Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-06-25
A True American.


lican convention to really refiectins
minds is not the man who is exercising
more autocratic political powers thar
were ever before concentrated in on,
mans grasp in a supposedly popular
assembly, the trust president, Marx
Hanna, nor is it his political protege,
Mckinley.
The one is a cold-hearted, unscrupu
| lous representative of the money class
in this country. aud the other rather
lightweight but lucky politician
| whose watch-word is expediency, not
principle.
But the man who has lowered above
all the rest at ST. Louis. like another
Saul, has been Senator Henry M. Tel
Ter of Colorado.
For years a distinguished figure in
American politics by virtue of his clear
intellect and strong, although con-
servative views on all public questions,
it has remained for defeat to being out
the true greatness and moral worth OF
the man, like star that shines from a
setting of midnight blackness. The
sweet uses of adversely are as proven
bal as the fact that flower sheds its
sweetest perfume only when bruised or
crushed. But there is generally more
poetry than truth in the idea when its
manity.
At all events. it is safe to say that
most men, especially politicians, are
prone to buster and sulk like Platt or
to rave and fill the air with curses like
our Missouri boss. .Filley, in the hour of
disappointment and defent.
1t was the conduct of such men as
these just mentioned that made Sena-
tor Teller's course seem all the more
dignifed, honorable and manly by
comparison. His short speech to the
committee on resolutions breathed
patriotism and loyalty to principle in
every sentence, and every word that
he uttered proved that. right Or wrong
in his conclusion. Mr.. Teller was in
view of the great question. and while
he showed his real greatness of mind,
by disclaimiug any pretension to in
falllbility in his views, it was clear
that he placed the dictates of his judg
meut and his conscience far above all
questions of policy, expediency Or per-
sonal abition..
Senator Teller's action will doubt
less bring down vials of wrath upon
his head from his former associates,
and he will probably be denounced as
a traitor, deserter and apostate by
many glib-tongued Republican cam
paign speaker. But, as he rightly
said, when party ceases to represent
in its platform the conscience and
Judgment of citizen, he is by all the
rules of human action absolved from
further allegiance to it. 1t was in
obedience to this immortal principle
that our forefathers threw off the
British yoke and declared their inde-
pendence.
A man of Senator Teller's earnest
ness and sincerity of character, and
and breadth of intellectual
grasp, can not long remain in obscuri-
ty. even if he voluntarily resigns his
position as a political leader. He is
one of the few really great
leaders of the West, and his services
are too valuable, and his type of man
hood in politics too rare to permit him
to remain long in retirement.
The natural logic of events should
lead him to return to the faith of his
youth. to rejoin the Democratic party,
since the purpose which car
ried him into the Republican ranks has
long since been fulfilled, and the con-
ditions which then prevailed 10 the
two parties are now almost exactly re-
served.
He says he left the Democratic par
ty because it had become a party of
and destruction. To-day
the description fits the Republican par
ty like a glove. He states that he
joined the Republican party because it
was the party of freedom. The Dem
ocratic party is above all the party of
liberty and of progress. the champion
of the Individuals rights against the
exactions and expressions of the mono
poles.
Senator Teller would command the
of the business classes aud
would sweep the country like prairie
fire if it were possible for the Demo
cratic party to do for him what the
Liberals OF England did for Mr.. Glad
stone when he embraced their cause,
that is, to offer him the post of leader
ship by making him its Presidential
nominee.
In any event Senator Teller's with
n L. II