Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-27
Great Importance of Camp.ign.

Senator George u. vest, OF MIS-
souri,, is Just recovering his health at
Sweet Springs. Mo-. and he has sent
to the St. Louis Republic a warning
to the voters as to the significance of
the presidential campaign upon which
the country is just entering:
Our people must understand"
saws Senator Vest, that this is the
most important fight that has ever
faced the party. There must be an
awakening to the fact that the cry.
Republic against Empire is not
mere campaign slogan. The phrase
is all-truthful. Plans at Washington,
very definitely laid out, mean to over
ride the constitution. The repub bill
can leaders believe in the teachings of
Alexander Hamilton, who said that
the government of Great Britain was
the nearest a model OF all govern
ments ever devised by the brain of
man. The Hamilton idea lives at
Washington today. Mckinley and
Hay believe in it. If we mean to
save the constitution of our fathers,
if we mean to keep this great republic
intact as we received it. We must
elect Bryan. There must be no
lethargy, no feeling that everything
is all right. From now until the cleo
ton every democrat must work for
his country, for the salvation of the
ideas that made it great. The secret
plans of the repub lican leaders are, "A
strong government, without constitu-
tional limitations This is the fight.
The lines are drawn. There can be
no quibbling. 1t is the constitution
of our fathers against Imperialism.
The situation in China, whatever
the outcome, must not be misunder-
stood. If the Chinese government
has sinned against civilization, it
must be punished swiftly and terri
bly,. But this will be the act of the
American people, not of the republi-
can party alone. Democrats must
keep alive to the fact that the condi-
tions presenting themselves in the
Orient are not to be confused with
the fundamental principle of our
present great fight. The Chinaman,
if convicted, will be punished by the
American people, not by Mckinley
and Hay"
Senator Vest is tremendously in
earnest He says that he had ex
pected, because of i'll health, to keep
out of the campaign, but there is
possibility that he will make speeches
upon the lines of the ideas here set
forth. The famous senator has never
| beer more in earnest. He has never
declared himself in a more impas-
stoned manner than he employ
ed when he made this declara-
ton. He repeated, with empha-
sis, his recent statement, made in
the Republic. that he would retire
from politics at the close of his
present term in the senate.
II AN without personal or private
am bition." he said. MY whole
thought is for my country. Demo-
cratic success this fall means the full
fillment of our splendid promise. Fail
ure means that the flag will henceforth
stand for the strohg governments that
knows no constitution nor no free
people. :,
Il want to assert my positive denial
that / have expressed a choice among
the men who desire TO succeed to my
place in the senate of the United
States. The story that prefer Mr..
De Almond above the others is with
out foundation. lam opposed to no one;
/ am in support of no one. 1 have not
discussed the question as to who will
be my successor. 1t would be i'm
proper, and indeed, indecent, for me
to take part in the selection of the
next senator or to indicate prefer
ence. trust that this statement will
put stop to any sensational gossip"