Gilpin observer., 1900-08-16

not believe there is any hope at pres
ent for Il proper settlement of the finnD-
cial question.
Il have always adhered to the par
tvs declaration that we were Repub-
licans ON all other questions but the
| financial question. | am not Demo
crat and it seems to me that re time
| has come when we must be either Dem
| ocrats or Republicans. There is to-day,
in my Judgment. no middle ground.
| Even at Kansas City and while Mr..
| Townc was still chairman of the ma
| tional Silver Republican committee, he
declared that he was a Democrat and
that the Silver Republican organization
| was kept alive at the request of Demo
| cratic leaders for the sole purpose of
| aiding Democracy. If this be true, then
to maintain longer the Silver Repub-
| lcan party Is "A pretenSe unworthy the
men who sacrificed much in leaving
| the old party and in trying to build up
and maintain the new.
But there is another question-an-
other issue If you please, one that I
| think should have been considered and
settled by the American people az,
Americans and not as partisans, though
supposed party eXpedicncy and parts
anShip has made il an issue in this
campign, and this issue is near to the
hearts of all old-timc Republicans.
The flag is being fired upon and our
soldiers and sailors are being killed.
The war with Spain was no party's
war. 1t WAS n war of the American
people, just war waged in just
cause. | had hoped we might consider
all of the questions of the war and all
of the questions growing out of it, not
as partisans. but as Americans all; az
lovers of our country and its nstitu-
tions. Deweys guns placed upon the
country new and grave duties and re-
sponslbilitics The Philippine islands
are ours: ours by conquest: ours by
generous and magnanimous purchase,
and ours by treaty. Their inhabitants
are in rebellion against our govern
ment; they kill our soldiers and cruelty
treat our wounded. Inc. insurrection
there denies the authority of the United
States. We are as much interested IN
it as If one of the states of the federal
union was denying the authority of the
government. Let American authority
be recognized: let the flag he respected
there and no one doubts that the Phil
ippines will then be justly and hui
namely treated.
II am an eNpansionist: | believe i'll
the greatness of my country. ! have no
patience with the men or party who ac-
cept the word of an adventurous Asi-
attic renegade in preference to that of
Admiral Dewey. and who continually
encourage the ignorant rebellion by
putting bad motives behind every good
act of the government mt Washington
Our country's flag means something to-
me. In my childhood my father fought
for ii that ii might always remain the
emblem of n united and liberty Lowing
country and that its blessings might
be bequeathcd to his children. II is my
inheritance.
THE Silver Republicans Of Colorado
have always declared that they were
eXpansionists and they believed with
Senator Teller when he said in the
Senate of the United States. Where the
American soldier dies and is burieti-
and the American flag is put up, ! say
there il will stay and we will grapph
with the great problem whether we are
capable of managing colonies or not
and try it; if we fail. it will be the hrs,
time that the Anglo-SaXon race has
failed when these great problems have
been presented. IL will he the first time
that the American people have faiicE
when great questions have been pre-
sented to them to solve them property
and righteously and in the interests Of
their own people and of the world
Il have considered all these ques-
tions with anxious concern. My views
upon them have for some time becn
known TO Senator Teller and other lead
ers of the Silver Republican party. For
twenty years have supported Senator
Teller. whose life, in my Judgment ~
a sublime and unseltish devotion 10
duty. in every campaign in which bo
hns been Interested in Colorado. ! WISH
that il were now possible for me TO be
guided by his Judgment; but seeing my
duty rs | see It, ana entertaining the
opinions | entertain. ! should DE uls-
loyal to myself and disloyal to your or
ganizatlon If | longer remained as
chairman of Its committee.
II do not affect to be Indifferent TO
your good opinions and wish that you
may all know that | pursue the course
here indicated after anxious ana seri.
GUS consideration. | hope that you VIII
all believe that there are no alliances
nor entanglcments behind my actioh
and that | am now prompted by as
high sense Of duty ns ! was when
gave YOU much of my time and means
In the hope of sustaining the principle
for which we were all cpntrndlng. Dts-
like of or prejudice against ndiVlduaiS
is too narrow n reason to keep us IRON
doing what we deem to lie right.
Concluding, beg to especially thank
each of you. the secretary of the com
mIttcc and the members of the county
organizations for your friendship to me
In the past, which | trust may always
continue, and for the splendid services
YOU have so unseliishly rendered the
organization Of which | have been the
official head, Respectfully.
"a. NJ. STEVENSON
War over small Feet.