The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-07-25

The GlObe-DemOcrat wants and then
go and do the opposite thing. 1t has
the infinite gall to talk about Bryan be-
ing dictator, when, AS a matter Of
fact, there isn't Republican Of any
respectability in the United States who
doesn't hide his head In shame every
time he thinks Of the doings of the
Philadelphia convention. Mark Hanna
was the whole thing. and everybody
knows it. The only man in that vast
aggregation Of trust pap suckers who
seems to have got from under Marks
thumb was the statesman who stole
two or three planks Of the Republican
platform which Mark had dictated. 1t
Is said that one palpitating patriot re-
ceived $1,000 for changing the word
Nicaraguan into the word isthmian in
that platform. If a Republican can
get $4,000 for changing one word in q
platform, 1t is only question of arith-
metic as to how much he would get to
change the whole 300 words.
Now, II this letter falls under the
eagle eye Of any Republican sovereign
let him recall that did not originate
the charge that part Of that platform
was stolen and has not seen the light
Of day, but 1t Is made on the authority
Of the Hon. Charles Henry Grosvenor
Of Athens, O., who is taken as McKin.
ley's .mouthpiece on the floor Of the
house Of representatives. That valor-
Gus warrior asserts openly and above
board that he has the original rough
draft Of the platform as written by
Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and
that somebody on the subcommittee to
whom 1t was given to be copied cab.
baged two or three planks. and they
did not appear in the platform that
was sent out to the country. Now, on
a question Of veracity between Gen.
eral GrOsvenor and the majority of his
Republican confrercs l prefer to be-
lieve GrOsvenor Notwithstanding the
fact that sometimes when under high
pressure the general himself is rather
economical Of the truth. SO the next
time The Globe-Democrat wants to say
anything about platform it would do
we'll enough to explain to an astounded
world all about those lost planks in the
Philadelphia platform. which are likely
to create as much discussion as the
sibylline leaves.
GrosvenOr closed his remarks about
the platform in this wise:
"Otherwise the platform, although
badly written and in poor English and
without angularity, conveys in a mild
sort OF driveling way the best ideas
Of the Republican party"
An Ideal Document.
individually l take much pleasure in
reading and pondering the Kansas City
platform, for 1t represents the ideals
In which have long believed.
On June II, 1893, in the house of rep
resentatives. fighting the annexation of
Hawaii because l believed it would
lead to infinitely worse things, inter
ALA l said: "Our institutions have in
deed been purchased with a very great
price. and yet We are about to imperil
them by entering upon vainglorious
policy Of imperial aggrandizement. gor-
geous in appearance. but surely fatal
IN It's effect. or all history Is lle"
l also feel good over the specific dec
laratiOn for 16 to l. At the big anti
trust banquet in st. Louis May %,
1899, i said: I'm 1900 we will express
the unyiclding principles of Democracy
In this wise: We will not only reafiirm
but rcadopt the Chicago platform Of
1S06. abating neither jot nor title Of
that second declaration of indcDend-
encC."
MfssOuris COn&ressmen.
One pleasant result of the census TO
Democrats everywhere will be that
Missouri will gain certainly three con-
gressmen and possibly four. and as
these will be Democrats it strengthens
the Democratic party greatly. The
fight for the first place in the Union Is
now between Missouri. Texas, New
York and Illinois, with the chances de-
cidedly in favor Of the proposition that
within the lifetime of men now living
1t will narrow down to Texas and Mis-
souri,. Any gain in these states is pure
ly gain for Democracy. At the pres
ent rate Of Increase Missouri will pass
Ohio in 1910 and will probably pass
Pennsylvania in 1920 And among the
things upon which the people should
felicltate themselves in the census this
Is the one which should bring most 10y
to Democrats.
In these letters / have frequently
held Missouri up rs an example Of ap-
Piled Democracy, performance which
/ wish to repeat now. When the Dem
ocrats came into power in this state in
1913, they found state debt of over
$26,OOO,OOO and hundreds of millions Of
county and township debts, every dol
lar OF which was created by Republic
an maladminstratiOn, miSrule and dis
honesty. During - years Of Demo-
cratic rule we have paid off most Of
the county and township debts and
have cut the state debt to $2.OOO,OOO
every cent Of which will be paid with