The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-16

tion and ruin. and 10 place It where 1t
belongs. In the hands OF Democracy.
We often hear that the late war wiped
out an sectional feeling. and that to-day
there is no North, 40 South, no East,
and no West. I am satisfied that this
SIS true. but ! am also sure that this was
true from a national point of view, long
before. Let then. this banquet be the
outward visible sign Of this same unity
in The Democratic party Tonight the
East extends its hand Of welcome TO the
West. and is ready 10 do honor TO one
az her great sons. o. whom she is so
iust1v proud Let this be the sign that
there Is no North. no South, no East, no
West i'm the Democratic party. Whatever
our individual local or sectional opinions
are. LET MS express them and let them
be respected; this is the soul Of Democ-
racv But when after these opinions and
conditions have been submitted 10 our
chosen leaders in convention; when they
have sifted them down and chosen the
material from which our platform Is 10
Doe constructed. then Jet us, with one voice
saw. this is the platform upon which We
win stand. shoulder TO shoulder. as
unit 20 win or lose.
THE REPUBLICS DANGER
We have reached a point when Democ-
r4cv must rule. or the heirs TO this
ereatcst republic that We know Of must
bow their neeks 10 the most powerful
piutocracy the world has ever known;
mind you. not even "a national plutocracy,
but an international plutocracy without
faith or Kin, which will drag us 10 the
most abiect slavery l am no hater Of
money or wealth. and I doubt the hon
cstv of any one who IS. but / do hate
the one who does not understand the
words. Give and let live
To-day the people are waking mp 10
the fact that the freedom of man is
the question they are called upon 10 de-
eide. and not theoretical issues for po-
Nucal supremacy, and I'm looking about
for the means TO secure this right they
see their only hope in the Democratic
party And what makes them hesitate?
A doubt in the unanimity in the party.
And what makes the Republicans eNult?
The same thing. coupled with the knowl-
edge they are concentrating all the sineWs
of war.
There is one other ray Of hope held
out 10 them ny boncst, but, ! hold, mis-
guided people and that is. the creation
of "a third party. 10 be made mp as they
claim. from the best elements of poth.
What that means. I don't know This
ray is O. mere will o. the wisp IT only
creates q situation for the multiplication
of deals The most liberal minded man
never claims more than two sides 10 a
question. then. why a third party? Let
us range ourselves honestly on one side
or the other. but when we range our
selves. let there be no classihcatiOns or
rich and DOOR labor and capital. The
great Jefferson knew no classes, nor do
we. Take away q mans right TO I'M
prove his condition or take away his
right of maintaining it, and you reduce
him below the lowest of creatures and
God. the Creator. and the laws of nature
forbid this. and by these laws Democracy
will abide.
THE ISSUE DEFINED.
The issue will be i'm 1900. Are we to be
controlled by the Cosmopolitan money
power or are we to be freemen OF this great
Republic Nothing more nothing less. The
Republicans have ranged themselves on
the side OF the trusts, which means the
assured wealth of the few and the I'M
RENTED labor Of the many. and these
trusts. I'm many cases, are controlled
abroad.
The Republicans have ranged them
selves on the side Of monopolies' and the
concentration of wealth. They have
ranged themselves on the side Of con-
trolling the municipal. State and national
LEGISLATION bv wealth. They were slow
I'm aveuging the insult and injuries Of the
enemy. and only did do when pushed
10 it bv the Democracy of the country.
They are guilty of carrying on our late
war in % partisan and corrupt manner
and 10 the profit of corp0I atlons. Ihey
are to-day leading as into the entangie-
mcnts of foreign alliances and grating
upon MS imporalisuc principles To all
this. Democracy. hold, is opposed and is