The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-04-25

would not accept . new platform or cooe
Of resolves or pledges for good character
In the future, in extenuation Of the CRIME /
had committed. l might prove BY sworn
evidence in court that had father by
the name of Jefferson, who was the most
perfect embodiment of honor this country
had ever had, and that had an uncle by
the name of jackson who was revered BY
every honorable citizen in the nation for
his good character and integrity, and that
] had brother by the name of Lincoln,
whose life was star of the first magni-
tude in the galaxy of national honor and
love of mankind, and that Webster, Clay,
Calhoun, Seward, Sumner, Chase and q
long line of the nations most honored
sons were all my relatives. But the court
would rule that such evidence was incom-
petent, immaterial, and irrelevant, and all
the people would declare that the honor
and virtues Of one man or of thousand
men could not condone the crime of an.
other. The good name of dead philan-
thropist cannot become the ransom of q
live criminal.
The. two old parties committed wilful
murder more than twenty years ago and
have been repeating the crime every day
from that time to the present. / will not
~a,sU - AZ ThA ~
ties that have given the homes of the
people to the few, bankrupted industries,
driven thousands to suicide and turned
three million laborers and mechanics into
the streets to starve for want of employ
ment are guilty of cold blooded, premed-
itated murder and you know it.
But those same red-handed criminals
come before the great bar of the public
each year with adriotly written platforms
claiming that they have reformed and
demand . new lease Of life and power
because of the honor and patriotism of
statesmen who died many years ago, and
the great public jury goes to the ballot
box and votes for their liberty and acquit-
tai. I speak to the shame of this great
public jury, they have been influenced
by the virtues Of sn almost forgotten
past to mitigate and excuse the crimes of
the present. But thank heaven, waiting
justice does not always sleep, the day of
retribution is at hand, the old parties
have been called before the bar of judg
ment and the great public jury is hearing
the merits of the case with less prejudice
than ever before. The honor and justice
of . Jefferson, Jackson or Lincoln
will not be accepted in palliation for re-
cent old party crimes. The evidence of
guilt leaves no room for doubt and the
better elements of both old parties are
turning states evidence to regain their
standing and escape the wrath to come.
Not long ago l heard leading repub-
lican declare be would support the repub.
licau party if it had only last years
almanac for platform and yellow dog
for candidate. A democratic candidate
for the covernorship of Arkansas said in
p speech q few days ago that he would
support the democrat party if Rothschild
wrote the platform and the devil headed
the ticket. My friends, l leave it to your
candid judgment if that republican and
that democrat did not express the. only
reason that can be given for supporting
either of the two old parties. And my
friends if that kind OF reason had prompt
ed the acts of Washington, Jefferson and
the other revolutionary patriots they
would have died shouting for King
George, and there never would have been
IN American republic.
If every human being who ever lived
had been guided by the came kind OF
reason, every act Of the human family
would have been bad and there could have
been no good in the world between the
murder by Cain and the sale Of bonds BY
Carlisle. That is the same kind of rea-
con that beheaded the reformers, handed
the cup Of poison to tho philosophers,
and kindled the fagots 1t the feet Of the
martyrs.
Do you know, my brother, there is not
apolitician who would dare use such ar
gument OF boast of his willingness to sac.
rifce the interests Of the people and the
life of the government on the altar of bis
political party if it were not that million,
Of working men have been applaudina
such sentiments and voting for the mer
who utter them2
d. you know, my brother, that tbt
politicians who have uttpred those despi
cable sentiments are the very fellows wh<
are always admonishing the working
people to stay out Of politicsa You can
not End m old party politician from
Maine to California who under the guisl
of philanthropy VIII not spend time and
money trying to persuade the labor or.
gsnizatiops that they ought to stay out d
politics. They re willing that you shal
dsvots oil your efforts to shop rules, lsbeIl
and Insignificant trade questions, bu
when you resolve to vote to overthrow
robhing COMPILATIONS that arc enSlasina
labor, they rush to your rescue With ID,