The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-24
S0lSSIl


Kinley had said: 'sThe platform adopt
ed by the Republican convention has
received my careful consideration and
has my unqualified approval
L am not here to criticise the present
administration, 1 yield to no man living
in my respect, my admiration for, and
my confidence in the judgment, the
wisdom, the patriotism, the American
ism of William Mckinley. When he en-
tered upon his administration, he faced
a difficult situation. 1t was his duty to
proceed with care and caution.
1t was the plain duty of the presi-
dent of the United States to give to the
liberal ministry of Spain q reasonable
time in which to test its proposed au-
tOnoHy. That time has been given.
Autonomy is conceded the wide world
over to be a conspicuous failure. Tho
situation in Cuba had only changed for
the worse. Sagasta is powerless; Blan-
co is poWerIess to put an end to the con-
f1ict, to rehabilitate the island, or to
relieve the suffering, starvation and dis
tress.
1.-The time for action has then come
No greater reason for it can exist to-
morrow than exists today. Every hours
delay only adds another chapter to the
awful story of misery and death. Only
one power can intervene-the United
States of America"
Mr.. Thurston briefly adverted to the
propositions of recognizing the belliger-
oncE OF the independence the CuDanS
only to say that it was too late for
either. AS to annexation he said: God
forbid! 1 would oppose annexation with
my latest breath. The people of Cuba
are not our people; they can not as
simulate with US; and beyond all that
l am utterly and unalterably opposed
to any departure from the declared
policy of the fathers which would start
this republic for the first time upon ca
reer of conquest and dominion utterly
at variance with the declared purposes
of our government"
AS to the plan for the United States
to guarantee Cuban purchase bonds,
Mr.. ThurstOn declared: 1.-THE Ameri-
can people will never consent to the
payment of one dollar to the guaran-
teeing of one bond, as the price paid to
Spain for her REIMBURSEMENT of the is
land she has SO wantonly outraged and
devastated.
Mr.. President, there is only one act
ion possible if any be taken That is in
terventiOn for the independence of the
island; Intervention that means the
landing of an American army on Cuban
SOIL the deplOying of an American fleet
off the harbOr of Havana; intervention
which says to Spain, leave the island,
withdraw your soldiers, leave the Gu
bans, these brothers of ours in the new
world, to form and carry on govern
ment for themselves.
Such Intervention on our part would
not of itself, be war. It would undoubt-
eddy lead to war. But if war came, it
would come by act of Spain in resist
ance of the liberty and the independ-
ence of the Cuban people.
Mr.. President, against the interview
ton of the United States in this holy
cause, there is but one voice of dissent,
that is the voice of the money changers.
They fear war, not because of any
Christian sentiment against war and in
favor of peace, but because they fear
that a declaration of war, or the inter
vention, which might result in war,
would have a depressing effect upon
the stock market.
s'Ir. President, do not read my duty
from the ticker; I do not accept my les
sons in patriotism from vail street; L
deprecate war.
War with Spain would increase the
business and the earnings of every
American railroad, it would increase
the output of every American factory,
it would stimulate every branch of in
dustry and domestic commerce. 1t
would greatly increase the demand for
American labor and in the end, every
certificate that represented snare IN
an American business enterprise would
be worth more money than it is worth
today But in the meantime, the spec
tire of war would stride through the
stock exchanges and many of the
gamblers around the board, would find
their ill-gOtten gains passing to the 9TH
er side of the table. Let them go. what
one man loses at the gambling table,
his fellow gamblers win. Let them take
their chances as they can Their veal
or woe is of but little Importance to the
liberty loving people of the United
States. Let the men whose loyalty is
to the dollar stand aside, while the
men whose loyalty is to the flag come
to the front
syThere are some who lift their voices
in the land and in the open light of day
insist that the Republican party will
not act for they say it sold out 10 the
capitalists and money changers at the
last national election. 1t is not so. God
forbid The 1000 900 freemen who voted
for the Republican party and for Nc
Kinley did not mortgage the honor OF
this nation for a campaign fund, and if
the time ever comes when the Republi-
can party hesitates in it's course of duty
because of any undue anxiety for the
welfare of the accumulated wealth or
the nation. then let the Republican
party be swept from the face of the
earth and be succeeded by some other
party, by what ever name it be called,
which will represent the patriotism, the
honesty, the loyalty and the devotion
that the Republican party exhibited
under Abraham Lincoln in 1861
7 believe in the doctrine of peace
taught by the lOwly Nazarene, but men
must have liberty before abiding peace
can come Force saved the union kept
the stars in the flag, made 'niggers' men
The time for Gods force has come
again. Let the impassioned lips of
American patriots once more take up
the song:
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom
That transfigUred you and me,
AS he died to make men holy.
Let US die to make men free, Tor
God is marching on.
Mr. President, in the cable that
moored me to life and hope, the strong
est strands are broken. have but lit
tie left to offer at the altar of freedoms
sacrifice, but all have I am glad to
give I am ready to serve my country
as best I can in the senate or IN the