Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-01
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Governor Roosevelt Has Something to
Say About It.
From Speech before the National Republican
League at st. Paul, Mimi

League NJ 81 Iuui, MIMI
We have come here to begin the work of
campaign more vital to American inter-
ests than any that has taken place since
the close Il the Civil war. We appeal not
only to republicans, but to all good citi-
zens who are Americans In fact as we'll as
In name, to help us in e-eiecting President
Mckinley. 1t was, indeed, OF infinite
Importance to elect him four years ago.
Yet the need is even greater now. Every
reason that then obtained in his favor
obtains now, and many more have been
added. Four years ago the success OF the
populistic democracy would have meant
fearful misery, fearful disaster at home;
it would have meant the shame that is
worse even than misery and disaster.
To-day it would mean all this, and in
addition, the Unreasonable disgrace OF
abandoning the proud position we have
taken Of fiinching from the great work
we have begun. President Mckinley has
more than made good all that he promised
or that was promised on his behalf, and
as the smoke clears away we see how
utterly trivial are the matters because Of
which his administration has been criti-
cised when compared with the immense
substantial gains for American honor and
interest which, under that administration,
have been brought about. We appealed
for President Mckinley before asserting
what he would do II President, from our
knowledge Of what he had done in lesser
positions. Now weappeal for him, asking
that the promise OF second term be
judged by the performance Of his first,
ana pledging that the wonderful work SO
triumphantly begun in his first term shall
in his second be carried to an even more
triumphant conclusion.
eve ask support for President McKin-
ley because OF what he has actually done,
Of what he now stands for and typifles
and because OF the marvellous work that
has been accomplished under his admin
istration. We ask the support Of all
upright citizens because against him are
arrayed the forces OF chaotic evil; because
OF the breeding menace to our moral and
industrial welfare which Is implied in
the present attitude and purpose OF the
populistic democracy.
1--WE know definitely what we believe,
and we say 1t outright. Our opponents,
who represent all the forces Of discomfort,
malice and envy, formed and formless,
vague and concrete, can hardly be said to
know what they really do believe, because
the principles they profess, II put forth
markedly, are so revolving, even to their
ff,Ilo hat bav NJ laos tn
try-to wrap the mantle Of hypocrisy
around them.
"rhey rant about trusts, but they have
nothing practica bic to advance In the way
OF remedy; nor is this to be wondered at
when one of the makers of their platform,
the representative from New YORK and
the leader Of their organization in New
York, are both themselves among the
most prominent stockholders In the worst
trust to be found to-day in the United
States, the ice trust, which has justly ex-
posed itself to the criticism our opponents
often unjustly apply to every form OF
industrial effort.
They have invented the imaginary
danger OF imperialism, and about that
tuty hlsO rave. el 81 CousCiOuS hIc tASy
OF they OF the hollowness Of their attack,
SO well aware that to follow out their
professions would mean to trail the Amer
lean flag In the dust, that they are obliged
to pretend that really, after all, they are
for expansion.
"After infinite labor they finally did
decide that they still believed in free
ma,
their committee by a vote Of 26 to "a, SO
that it appears that they only have 81 per
cent. OF faith in their forty-eight-
dollar after all. Even this amount OF
faith they were able to reach purely by
the aid OF Hawaii, and yet four years ago
they objected as much to our expansion
over Hawaii as they now object to our
expansion over the Philippines! There is
an element OF grim comedy in these
builders having now perforce to take the
once rejected stone to make out OF it the
foundation of their new platform.
"Their only unequivocal position is
that in favor OF free silver at ratio Of 16
to /; for they have sough at least to make
the pretence OF qualifying or at least OF
clouding what they mean when they ask
for the relaxation of the bonds of justice
and order and the abandonment OF our
position as great nation manfully doing
its part in the world work that must be
done by all great nations. True to their
nature, they have sought to subordinate
the one issue on which they take a deci-
sive stand, and they declare that they
have subordinated the question of free
silver to other questions.
Now, as matter OF fact, they cannot
decide which one OF their various heresies
the people shall regard as most important.
The decision rests with the people them
selves; and those who are primarily
interested in our financial honesty and
industrial well-being cannot and will not
admit that any possible difference is
caused by putting the free silver plank