The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-04-21

upon humanity. We have interests as
well as Spain, and we have right to
guard our Interests as well as she has to
guard hers, and when she has for more
than generation been unable to govern
without exciting revolt, and then when
she excited revolt has been unable to
ouell it, we, as neighboring nation,
have a right TO say that such rule shall
terminat upon the island of Cuba.
And more than that, we have right
to say that the interests Of the United
States shall no longer be menaced by such
a government as they have had there, or
such strife as has taken plac Q; and II
they desire a more specific reason we can
reply that we live so near to Cuba that we
must insist upon having government
that will make it impossible for
SHIPS TO BE BLOWN UP
in its harbor when they enter on
friendly mission. Applause and cheers.)
Because, my friends, IL you decide that
the destruction of the Maine and the
death of our sailors was due to the in
territorial act of the Spanish government,
the crime becomes too great to be describ-
ed in words; and IL you believe that in
stead of being the Intentional act Of the
Spanish government 1t was the result OF
a carelessnoss so gross as to permit the
planting of such a mine there, you must
conclude that a nation so careless ought
not to be allowed to control countries in
the immediate vicinity of nation like
this.
But have reason to congratulate Il
Democratic party upon the fact that re-
cent events have answered fully and COM
pletelv a charge that l have sometimes
heard from time to time since / was a
boy. The fact that we have ia the Dem
ocratic party many who in the late war
we're arrayed against the Union has been
the excuse which some have urged for de-
claring that the Democratic party was
not a patriotic party. My friends, as we
assemble tonight to celebrate the birth
day Of Thomas jefferson, we can rejoice
that at last the civil war is over, never to
be rcsurrected again. (Applause.)
When the President asked for an ap.
preparation there was no opposition.
Every member of the house Of repre-.
sentatives and every senator-south and
north, east and west--responded to the
request We told them years ago that In
any hour of danger the men who wore the
gray would be as loyal as the men who
wore the blue, and they know 1t now.
1t has so happened that in this crisis
the United States has been represented
upon the island Of Cuba by n man who
served in the Confederate army. l an
glad that it was not only so, but that hi
discharged his duties so well and pro
tected the rights of his government sc
faithfully and so courageously that not q
person in all the nnrthland would want
TO recall Fitzhugh Lee and send another
in his place.
Yes my friends, the war is over,
Democrats must now be recognized as
patriots. and instead of trying to revive
the issues of the civil war, our opponents
will have to meet us in the discussion unt
settlement Of the issues that arise in times
Of peace. And thus the Democratic party
having proven it's loyalty to the flag
having proven its willingness to defent
the nations honor and the nations rights
may go forth and in peace or war dis
cuss every question and challenge al
opponents to meet the doctrines Of thD
Democratic party, whether they be applied
to economic or to international questions