The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-28
CHARLES A. TOWNE OPENS THE
BALL IN A SPEECH LAST NIGHT
AT DULUTH
ISSUES ABLY PRESENTED
STRONG ARRANGEMENT OF THE
ADMINISTRATIONS "COLO-
NAL" POLICY
TEDDY IS TAKEN TO TASK
Inconsistencies of ROOseveIt's ST,
Paul Speech to the League Of Re-
publican Clubs Barred by a
Master Hand.


DULUTH, MINI, Aug 27.-The largest
gathering to listen to a political gpeech
that ever assembled in Duluth occurred
this evening at the armory when Hon.
Charles A. Towne opened the campaign
in lengthy address in which he replied
to the recent speech of Gov. Roosevelt.
delivered at St Paul on the occasion OF
the national convention Of the League OF
Republican clubs, and arTaigned the ad-
ministration policy in the Philippines.
The audience, which comprised per-
sons of all shades Ct political belief and
many scores Of women, listened attentive
~ to the stlYer-tongued orators remarks
for more than two hours, and frequently
throughout the discourse the appIauso
was deafening. Mr. Towne said I'm part.
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentlemen:
am grateful for this opportunity to open
the present national campaign in Duluth
1t is an interesting ana Important cam
palgn. In this respect no political con-
test OF this generation can compare with
IT, Not lightly should a man assume the
responsibility of pubic discussion when
what he says may possibly influence some
other man in his action on question
Affecting not only the policy of the gov
institutions. trust 1t is not vanity to
nope that what may be said tonight shall
not IN this community lack that sanction
Wnch sincerity OF conviction usually
gives To public utterauceS. IN this civ
me city that l love, for whose future
prosperity and glory L cherish the NEST
s3nglne expectations. and with whose no
pic grown and progress L once hoped
10 Identity a considerable official serv-
Ice the entire period Of my public Ufs
has been passed. 1t has been short, es-
arr Of Z
but 1t has Witnessed eVentful history in
the country. l have no complaint to mako
because as an incident to this history
that official experience was brief Rath-
5r Is the breVity a source of satisfaction
In that, and In itself, it testifies to tho
only merit have ever claimed for my
sell, VIZ absolute fidelity to beliefs err
Tonight I come not as candidate advo-
catng a cause whose success Is associat-
ed with his election to office. Ii has sc m
l might render more aid this year to the
principles profess by supporting them I'm
a merely private capacity and in many
pIdces, than by running a fOurth time
Tor congress, even though with greater
probability of election than in 1896 or 1893
Accordingly l am here tonight to speak
TO you as one American to another and
on the assumption that the welfare Of
our beloved country and its people ard
the perpetuation of American liberty are
more TO be desired by us than any
partisan success whatsoever; that these
objects are worthier our devotion than
any mans personal ambition possibly
can be; and that. If In any way We can
ind out what patriotism demands Of US.
we will resOlutely do It.
There is always a temptation to begin
political campaign with some caution
airy remarks about the influence of party
spirit. The longer and wider the OBJ
servation of men, the greater my inclina-
| ton to agree with WashinGtOns opinion
as to the tremendous danger to free In
/ situations that turks in an access of that
spirit. The preservation Of this govern
ment depends upon the maintenance Of
individual freedom of opinion and Of In
diVidual courage to exercise IT. The man
who refuses to think abdicates his high
est function as a man. The citizen who
permits political organization to fur
nish him with ready-made political con-
victiOns is unworthy the privileges Of cit
izenshtp. The American. to whatever
party he belongs, who votes CareleSsly on
matter affecting the destiny Of his
country, trusting blindly to that aggre-
gate opinion of his party, which, when any
considerable number in its ranks are az
compliant as himself may readily be
made to suit the interests OF powerful
and designing men, is guilty Of a pOlit-
ical crime. Numerous questions are in
Volved in this campaign. The relatively
secondary matters, important as they are,
all have reference to policies TO be pur-
sud by the republic.
IMPERIALISM SWEEPS OTHER IS
SUES.
The issue of first moment, the one that
temporarily dwarfs all others by com
parisOn, is, whether the republic Itself
IS to continue. Because Of the magnitude
Of this question, which not only the Dem
ocratic platform but the public concern,
declares to be the paramount issue Of
the campaign, because time viii not per-
init a full discussion in one meeting ike
this of all the subjects embraced IN the
party platforms, and because design TO
use good part Of this address IN COM
menting upon the speech, mainly con-
cerned with this topic. delivered al st.
Paul recently by the Republican candi-
dale for vice president, I shall devote
the greater part of the time tonight to-
the consideration Of Imperialism. Let us
first Inquire how the question has arisen.
The baTbarOuS procedure OF Spain add q
considerations Of humanity to those OF
commercial interest in our estimate Of
the international ethics Of the Cuban
case, until finally congress, on the Dist OF
April, 1888, recognized the independence
of Cuba and commanded Spain to W tn
draw her army and navy from Cuba and
Cuban waters. At the same time d re=O-
luton was passed destined to be forever
memorable IN history, whether It shall
stand as a typical and lasting emb0dl-
mcnt Of American disinterested devotion
to liberty, as the eliminating mani
festation of that spirit ere its light should
be quenched forever. The following IS
the resolution: The Unite6 States dis
claims any disposition or intention to ok
erclSe sovereignty, jurisdiction or control
over said island except for the paCtica-
ton thereof, and asserts rs determ ma
ton when that Is accomplished 10 leave
the government and control OF the island
TO its people"
Now IL Is TO be observed that the obll-
cation to respect the liberties of the peO-
pie Of Cuba did not have It's origin IN
this resolution. The resolution was mere
" the recognition OF an obligation which
existed in the nature Of things. and whicl
arose out of the very fact that the peO-
pie OF the United States had gone 10
the assistance of Cuba in her struggle
for independence against the tyranny Of
Spain.
He then reviewed at some length tho
causes leading up to the chief events Of
the Spanish war. He took up the In
surrection in the Philippines, which had
been raging for many years, sketching II
briefly, and telling how brilliantly Dewey
and his sailors engaged the Spanish fleet
in Manila bay, and continued:
But how did the case of the Philippine
islands differ from that OF Cuba2 For
over 800 years the Fillpinos had been
subject to the despotism OF the same EN-
pire They had never cOntentedly sub
mitted TO II. Unrest and intermittent
revolutions had long testified to the same
spirit in the Philippines as that which
in Cuba had aroused the interest and
sympathy OF the American people. Time
will not permit complete review or all
1 the occurrences which go to make ny