The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-09-10
IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
True Jeffersonian Doctrines From
the Attorney General
IN PEcK's ADMINISTRATION
The Brilliant Young Irish-Ameri-
can Warmly Cheered.

Hon. j. l.. O'Connor, ex-atturney-
general OF Wisconsin, acted as temporary
chairman of the state Democratic con-
vention recently held in Milwaukee, and
delivered an eloquent address from
which the following excerpts are taken
for the instruction and ctlilicaton Of the
readers OF The Irish Standard:
As we assemble here today We hear
the urgent voice Of reform come up to
merchant in the store. the mechanic in
the shop, and the lahorcr in all the
walks of life. BY this appeal we are
admOnishcd Of the grave responsibilities
which here surround us; and We are Ie-
minded that va arc summoned here to
tho performance of some of the highest
duties ever intrustcd TO the citizens Of
this state.
Only two weeks ago that same spirit
Of reform and progress knocked at the
door OF tho Republican convention, was
refused admittancc and coldly turned
away. Tho Republican convention met
the just expectations of the honest citi-
zens of Wisconsin by tho promnlgatinn
OF IL platform. almost every declaration
of which is nn admission of dishonesty,
inc0mpctency and guilt
With holy horror and pious sulcmnity.
tho convention denounced dishonest
puti Srl LA,
ming riot under the present Republican
administrations: and then. with charae-
teristc hypocrisy, Endorsed the admin
istration that stands confcsscdly guilty
OF these dishonest practices. They ash
the people OF the state to cnntinne that
administration in power. For what?
Why, to enable them to keep the prOn,-
iseS in the future. which they admit
they have broken in the past. The re-
formers throughout the state asked from
the Republican convcntion bread that
convention responded by giving them q
promise and Il stone.
A quarter Of II century ago the great
est chief Justice that Wisconsin ever
men about to enter the profession Of
law. pushed aside for a moment the veil
which separates the present from the
future, and uttered these prophetic
words:
In the past ntcllcc! WAS the only an
tngonist of intellect The brief revolt
of money against brain, in the last days
Of Tie United States bank, was convnl-
sivo ::nd insignificant. But tlerc is
looming up new and darker power.
cannot dwell upon the signs and shock
ing omens of it's advent. The accumu-
lation of individual wealth seems to be
greater than il ever has been since the
downfall of he Roman empire And
gregating vast corporate combinations
of uncXnmpIcd capital, boldly marching,
not for economical conquest, but for po-
litical power. We see their rolOrs, We
hear their tr,lmpcls, VIC distinguish tho
sound Of preparation in their camps
For the first time really in our politics,
money is taking the field as an organ
lied power II is Inscriptions, arro-
giant and Ovcrhcaring Wealth has it's
rights. Industrious wealth has its hon
ors. These it is the duty of the law to
assert and protect. though wealth has
great power OF sclf-protcction. influence
beyond the limits of integrity. But
money as a political influence is essen
nj I, re
gcrous to flee institutions, by far the
most dangerous to tho frc" and just ad-
minstration Of the law. 1t is entitled
to fear. If not respect. The question will
arlsc-and arise in your day. though
perhaps not fully in mine which shall
rule, wealth or man, which shall lead,
money or intellect who shall fill public
stations. educated and patriotic free
men. or the fcudal scrfs of corporate
capital?"
Sadly. indeed, arc We compelled to
admit that the evidence of this proph-
ccy is all around us. The present and
future political issues of the state ana
nation have resolved themselves into Il
contest Det"ecn lne corrupt eHtfOttcH-
ments Of corporate power and the patri-
otic defense of the rights and liberties
Of the people.
The Democratic party has no contro-
vcrsy whatever with any economic or
ganization furnishing capital, employing
labor. and essential to the progress and
prosperity of the country. 1t is at war
only with those corporations that aban-
don the legitimate purposes for which
they were created. to go into politics
for pclf and plunder. corrupt the munic
ipal and legislative bodies of the state
and nation, and cast the shadow Of sus-