The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-07-21

Springfield, H., July 16.-(SpeciaL)-
In his address to the Democratic state
convention, Ex-Governor John p. Alt.
gsld said:
Why are we gathered hereS What Is
the meaning Of this large assembly, Is
1t meerly gathering for spoils, or is
there lofty purpose behind 1t! You tell
me that this is a convention of the Dem
ocracy Of Illinois-that you are delegates
representing half million free men
that you have left your affairs and travel
cd to this city to attend to the business
Of that great party. But what does that
party stand for. What has 1t done that
entities 1t to be called greatS What is
Its mission? Has it any purpose now
that is worthy of an honorable ambitions
Has it undertaken to do any great thing
for humanity and for this republicf II
so, what qualifications does it possess for
that work.
Govern nent is serious buslne SIS
which directly affects the happiness or
ments require struggle. Every forward
step by the human race has been made
red with human blood. Two centuries ago
the world made its great struggle for
freedom Of religion and freedom of
thought; q century ago it made its strug-
gles for political freedom and freedom of
speech, and proclaimed the great principle
that Gil men are created equal and that
governments derive their just powers
rom the consent of the governed as ex-
pressed by the majority.
We have moved century forward and
ward stride. 1t is now demanding
financial and industrial freedom with all
those social changes which these con-
ditions must bring. A crisis is again
nearing; and in crisis neutral men,
policy men, trimmers, traders and
tricksters become contemplate. Only
those men who are willing to make
sacrifices only those men who have the
courage to stand erect and defy the hosts
Of oppression can command respect. I
ask, what qualification has the Dem
Ocratic party to lead this mighty contestS
Has its past been of such character as
TO give assurance for the future? Let US
glance back for O moment aud see.
1t was the mighty Jefferson who wrote
the declaration of independence, who or
ganized the Democratic spirit Of that
time, and who founded the Democratic
psrty. In 1900 his party prevented the
establishment of an oligarohy or ruling
Slass in this country and expended the
foundations Of republicanism.
In 1893 this party secured for us not
onIy the mouth of the Mississippi river
but all the territory stretching from New
Orleans northwest to the British posses
sions and the Pacific ocean, out OF which
sfyenteen states have been formed, thus
extending our republic from the Atlantic
TO the Pacific. And it did this against
the protest of federalism.
In 1912 the party humiliated England
both on the land and on the seas, and
forever destroyed her pretensions to the
right Of searching American vessels and
fmpressing American seamen.
In 1919 this party secured for the public
the state of Florida, and at the same time
declared that no foreign power should
get another foot of this continent; and
in 1898, when corrupt wealth had made
itself master Of the country .and was
seeking to reduce the American country
to state of vassalage, when 1t con-
trolled congress and the federal courts,
Just as it does now, there was Democrat
In the White House who rose up and
said: "By the Eternal, the money power
shall not rule this land" And by that
one act he saved whole generation of
Americans from the destructive policies
that are today running our country.
In 1s4S the Democrats sec cured for the
republic the state of Texas and gave US
she gulf and the Rio Grande for a south
west boundary, and later they carried
the American eagle up the heights of
Chapultepec and planted the stars and
stripes over the palaces of the Monte
zumas.
In ls4s they secured for this republic
New Mexico, Arizona and California.
1t was Democracy that founded this re-
public and it was the Democratic party
that secured for it the North American
continent. While the Democracy was
guiding the nation we had a navy that
commanded the respect of the naval
powers. And although we were young,
our shipping surpassed that of all other
nations except England. Our flsg was
seen In all the seas, floating over Amerl-
can ships that were carrying American
cargoss. All this shipping has been des-
troyed by the policies of the Republican
party. Turn to the history Of the last
half centuy cf our republic, and every
brilliant page of it was written with the
hDger OF Democracy.
Now my fellJw citizens we are engaged
in war a war almost as holy as that
which We fought for our own indepen-
denoe. This Is a war for hu manity.
The Democratic party true to its mission
Of espouslng the cause Of the oppressed
forced the present administration to take
this step. 1t Is cur war, Democratic
war, and It will add not only to the
glory OF Our country but to the mighty
achievements Of the Democratic party.
BY taking this step the party win add
luster to the close of this century, as it
did 60 the beginning. The fact that 1t
may be prostituted by the present ad-
ministration for selfish and corrupt pur-
poses cannot be helped. Even II it
should succeed, by means Of this war, in
escaping the Immediate and angry oon-
lannnatlnn of our nannla IL does mot