The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-08-15

- II uS-
clared for foreign supremacy and for American
subserviency. 1t Upheld the British policy of
a single gold standard fraudulently fastened
upon this country. and declared that we are
utterly incapable of maintaining an independ-
emit policy of our own. Contrasting that the
gold standard is fraught with evil to our peo-
pie. and that bimetallism is best for this ma
tion and for the world, it yet declared that we
are helpleSs-that we must stand idle while
our industries are Frustrated and our people
ruined. until England shall consent for us TO
lift our hands in our defense. To this low
state has mammon brought the great party of
the immortal Lincoln.
For years plutocracy has been winding its
Shiny and poisonous coils around the repub-
lican party, and it will strangle us to death as
the sea serpent of old strnngled the priest of
Neptune and his sons. So also it laid its foul,
corroding hand on the democratic party-the
party OF Jefferson and Jackson-and used all
of it's giant strength to bend it to its purposes.
Within both parties there was n mighty strug-
gle for supremacy between those who believe
in the sovereignty OF the people and those who
believe In the divinity OF pelE Upon the re-
publican party the hand OF Marcus Aurelius
Hanna has buckled a golden mail and sent it
forth dedicated to the service of plutocracy in
this free land of ours.
But in the democratic party, thank God. the
people were triumphant There the clutch OF
the money power. after a tremendous conflict,
was broken. The priests of Mammon were
scourged from the temple, and to-day, under
the providence OF high Heaven, the old party.
rejuveuate1, stands forth, stronger and better
than ever, the undaunted champio OF c~onstitu-
tional liberty. popular rights and national in
dependence. The gage 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 American
policy: ngainst foreign domination. we place
American independence, and against the selfish
control OF privileged classes, we place the
sovereignty of the people. LE5
The republican platform is the antithesis OF
the democratic platform. One stands for gold
monometallism the other for gold and silver
btmetallism. One proposes that we wait on
other nations, and the other that we act for
ourselves. One proposes that the government
shall lean upon the bankers OF New York aud
London; the other that the secretary of the
treasury shall stand erect, confident and fear
less, and assert his power to protect the rights
OF the people and the honor OF the nation: one
proposes to continue the policy of issuing
bonds, the other to stop it One declares for
an European alliance, the other is a declara-
tion for American independence. Upon these
all-important questions. the issue is joined be-
tween the two great political parties of the re-
public.
Certainly there are other things OF moment
in which the people feel profoundly concerned,
but of all questions in the current political
affairs OF this day and generation the financial
question rises 10 such supreme Importance
that all other projects are practically excluded
from present consideration. The Chicago con-
vention declared in so many words that until
this great, issue was definitely set
y II SGbIlCu TlRut. Inc COnSlucTuIlOu OI III ]
other questions, upon which the 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 1898 is to be fought
For the first time IL has been fairly presented,
without evasion or disguise. Both parties have
taken position boldly. Both are confident and
defiant Between them the American people are
the arbitrators. and as such they are to pass
Judgment upon the most important question
presented to them since the storm OF civil war
wrecked happy homes and left its bloody stain
upon the land. They are to pass Judgment
on a question which 1 profoundly believe eff
fects. as no other question can, not only
the felicity OF their children, but the perpetu-
ity of American institutions and the well being
of all mankind.
Mr.. Chairman, in all great in all :
concerted efforts, when we'll directed, there
must be leadership. A leader should be rep {
of the cause he champions. He {
should be more than that-he should be in all =.
essential qualities and in the highest degree
typical of those who invest him with the dig J
nifty and responsibility of leadership. '
The Chicago platform has been denounced as I
un-democratfc and the delegates composing the D.;
convention have been stigmatized as anarchists ,
and socialists. We have heard much OF this
from a certain class of papers and individuals.
On Saturday last in my own state an ex-demo-
cratic ex-supreme court judge characterized 4
the Chicago platform as "a bundle of populistic
notions saturated with socialism and anarchy
and at the same time an ex-dcmocratic corpo- I
ration attorney OF some OlStlnctlOn reiterated I
that American citizenship meant government !
mot by the unthinking, unheeding masses,
but by the elements which are guided by judg-
ment and reason" "Unthinking, unheeding I
is very good. ''The elements which I
are guided by Judgment and reason" is extra =
good 1t is at least a slight modification of
Vanderbilt's anathema, Damn the people,
and for this small concession we ought, no
doubt, to be duly grateful [
Who composed the Chicago convention? From =
the state in which reside the gentlemen from :
whom 1 have quoted the delegation sent to that :
convention was composed OF farmers. lawyers, |
doctors. editors, merchants, manufacturers I
and several OF the most conspicuously success Z
full business men in the Missouri valley. !
Among them also were eminent judges of high y
courts. senators of the United States, repre-
in congress and the treasurer y
and governor OF the state. That delegation q
was chosen by one of the greatest conven- T..
lions ever assembled in that state, repre- .
senting all classes of the very best people Of [
the commonwealth. What was true OF Mis- [
souri, was equally true OF all the states. II {
these men could not speak for the democratic =
party, who could? II these men do not under .
stand democracy, who are its exponentsI But I
these are the men who are ridicu ed as an I'M 4
unheeding mob, who cannot be trust e
ed in the conduct OF public Affairs, and these u
are the men who must give way to English ;
toadies and the pampered mintons of corporate I
rapacity, who arrogate TO themselves all the I
virtues and wisdom Of the world.
Sir, the man who holdsup to opprobrium such /
men as COnSLlLuIcl the C0lCHRO convention,
who denounces them as cranks, anarchists, or p"
or who. in any respect, impugns I
their intelligence or patriotism, does himself
most rank injustice, II he be not u knavc, a
or n fool. That convention did in
deed represent the masses of the people. 1t {
represented the men who pow and plant. who
ratten herds, who toll in shops, who fell forests
and delve In mines. But are these to be re- {
yarded with contumelya and addressed in terms =
Of contempt: Z
Why, sir, these are the men who feed and a
,lothe the nation; whose products make up V
she sum of our EXPORTS: who produce the v
wealth OF the republic who bear the heaviest -
in times of peace. and are ready al 3
to give their life blood for their coun- u
rvs flag: they are the men whose sturdy n
lrms and faithful hands uphold the stu N
fabric of our civilization. They are 8
he bravest and the tenderest. the truest :.
the best. These are the men who spoke II
nigh and strong. They were in earnest and did Y
lot mean to bs misunderstood. 1t was the -
yoice OF true democracy. 1t was the voice of =
ieep conviction, spoken without fear. They d
demand what they want. and they mean TO Il
nave it. They did not go to Wall street for II
heir principles, nor over the sea for their in q
spirations. Their principles were inherited =
rom the fathers and their inspiration sprang II
rom an unconquerable live Of country and eI
home. N
For = leader they chose one of their own-a n
,lain man of the people His whole life and 7
ihe work identify him in sympathy and inter- 4"
sst with those Who represent the great in
iustrial forces of the country. Among them
ie was born and reared and has lived and
all the days OF his life. He has been W
heir constant and fearless champion u
They know himand they trust him.
yet firm; gentle, yet daunu- y
ess; warm-hearted, yet deliberate, IL