Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-09-26

very same thing that the Democratic
party has been doing for fifty years.
From time to time all the territory
really that has been annexed to the
United States has been annexed under
a Democratic administration, until
we got down to Hawaii. Now, let
us see, my fellow citizens. They say
we will build a fence around these
United States for fear, | presume,
that II some American citizen should
get out of the confines OF the United
States he might get hurt. We are
bounded by the Atlantic on one side
and the Pacific onthe other, and they
say beyond these waters you shall
not go. Why, do you know, my fell
low citizens, that the Philippine
Islands today are not as far from the
city OF Washington, taking into ac-
count M t%elegrapbs and our rail-
roads and our steam ships, as was
the little strip Of land called Florida
at the time that Jackson invaded IT,,
and it can be governed today better
and more direct than could any ter
ritory that has been annexed by the
Democratic administrations in the
past. So, my fellow citizens, SO far
as this matter of expansion is con-
cerned, l cannot think that our DEM
ocratic friends r really sincere when
they talk about it, because It is the
thing they have been doing eyersince
there was a Dem Ocratic party. But
they say, 'Thlsis Imperialism Well,
what is Imperialism? We object to
this sanding army that the United
states is maintaining. Why, wehave
loo, 1000 soldiers. Do you know, my
fellow citizens, that 100000 soldiers
are not nearly SO many when you
compare them with the population
OF the United States today as was
maintained during ~Jefferson's admin
istration when he was president OF
the United States. And what doesit
amount to. We have heard this cry
before. Away backin 1865 something
that sounded like it-'imperialism'
wasn't the word-it was Caesarism.
Why, they said, You elect General
Grant president of the United States
and he will rally around him these
$50, 900 soldiers that have just re-
turned from the war. He is their
idol; they will rally around him, and
they will place him upon a throne
and make him emperor OF this repub-
lie, and the very foundations of our
republic will sink away The go, 900
soldiers that had gone at the call OF
their country to fight for the honor
of their flag, and after four years OF
bloody war, without a protest, with
out a murmur, they sank peacefully
and quietly back into the occupa-
tions OF life, and you eve heard u
complaint from an old soldier so far
as his service was concerned. There
was nobody afraid of them; they
came, and they took their places by
our sides, and they have made the
very best citizens that the United
States can boast OF today.
ave have had in Montana Il regi-
ment that was organized in this
state, that has gone to the Philip
pines: the mostof them have returned;
some OF them lie over there and will
never return. These brave boyshave
barred their bosoms to the bullets Of
the enemy because they love the flag
OF their country. and would tell you,
my fellow citizens, ldon'tbelievet that
| mistake the feeling of the American
citizen when | say that wherever
these brave boys have planted that
flag there it will remain forever.
Great applause
"a paramount issue. 1t occurs to
me, my fellow citizens, ut this time
that one OF the things that wcshould
take into consideration most seri-
ously, and possibly it is the para
mount issueinthis campaign-'Rally
Round the Flag. Boys Another
thought: My Country IT'S of Thee.
Sweet Land of Liberty, OF Thee |
Sing (%Applause.l
Breaches there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land;
II such there be, go. mark him we'll
"These are thoughts, my fellow citi-
zens, that confront us in this cam
paign, and l. sincerely believe that
every man who has the good OF his
country at heart will think of them
seriously before he casts his ballot.
That Is particularly true in the state
of Montana. Weareconfronted with
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