Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-08

speech of Representative Richardson
of Tennessee at Indianapolis.

Spccch VI NcpfenchtAtnve NIcnaF0SOh
OF Tennessee at Indianap polls.
INDIANAPOLIS. August s-Following is
the speech Of Representative Richardson Of
Tennessee notifying w. J. Bryan OF his
nomination for President by the democratic
national convention at Kansas City:
Mr.. Richardson said in part:
MIR. Bryan: On the one hundred and
twenty-fourth anniversary of the birth of
this republic there assembled in Kansas
City the most intensely American conven-
ton that ever came together in its history.
This great body was made up of men from
every state and territory in the Union.
They came from their respective districts
filled with unfeigned enthusiasm for the in
spring cause which brought them together.
Their seven millions of constituents had
empowered them to frame platform of
principles, and select a candidate for Pres
ident and Vice President of the United
States in what they conceived to be the
supremest political crisis that ever came to
our country. These delegates all realized
that the republic Is in peril. They felt that
the duty was theirs to take such action as
would rescue the state from the gulf of
Imperialism in which 1t has been plunged,
and thus preserve for themselves and pos
terity unimpaired the priceless blessings of
free government and civil liberty. You see
before you today committee of delegates
speak, upon which is represented each state
and territory, whose duty 1t is to convey to
you in formal manner the notification that
the august ASSEMBLY L have mentioned,
acting for Its members. their constituents,
and for all who love and cherish liberty
everywhere. with no dissenting voice. chose
you as the candidate for President, and
adopted platform of principles upon
which the campaign We are now inaugu-
rating shall be conducted
The declaration of party principles enun-
ciated now have the honor to present to
you. Here the duties of our committee
might with propriety end. but 1 beg in
diligence for few moments.
The delegates assembled at Kansas City
did not take hasty action. Their conduct
was characterized by the greatest firmness
and determination. In the alarming con-
ditton in which the country has been placed
by the present weak and vacilating and
un-American administration at Washing
ton they realized. as do our fellow citizens
generally. that a change of men and poll
cies is imperiously demanded. They pro-
ceeded deliberately and chose you to lead
In the battle for the restoration of the true
political faith.
-Four years ago you led the party in the
most brilliant contest it has ever expert
enced You then failed to win the goal
the presidency; but you did more; you won
the respect and admiration of your politi-
cal foes. and the ardent love and devotion
or your followers. That contest was made
oy you against stupendous odds, in the
division in your ranks. l congratulate you
and the country that all these unfortuitous
conditions do not confront you today. 1t is
true you were then bitterly. sometimes
Wantonly, assailed, and when partisan ran
cor ran high occasionally coarse things
were said of you and your party. But you
and they survived them all, and were per-
hapS stronger for them. We trust this
campaign will be pitched on higher plane
and that it will be conducted in a manner
worthy OF the great dignity which attaches
to the two most exalted offices at stake
1t Is true that you and your party friends
have already been characterized as dishon-
est and lawless at home and as towards
abroad. L feel sure. however. it will stop
at this, or. at least. If such hyperbolic
flowers of speech are used at all, it will be
one whose coarse manners before the pub
lie are equaled only by the roughness of
his riding habit.
New Declaration of Independence
The platform which I handed you is {,
new declaration of independence. You will
see 1t takes no step backward upon any
issue or party creed heretofore promulgat-
ed. 1t solemnly affirms that the question
of Imperialism is the paramount issue of
this campaign. This declaration did not
make it so. but only gave recognition to an
admitted fact. The republicans have made
1t the issue which in this campaign over
tops all others. They may we'll endeavor
to run away from it. as they are doing. but
they cannot escape it, BY their fruits ye
shall know Them was the best philosophy
nineteen hundred years ago and it is the
best now.
Imperialism consists in levying upon the
people and collecting from them unequal
taxes. 1t consists in levying taxes on one
territory of the United States and not levy
ing the same on other portions thereof.
The Constitution says that all taxes shall
be uniform throughout the United States.
The is the tn
When those in power proceed as they have
done by recent acts of Congress, to con-
struct tariff wall against one territory
and thus exclude its products from other
territories and states of the Union seek to
dodge as they may. they exercise imperial
power. No king or emperor can do more.
They cannot do the acts and deeds which
can only be done in kingdom or an en-
pire and say they are not imperialists, and
that there Is no issue of imperialism. The
platform declares that Imperialism means
1t means the strong arm Of the military
and Its concomitant, great standing
army. which has ever been fatal to all free
institutions. 1t was this that drove from
Europe to our shores millions of our fellow
citizens, and which is constant menace
to the liberties of the people. Large stand
ing armies have no place in republic. An
imperial government can only be maintain
ed by brute force, and without militarism
Imperialism cannot exist. The union
mating Of the two brings forth Caesarism.
whether under that some other name.
Imperialism means death to democracy and
republicanism. 1t means more swords and
fewer ploughshares. Militarism means
death to self-government and more spears
and fewer pruning hooks.
In the great battle upon us we will make
the fight thickest and hottest upon this
monster Imperialism. which always feeds
upon the life blood of liberty. The cause
you represent, sir. is humanity. The high
est duty of humanity is to help others to
be free The just punishment of people
that enslave and rule over another is the
loss of their own liberty. for a democracy
cannot be an empire and remain both.
War the Trusts.
The platform also declares unceasing war
fare in nation, state and city against trusts
and private monopolies in every form. This
declaration means that the laws now on the
statute books against this growing evil
must be enforced by honest and colnpe-
tent officials. and that there shall be enact
ed other laws efficient enough to completely
govern and control all trusts and monopo-
lies. The baneful effects of these organi-
cations cannot be estimated or described
They have grown up under the fostering