The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-26


Looking upon tho convention made up
0s lt is OF representative citizens Of ok
lahoma, one could moi help being impress
sed with the sincerity Of this meeting
and the grandeur Of tie object Its object
Is universally known and ! feel sure that
upon that one point the convention ia
unit We meet here today az American
citizens 90 petition congress to grant
us che rights and privileges guaranteed us
by tho constitution OF our country.
trust that we have not met here IN
partisan spirit 90 barter for partisan ad-
vauaEes hut that We have met hero
upon common soil as one family, one par
ty. ono people for one object.
We are not an expanslonists. neither
are We a'l anu-expansionlsts, but I vcn-
turc the assertion that every man within
tho sound OF my voice here today "a an
eNpansionlst TO that extent that he -
In favor of eXpending the starry consti-
tuition upon the blue background OF our
national emblem sufficiently to add one
more star 10 the circle and admit Ok
lahoma territory into the happy family
ot statehood.
IA an uuorganized territory, Oklahoma
was lead 10 the mourncr's bench. confess
lea her sins. and was taken in upon pro-
bauon Today she asks to be baptized I'm
tho name of Uncle Sam, tho Goddess Of
Liberty, and the star-spangled banner
and bo taken into full membership of the
church OF statehood.
Within the borders of Oklahoma therc
are at least four hundred thousand peo-
pie. This population is made up rf
bright. energetic and ontcrprsng class
of citizens, who arc not only capable Of
governing themselves. but are capable
OF making out Of this territory. ono ~
the brightest and most prosperous statos
III me union Yet thcro are certain classes
who are opposed TO granting US these
rights and privileges. They would hold us
down to a political and social equality
with the Sandwich islanders. whose can
nlho ancestors but q few generations
back. were noted for their sumptious ban
qUets, al which the menu consisted Of
roasted missionaries They would Ike
wise hold us down to a political ana go
"ini equality with that ignorant. unctvt-
HEED. monFrel race Of people who Inbab,,
the Philippines and the island OF Cub,
Understand me. Mr Chairman. nm, r,4
protesting against anything thai win hon
eht OF elevate the people OF those Is
i'hus' nut do most heartily protoa,
aFainst a territory populated bv b,or
''''red thousand American citizens. a,t-
ualed rlEht In the heart OF tho grondogt
p"'i'n upon Gods foot-stool being boid
n'"n To a political and social eouoii,v
Wt' l0t ~ suu-haked. uncivuJ7od
tronical heethens who have no create.
a""'"'"'"~~e with mo constto,,or -
H'eF'es of this country than has nm A.
ko'Fas Pin-sanR puller with VirVu
Ihe object OF government ia N bo,.,.
'he conditions Of society and the ldeol
F"Vernwent is that OF the people. FOR n
was truly said by the immortal Lincoln
mat a government OF the people for M.
people and by the people shan live A
territorial form OF government ia foreign
70 me American idea OF government ana
-'o"ld e"0 The varv instant fha peonla an.
rive a that condition IN which tbev ara
canahlo OF governing Themselves con
imagine certain conditions and clrcum-
stances under which terriforial Porn, -
government would be excusnbie but Mr.
Chairman, / cannot eNnand INV io,oo,ra
ton far enough 20 find an excuse for
m q N
over this, the fairest garden spot eve,
KISSED by Gods sunlight where every
breath Of air IS heavily laden with tho
sweet perfume Of native wildnowers,
where upon every hin stands n scrooi
mouse IKE a steady sentinel guarding 10
progress OF intellectually. where ,n ev.
erv valley tan church spires pierca the
hlne canopy Of perpetual italian sky.
where we hove more handsome women.
more bright children. more brave. h IN
est and enterprislng young men. whore
we produce more cattle. wheat. corn COT
ton ard politicians 10 the acre than any
other Ike era upon the face NJ the earth.
There is not one single redeoming feat.
nre about territorial form OF govern
mont II Is the Mecca OF carpet -baggars
and the hot bed Of machine politicians.
The name ig a stencil IN the nostrlls OF
progress. u IS emblematlc OF a laWuss
and nm auarchiStic condition OF aTairs.
II ls uninvitlnF 10 commercial and a,ci,l
enterprises. but on the contrary stands
ont Ike a great pillar OF fire. writing IN
letters OF fame across a black sky Here
is haven ~ safety for outlawo"
IN aneaking OF native ireland, the inr-
mortal Robert Emmett said: "Let no
man write my enitaph unin my country
hos taken her grand position among The
nations of this earth" Likewise can 10
hoard the territorial politicians in fren-
zlnd tones evciairlng let mo- man
cancel nv railroad pass until Osian,r1a
hns taken her nr0ud position amoag tho
states N this Union" Gentlemen ~ this
convention. Il ls the political pot hunter
tfat We have had 10 contend with I'm our
naEi efforts 10 secure statehood lie has
c'ung 70 the executive car at W4shiagton
with the persistencv OF n doz.gntt.
Afraid 10 submit hts poiiticll charc,s
70 the great SOVEREIGN people ne has beea
tlreless IN his EFFORTS 20 thwart atate
hood TIE is the great stumbiiny-b'ock IN
our wav. TIE IL me one black cloud that
has been ohpcuriuF tho horizon Or cul
horeH Rut the wind is shifting. Circum-
Ffarces are shaping themRelys9. the r. IA
rrnorf NJ opr governor hlled with unlla,
rufat1e facts has Ike thJroer bet
from heaven. gent asunder this dark Eui
iower'rV clond and through he aperture
fhus formed come floods OF g1drn sun
beams lighting the way into a happy and
r-os~orors statehood
while = di0er poiltlcsuv with the nr,s,
Ne~T ~ thia ration. 7 want 70 saw IN eH
ea~Aor thef believe him m ne an hones
ami CONGREGATIONS man. Ouite recently
20 has acoua inted hirnself with the con
AHions ~ ihia territory. ana hut a Few
davs. aPo. 7 read IN an eastern maga'
-'-e. an Interview w'th the president
--he--in he evnreseed his s-7rnrise Al N,
rroraarftil nrosrasu aeveIor,nn snf ara te