
titled to a legitimate pride it is that
Lincoln was our first president; that
we believed in him. Loyalty supported
him while he lived. and that we never
lost the right to call ouselves his fol-
lowers. There is not a principle avow-
ed by the republican party today which
is out of harmony with his teachings
or inconsistent with his character. We
do not object to our opponents quoting
him pTaising him-cvcn claiming him
as their own. If il is not sincere. it is |
still a laudable tribute To acknowledge |
ed excellence If il is genuine. il is |
still better. for even a Nebraska pop |
ulist who reads his Lincoln is in the |
way of salvation. But only those who |
ing to make sacrifices to defend them;
who believe in the nation and its
beniffcent power; who believe in the
American system of protection cham
pioned by "A long line of our greatest
and best. running back from Mckin-
icy to Washington. and. as Senator
Dolliver so truthfully said, to the orig
inal sources of American common
sense only those who believe in equal
Justice to labor and to capital; in hon
est money and the right to earn it,
have any title to name themselves by
the name of Lincoln. or to claim a
moral kinship with that august and
yenerated spirit. | admit ii would be
little less than sacrilege To try to
trade upon that benignant renown,
whose light folds in this orb q the
earth But we who have always tried
to walk in the road he pointed out
can not be deprived of the tender {
nride of calling ourselves his disci- Z
pies. and of doing in his name the {
work allotted 10 us by Providence.
And | hope | am violating neither the I
confidence of a friend nor the pro I
prieties of an occasion like this when
refer to the ardent and able young y
statesman who is now, and is To be.
our president to let YOU know that i'll
lines of doubt and difficulty the
thought oftenest in his heart it. What a
N such a case. would Lincoln have I
,onap' T;
Word to Young Men.
"As | close | want to say a word to d
he young men whose political life is q
BEGINNING. Anyone entering business -
you'd be glad of the chance 10 become
me of an established firm with years
# success behind il. with a wide con
lection. with unblcmished character,
With credit founded on a rock. How n
Infinitely brighter the future when the :,
present is so sure, the past So glorious. ,t
Everything great done by this cOun- >,
~ in the last 80 years has been done
nder the auspices Of the republican ~
arty. Is not this consciousness a =,
-reat asset to have in your mind and :
nemory? As n mere item OF personal .,
omfort is il not worth having? Lin
oIn and Grant. Hayes and Garfield.
harrison and McKinley-names Sc c;
ure in the heaven OF fame-they all VI
re gone. leaving small estates in 4
Torldly goods. but what vast posses NJ
ions in principles. memories. sacred
1t is a start in life to
hare that wealth.
who now boasts that he opposed hi