Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-15

ton. Let congress carry out its sworn
duty, and control these instruments of
commerce in the interest Of all and
not permit them to be controlled by
private individuals for the benefit of
the few
Next Senator Butler called attention
briefly to the action of the peoples
party in the last campaign, and to the
situation that confronts the party
now. lie said.
Never in the history of the world,
since political parties were first or
ganized, has any party ever shown the
same unselfish devotion to principle as
has the peoples party. Several weeks
before the peoples party national con-
tional cmfw etaoi shr
vention, assembled in 1896, every men,
Der of the party from Maine to Cali
fornia and from the! lakes to the gulf
expected to see the national conven-
ton that met at st. Louis nominate a
straight peoples party ticket for pres
ident and vice president; but, at the
democratic national convention which
assembled in Chicago, few weeks be-
fore, the unexpected happened The
democratic convention, which had for
many years been following false gods.
returned to the faith of Jefferson and
adopted a platform aud nominated a
candidate that came near standing for
the great fundamental principles of
good government, which Jefferson,
jackson and Lincoln advocated and
amplified by their career. True, the
platform did not specifically declare
for all of the creeds of jefferson and
Lincoln, as had the peoples party
platforms from the beginning, but the
convention named a candidate that
commanded the respect and confidence
OF every follower of Jefferson and Lin
coin to SO great degree that the peo-
pies party put patriotism and coun-
try above party, refused to nominate
another candidate, but accepted the
democratic candidate, and had the
nominee for vice president stood for
what the nominee for president did,
that candidate also would have been
accepted. With the help of the peo-
pies party and patriotic silver repub-
licans under the lead of Teller, Towne,
Debols, Cannon and Pettigrew, we
polied for that ticket more votes than
any ticket of any party had ever be-
fore received in the history of the ma
| ton.
To-day we are facing another ma
tional campaign. Since 1896 the trusts
and monopolies have increased and
multiplied in number and manifold
power. International banks have been
given greater power to initiate and
contract our circulating medium, and
thus make prices unstable and specu-
rate upon the products Of, great ma
ton OF seventy millions of people.
Since then the spectre Of monarchy
and imperialism has defiantly raised
its head to defy the goddess of liberty
In the highest executive and legisla-
tive halls. Three parties are ready to
join hands and call halt, to demand
change, and to make one supreme
effort to restore the republic to the
fundamental principles laid down by
the forefathers.
The peoples party national conven-
ton is the first OF three in the field
we stand ready now to do everything
IN our power to unite the three par.
ties into a common fight for the con
stltution,, for country, and for human
Ilty; we stand ready to put country
ABOVE party and to. do whatever pa.
trlotism. demands and honor will per
INIT to win Il victory for the people
and for the republic. | feel that ever,
delegate in this convention indorses
this sentiment. | know you do. How
to accomplish the result is not for me
TO dictate. can trust it to your wis.
dom and patriotism''