Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1896-08-20
the great party of the immortal Lin

for years piutocfacy mas De6n
winding its slimy and poisonous coils
around the Republican party, and it
viii strangle us to death as the sea
serpent OF old strangled the priest of
Neptune aud his sons. So also it laid
it's foul, corroding hand on the Demo
cratic party-the party of Jefferson
and Jaekson-and used all of its giant
strength to bend it to its purposes.
Within both parties there was mighty
struggle for supremacy between those
who believe in the sovereignty of the
people and those who believe in the
divinity of pelf. Upon the Republ-
can party the hand of Marcus Aurelius
Hanna has buckled golden mail and
sent it forth dedicated to the service
of plutocracy in this free land of ours.
THE GAUGE OF BATTLE TAKEN UP.
s'But in the Democratic party, thank
God, the people were triumphant.
There the clutch of the money power,
after tremendous conflict, was
broken. The priests of Mammon we're
scourged from the temple, and to-day,
under the providence of high Heaven,
the old party, rejuvenated, stands
forth, stronger and better than ever,
the undaunted champion of constitu-
tional liberty, popular rights and ma
tional independence. The gauge of
battle thrown down at st. Louis was
taken up at Chicago. Against English
ideas we place American ideas; against
an English policy we place an Amer
lean policy; against foreign domina-
ton, we place American independ-
ence, and against the selfish control
of privileged classes, we place the
sovereignty of the people.
"The Republican platform is the
antithesis of the Democratic plat
form. One stands for gold mono
metallism, the other for gold and sill
yer blmetallism. One proposes that
we wait on other nations, the other
that we act for ourselves. One pro-
poses that we shall lean upon the
| bankers of New York and London;
the other that the Secretary of the
| Treasury shall stand erect, confident
| and fearless, and assert his power to
| protect the rights of the people and
the honor of the nation; one pro-
poses to continue the policy of issuing
bonds, the other to stop it. One de-
clares for an European alliance, the
other is declaration for an American
independence. Upon these all-im-
| portant questions. the issue is joined
between the two great political parties
of the republic.
"Certainly there are other things oi
moment in which the people feel pro-
found concern, but of all questions in
the current political affairs of this
day and generation the financial ques-
tion rises to such supreme Importance
that all other projects are practically
excluded from present consideration
The Chicago convention declared II
80 many words that until this great
paramount issue was definitely settled
and settled right, the consideration o
all other questions, upon which th'
people are seriously divided, should
be postponed, or at least not pressed
upon public or legislative attention
Around this one supreme issue the
great battle of 1896 is to be fought
For the first time it has been fairly
presented, without evasion or dis
guise. Both parties have taken posi-
ton boldly. Both are confident ant
defiant. Between them the American
people are the arbitrators, and as sucl
they are now to pass Judgment upol
the most important question present
ed to them since the storm of civil wa
wrecked happy homes and left it
bloody stain upon the land They ar
to pass Judgment on question whicl
III profoundly believe effects, as M
other question can, not only the felic
ity of their children, but the perpetu
ity of American institutions and tn
we'll being of all mankind.
i THE QUALITIES OF LEADER.
"Mr. Chairman, in all great move
ments, in all concerted efforts, whel
well directed, there must be leader
ship. A leader should be represen
tative of the cause he champions
He should he more than that-h
should be in all essential qualitie
and in the higest degree typical c
those who invest him with the dig
nifty and responsibility of leader
ship.
U "The Chicago platform has bee
: denounced as un-Democratic an
the delegates composing the cor
vention have been stigmatized a
anarchists and socialists. We hav
heard much of this from certai
class of papers and individuals. o
Saturday last in my own state a
:. ex-Democratic ex-supreme coul
!, Judge characterized the Chicag
: platform as "A bundle of Populisti
!. notions saturated with socialism an
. anarchy and at the same time a
Democratic corporation attorne
of some distinction reiterated thu
American citizenship meant govern
ment, not by the unthinking, ul
needing masses, but by the elemen
:. which are guided by judgment an
y reason 'Unthinking, unheedir
masses is very good. The elemen
which are guided by judgment ar
reason is extra good. 1t is at lea
slight modification of Vanderbilt
arrogant anathema, Damn the pc
ple,' and for this small concessic
we ought, no doubt, to be du
: grateful.
= "Who composed the Chicago co
Z vention From the state in whi'
reside the gentlemen from whom
have quoted, the delegation sent
that convention was composed
I farmers. lawyers. doctors, editor
/, merchants, manufacturers and Sc
I eral of the most conspicuous succes
> | full business men in the Missor
valley. Among them also we
, eminent judges of high courts. Sc
s ators of the United States, represe
tatives in congress and the treasur
. and governor of the state. Thed