The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-05-24
am one of those who believe than the

bringing scandal upon the nation
those things which are, in large part
destroying reverence for the constl'
/ tuition. which are undermining ouI
| institutions, which are aiding the "
rant to make his way successfully
against those who contend by brit h
right OF freedom that these things
are condemned in the great public
mind, and that when the public is in
diligently appealed to the condem-
nation of the people, let me at least
hope, will be expressed III the ballot
box.
When those in authority are be-
sotted with power, when their eyes
rest solely upon commercial aggran-
dizement, which means aggrandize-
meat for the few and not for the
many, which does not mean the up
lifting of the common toilers and
producers, but the advantage OF the
mighty corporations, the multiplying
of the millions of the millionaire
with the eye and the mind set upon
those things, the principles upon
which rest the security of republican
institutions and the welfare of man
kind are forgotten. And believe the
people will not forget. | believe that
they have in their blood the inheri-
lance of freedom. | believe that by
instinct, as well as by reason, they
will detect this formidable. reckless
movement toward the destruction of
freedom and the exploitation of ty
ranny. We cannot afford to plunge
down into the slough OF corruption.
We cannot have scandal piled upon
scandal, and the great American Re-
public the victim. We cannot have
the vast moral power of this nation
with all it's tremendous
weight in the scale of tyranny and
against liberty.
Interpreters Needed.
MANY Interpreters will have TO
come from Michigan and San Juan
to assure us of the sounaness of leg
islation which | think no man will
seriously undertake to defend, and
which almost without exception, the
thinkers of our country,
without regard to party, have con-
demned. | think it will take many
to gloss over and to ex-
plain what cannot be CLOSED over
and needs no explanation.
You have simply legislated with
out reference to the constitution
Deliberately and recklessly you did
that which you knew the constitu
ton would not authorize you to do.
Now the fruits are coming.
There must be a change, and the
change must come speedily or you
will convert this republic into an EN-
pire i'll fact if not in name. There
may be empires under republican
forms. When the people cease to
rule and the popular rights are dis
when the masses are for
gotten, when special privileges are
given to the few at the expense of the
many, when reckless power asserts
Itself and corruption follows in its
wake, you have an empire in fact,
whatever it may be in name. We
lave had the warning. We have had
he example. We are having it now.
We are passing through times which
try mems souls and ought
o test their patriotism and ought to
Lrouse their energies in defense of
heir country and its principles. The
'attle must be made against what is
wrong and what is reckless, for what
) right and what is true. and then
'ur country, being preserved, being
lsned anew where it ought to be.
'elng counted upon the side where it
elongs, We may address ourselves to
he questions of great Importance
Thlch in this wide scramble. in the
progress downward and not
pward, have been forgotten and rel
gated to the rear. (Applause.l
Washington said: Separated as
e are by a world of water from 9th
nations, we shall. if we are wise.
urely avoid being drawn into the
abyrinth of their politics and involv-
i in their destructive wars, America
lay think herself happy in having
he Atlantic for barrier. have al
-ays given it as my decided opinion