The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-04
CHARLES 4. TOW NE.

high purpose that brings you together. In
common with the great chosen representa-
tiyes q that great organization which Oc-
cupies the centre OF the allied political re-
form forces OF the nation. we have come
TO this beautiful city TO take counsel to-
gether touching the dangers that threaton
the Republic: 10 reaffirm the fundamental
principles Of human liberty and popular
Institutions: to declare the policies that
should control the legislation and admin
istration OF the Government. and 10 nom
nate candidates for President and Vice
President OF tie United States.
An Inspiring Occasion.
The whole circuit Of the year could Of
fer to this occasion no other day so aD-
Iropriate 10 its object as the fourth day OF
July. u viii De one Of the chief duties Of
these two great Conventions 70 meet the
present grave crisis N our history. due TO
the recreaucy Of Republican leadership 20
the fucGam1 ntal principles OF our lustItu-
tiOns, by prOclaiming anew the immortal
truths OF the Declaration CT Independence
and by calling upon the patriotism Of the
country to maintain and perpetuate tbs
glorious traditions OF the Republic For
a century and a quarter this Gay has been
sacred to these holy ideals. We have well
coined its advent with acclamatiOns OF Joy
We have celebrated its progress with pa
triOtic exercises. with music, sid song. and
speech. We have lighted its departure
with bOnfres and with heaven-searching
torches almost rivaling the Jrilliancy or
the stars This We have done because
OF that fstefuI Fourth Of July morning
when. ia years ago our fatksrs proclaimed
the birth of a new nation among the pow
. h. in ha -a~dz
OF the greatest Republican. conceived IL
liberty and dedicated TO the proposition
that all men are created equal Because
during every moment OF our history since
then until now the sublime proclamations
Of that Declaration have faithfully voiced
the convictions and the aspirations OF an
overwhelming majority C the American
people, and because We have always be-
Heyed as We most devoutly Go believe
today that the preservation Of this Re
public and the accomplishment OF its ms
sion of peace and liberty among the people
Of the earth depend upon the reyerent OBJ
seryance and stalwart defence by use OF
the principles thus announced by our faith
ers
-'FOrsus. as former members Of the Re-
publican party. an especial though now
melancholy interest attaches to the Dec
laration OF Independence for the reason
that when the FIRST National Convention OF
that party assembled IN the historic city
OF Philadelphia forty-four years ago last
month. the inevitable associations Of the
place and the then noble sentiments of the
party caused the adoption OF a platform OF
which the following is the first clause Of
the very first resolution:
Resolved, That the msiptenance Of the prin-
cipies promulgated IN the Declaration 81 Ind.-
pendence ard embodied in the federal Cons5itu-
ton IS essential for preservation OF Republican
institutions
The Declaration Ignored
"A few days ago another convention of
the Republican party met in the cily of
Philadelphia. the date being selected as
,esr as possible to the anniversary OF toe
Invention of 1856. But. mark this STAT
ling and most significant fact: In all the
numerous resolutions so skiHfuIIy framed
by this Convention Of 1900. there appzars
not one resolution. not one word 10. one
syllable Of reference TO the Declaration Of
independence. Could anything more c-ear.v
illustrate the decadence Of that once
splendid and patriotic OrgsnizatiCn2 The
sacred precincts OF the old colonial can't
tai sheltered for them no shade of Wash
ingtCn or Jefferson or Henry or Otis or
Rutledge or Adams. For them there was
no magic IN the name Of philadelphia .
whose very utterance has been wont to
stir the souls OF four generations OF Ameri-
cans with memories Of Independence Day,
l176. For them no precedent spoke of
June. 1856 Strange. inexplicable, that
great Contention Of Republicans could as
semble in the city of Philadelphia and re-
man deaf to the echoes of that moment
Gus history While every 'babbIIng Cos
sip OF the AIR was repeating over and over
again to these that had ears 10 hear that
al men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their creator With certain
inalienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty. and the pursuit of happi-
ness; that to secure these rights gov
sTnments are instituted among men. de-
irving their just powers from the consent
Of the governed 10 them the associations
Of the place were as dumb as the riven
throat OF old liberty bell. And so that
Convention adjourned without prcclaiming
its devotion to the doctrines whose fame
has g!oGifed and sanctified, not only the