The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-05


Resolved, That the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration
of Independence and embodied in the fed
eral constitution is essential to the preSer-
walton of our republican institutions
"A few days ago another convention of
the Republican party met in the city of
Philadelphia. the date being selected as
near as possible to the anniversary of the
convention of 1896 But, mark this start
ling and significant fact: In all the
numerous resolutions SO skillfully framed
by this convention of 1900, there appears
not one resolution, not one word. not
one syllable of reference TO the Declara-
ton of Independence. Could anything
more clearly illustrate the decadence of
THAI once splendid and patriotic organl-
zation? The sacred precincts of the old
colonial capital sheltered for them no
shade of Washington or jefferson or
Henry or Otis or Rntledge or Adams
For them there was no magic in the
name of Philadelphia. whose every ut
terance has been but to stir the souls OF
four generations of Americans with mem
ories of independence Day, 1776. For
them no precedent spoke of June, 1856
1T needed but this one act of sacri-
lege to complete the demonstration that
the party of Marcus A. Hanna stands
for absolutely nothing in either doctrine
or spirit that characterized the party of
Abraham Lincoln. The men whom we
to-day imm ediately represent left the Re
publican party in 1896 chiefly because of
its action at St Louis in betraying the
cause of bimetallism and surrendering to
the banking combination.
Fundamentally that question is as
vital as it was then. But the movement
toward the gold standard was only a
specific example of a general tendency.
money monopoly has been followed by
all the monopolies and the resulting
plutocracy, pursuing the course of its
prototypes in ancient and fnedaevial his
tory, now seeks further exploitation by
conquest and 10 entrench it's power be-
hind the class distinctions and central
ized authority of miltarism. If we had
not left the Republican party in 1896 we
should be compelled, as patriots, to leave
in 1900 and forever
The party of Lincoln, in the preamble
to its first platfrom, adopted in June,
1856. declared its purpose to be to re-
store the action of the federal govern
ment to the principles of Washington
and Jefferson The principles Of Wash
ington and Jefferson may be thus briny
summarized: Abroad, no entangling al
liances; at home. equal rights for all,
special privileges to none
THE present leadership of the Republi-
can party has revolutionized the foreign
policy of the government and whether,
as we have abundance of evidence for be-
leving, there is a virtual alliance between
the United States and Great Britain at
this moment or not, certain il is that in
the words of Washington, we have left
our own 90 stand upon foreign ground
and that such an alliance must inevitably
be the issue of the present diplomacy of
the administration If persisted in.
I'm our domestic concerns the Republi
can party by a careful system of special
privilege to the few, has built up the
power of certain cruel and selfish infiu-
ences until they are predominant in in
dustry and politics, and have virtually
destroyed the Democratic element in our
social life and in the government. BY
law the great speculative banks have been
empowered to usurp the sovereign power
of issuing currency and to establish a
gigantic. money trust. Through failure to
enact appropriate legislation. aud 20 en-
force existing statutes and by tariffs ded-
icated to special interests, vast monopo-
lies in production and transportation hav@
been enabled to erect and maintain
despotism over the industry of the coun
try Bimetalism, an ancient and honora-
BILE faith of the Republican party, has
been openly repudiated by its Degenerate
modern leadership after a course of such
brazen hypocrisy as has awakened the
amazement of mankind. Protection, de-
clared in Abraham Lincoln's platform of
1860, to be a policy incidentally to be ob-
served in the raising of necessary revenue
hv tariff duties, has been made an end
itself and distorted into an engine of o2-
preston and robbery of the many for
the benefit of the few as represented by
the monopolies and trust combinations.
And recently. as the elimination of
long progress of abandonment. we nave
seen the Republican party turn away
finally from its most fundamental faith
and sever the last remaining link that
bound 1t to a glorious past. 1t has repu-
dated the Declaration of Independence.
1t has proclaimed the pre-eminence OF
Congress above the constitution.
THE pla atform adopted last month at
Philadelphia declares that the blessings
of liberty are to be conferred upon all the
rescued peoples by the Republican party
1t was the belief of Washington. and
jefferson, and Lincoln, 1t was the ancient
faith of the American peop.e. that God
gives liberty to all races of men, nnd that
no self-Vaunted benevolent despotism can
either confer it or take II away. What
God has decreed to be the Inheritance of
all men, Mckinley shall not be permitted
to deny any. We appeal from the last
platform of the Republican party to the
Declaration of independence from the
dent TO the eternal justice of the AL
mighty Father; 'wnose judgments are true
and righteous altogether
senator Teller Spoke.
Mr.. Towne's declaration that the Re
publican platform amounted 90 repeal
of the Declaration of Independence
brought the delegates to their feet. and
his statement that the convention had
NEE to re-declare the principles of that
instrument was enthusiastically applaud
ed He then introduced as temporary
chairman Senator Henry NJ. Teller OF
Colorado. and presented him with n gavel
made from wood taken from the old Lin
coin home at Springfield, Ill.
Senator Teller delivered an eloquent I'D
dress, dealing with the monetary question
and bitterly denouncing the diseste bllsh-
ment of silver. 1--WE were wrong In leav-
ing the ST. Louis Convention" questioned
Mr.. Teller. and a thunder of NO came
from the delegates "If l had not left
the party in 1896 | would have done so
every month since" he said, "the condi-
tions now are a thousand times worse than
they were then"
Cheered Bryan and TOwne.
The first mention of Mr.. Bryan's name
came near the end of Mr.. Tellers speech.
1t started a perfect storm OF applause,
but the demonstration was excelled by
that which occurred when Charles A.
Townes name was mentioned. The dele
gates. one and oil. jumped to their feet,