The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-19
SENATOR BEvERIDGE,s SPEECH.

Senator Beveridge's reputation is such
that when he is announced to speak people
expect to hear great issues and great
themes handled in an original, forceful and
impressive manner. His speech last night
fully justified this expectation. Original in
conception strong in argument and elegant
in dction, it easily ranks among the best
of the addresses that have caused Senator
Beveridge to be popularity regarded as one
of the eloquent orators of the time. The
dominant idea of the speech was an appeal
to the young men Of America by one of
them. No other American now in public
life could more appropriately make such an
appeal than Senator Beveridge, nor could
any other have made it in more effective
manner. A notable feature of the speech
was its substitution of patriotism for party
ism. The young men of the country were
appealed to not as Republicans but as
Americans, believers In Republican govern
ment and potential sharers in the future
growth, progress and expansion of the
country. The Republican party was shown
cause it is a party of action. of progress.
of achievements, oc high ideals, of con-
struction and advance instead Of destruc-
ton and retreat. 1.-THE question for the
young men of this Republic to decide" said
the senator, lis whether they will enlist
with the Republican party. which is har-
monious with all the natural elements of
youth. of progress and of power. and whose
foreign policy is the policy of American
advance, or with the Democratic party,
which is at war with every constructive
element of our civilization and whose for
eign policy is the policy of retreat
That part Of the speech which treats of
the relation of corporations and combina-
lions OF capital to young men was very
effective answer to Mr.. Bryan's anxious in
quiry as to the safety of our Absaloms.
Senator Beveridge showed that the age of
high commercial activity is pre-eminently
the age for young men. and that great cor
porate enterprises and combinations of cap
ital, instead of destroying their chances,
really multiply and promote them. The
shown to be as clearly in the interest of
young men. especially of talented, strenu-
Gus, energetic young men, as is its domes-
tic policy. For the weak, the timid, the in
ert. the unambitious, the cowardly and the
retreating there is another party. The SEN
ator's point that the young men of the
country cannot be scared by the bugaboo
of militarism was admirably put. ''Who
can establish an empire, young men of
America, without your consent?' he asked.
set their bayonets at the throat of our free
institutions If you, young men of America.
yourselves do not become those soldiers?"
And so the speaker continued to ridicule
the imaginary dangers of the Republic and
to point out the real ones which patriotic
young men. irrespective of party, should
combine to guard against. He said:
Glass hatred. sectional strife, internal
d.ssension-these are the rocks on which
this Republic will founder, II it ever does:
and IL is from these rocks of disturbance
at home that our active policy abroad
draws us safely away. 1t is better to en-
ploy a few American soldiers to maintain
that order which American administration
will bring I'm other lands, and at the same
time supply field abroad for American
activities and work for American hands at
home. than to employ many soldiers at
home TO suppress riot, disorder and insur-
rection here, caused by the very fact that
We have failed to find an outlet abroad for
American energy and market abroad for
surplus American products.
There is food for thought in this, and the
speech contains many passages Of an equal
ly suggestive character. 1t shows that
Senator Beveridge does his own thinking.