U.S. Senate candidate Alan Keyes spoke outside the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum at the Coles County Fairgrounds to a crowd of about 50 people Friday with a message, particularly to college students and young people in general, that this is an election where their futures are at stake.

“It’s at stake physically in the war on terror; it’s at stake morally in terms of the great issues of conscience that will be decided now, and it’s at stake in terms of whether we apply common sense and responsibility to our economic life,” Keyes said.

The country is making decisions about trade and jobs affecting defense and people, Keyes explained.

“(The decisions) affect our future because if the jobs aren’t there, people are going to have real hardships when it comes to building careers and taking care of their families …with the future at stake the people who are going to have to live and lead in that future ought to be doing their best to make sure that responsible decisions are made.”

Standing before statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, Keyes explained a lesson on the nature of the political challenge he believes the people of Illinois are faced with right now. He reminded attendees the two political figures “didn’t take polls and figure out some grab bag of issues that would appeal to people, instead, courage on both sides of the debate. They took hold of and addressed the issue that had at its heart the future of the American republic.”

Keyes criticized Democratic opponent Barack Obama for formerly wanting to engage in six debates, which are necessary to cover the state, with former Republican candidate Jack Ryan, but then agreeing to two debates the day after Keyes accepted his nomination.

Keyes said reducing the number of debates was an indication Obama did not have the confidence to face him and wanted to limit his exposure.

“I came into the arena; he tried to get out of it,” he said.

Referring to Obama’s two speeches taking place in Chicago, Keyes said “(Obama is) leaving out the folks that don’t live in the little empire that is now ruled by a little clique of politicians … “

Keyes said frequent debate is important in all elections.

“The purpose of political life is that leaders stand forward taking different views; they make the most persuasive case they can for the rightness of those views and people choose between them … it is always necessary for the people to hear the debate otherwise they cannot make the choice.

“Choice requires information; information requires that you hear the position and the argument to be made in favor of those the positions,” he said.

Keyes said he, himself, has been open to the public about raising the standard of moral conscience from the start of his platform admitting he offers his “true views even when they are a little controversial.”

He believes “to offer a voice of conscience and integrity is needed for the country and in the tradition of that voice which Lincoln provided is the way to show proper respect of Illinois heritage.”

Two major goals of Keyes’ public life are to overturn the “heinous regime of abortion” and to abolish the income tax.

“Those two things would do more to make sure my children and their children grew up in freedom than any two things I could think of, and they would also help to restore this country to its economic foundation and its moral foundation which we desperately need to do.”

Some community members attended the lecture to show support for the Republican party while others attended out of curiosity.

“I’ve never heard anyone speak at his level,” said Kurt Kalush, a junior political science major, about what sparked his interest listen to Keyes. Kalush said he chose to attend because Keyes is a “good man.”

“Basically I’ve never seen a senatorial candidate before so I thought he’s here I’d love to hear this,” said Deacon Mike Haag , a minister at the Newman Catholic Center. “I also heard he is a good speaker, and I didn’t know too much about him so I figured I’d come out.”

Lois Luallen, a Mattoon resident, enjoyed hearing Keyes speak earlier Friday in Effingham so came to hear him speak a second time.

“He’s amazing,” she said. “He’s very eloquent and not afraid to say what’s what.”