Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-07-05
DEMOCRATIC PROSPECTS.
Ex-G0v. AItgeld Gives HIS Views at
the Illinois State Con-
vention.

-
In answer to an u~proarious demand
for a speech at the Illinois state demo-
cratic convention, Springfield. June "a,
ex-Gov. John p. Altgeld said:
In my opinion. the prospects of carry
ing Illinois this fall are far better than
they were in June, 1852 The country Is
you that there are several millions OF
men In the republican party of this
country who. were with 1t when 1t wa
a great moral force under Lincoln that
struments in the hands of Mark Hanna
We have got away from the basic princi-
pie OF republican government and our
people do not vet fully understand IL.
and then the democracy will esrry ana
rule this country for so Yeas 10 come.
Let me say to you there is no question
of expansion before the American people.
1t is a misnomer. IL is Misrepresentation
The democratic party has been the
party of expansion. We expanded In lAS
and got Louisiana We expanded in 1873
and got Florida; we expanded In 1SsS ana
got Texas; We expanded in 1873 and got
New Mexico. But In every instance the
treaty provided that the territory was
to be a part of this republic and that
the inhabitants were to be citizens OF
this republic. That was expansion: that
was growth; that was development; that
was craftsmanship: that was broadening
out the declaration of Independence IL
was giving more people the benefit OF our
constitution and of our institutions; IL
was a blessing to humanity. But the
course of the administration now looks
to no such results. President Mckinley
over a year & asked congress to give
a standing army of 1000 men. increas-
ing 1t from 1000 to 1o0.000. Why? Be
cause We were going to embark in the
colonial policy with England to govern
people by brute force and having there
fore a need of the same kind of ma
chinery that they use in Europe to crush
the aspirations of men.
The time has come when We must
have a change in America or republican
institutions will be at an end. We ma
the age calling for manhood, calling for
something like policy, cali
ing for men and not for politicians. IL
Is asking hat we step up on high ground
and that we deal honestly with all Ques-
tons. We see the men S4ho ounded the
republican party; We see such men as
Senator Boutwell,, Senator Hoar,
ident Harrison and Tom Reed and hosts
of the great men who made that party
calling a halt and saying this policy
must be checked or we are destroyed,
There are hundreds of thousands OF men
in America who do not agree with US
on some economic questions, but they are
now coming onward. represented by
such men as Carl Schurz. and declaring
they will support our candidate because
they have confidence in his integrity.
They have no confidence. in the president
because he cannot be relied on.
1T is this fact that gives us our
strength to-day. Do not lose sight OF
that for one minute. II our great leader
had hesitated one moment during the
last four years 1t would have destroyed
him and he would no longer be the IDOL
of the American people that he Is 10 TO-
day. He would no longer command the
confidence of those men and he would
be looked upon as a politician, which
would end his career. II We are true
to our colors and principles and stand
firm, thus commanding the respect ana
confidence of the men who diner with
us on economic questions. then the ides
of November will witness q victory thai
will not leave seven states In the repup-
lican column.
you are going to make a declaration
of principles here to-day. but do not for
get that Illinois is looked upon as the
bell-wether state of America. What you
insert in your platform here Is going 10
be scanned all over this republic. IL Is
therefore important that you see to IL
that the democracy of this great state
does not finch. We have a great future.
1 believe, just as firmly as / see you
here, that If we are true to ourselves
we will rally to our support not oniy the
enthusiastic young men of our country,
but the middle aged also. DO not ior-
get that every man who can be pur-
chased, every man who can be reached
by selfish motives will be against US.
Mark Hanna's great Shiny hand win
come down upon the whole brood OF
them and gobble them up. The hope OF
democracy lies in a different direction.
In the first place. the great army that
could not be bought in 1896 Is still stand
ing and anxious for the fray. Again. our
strength lies in the fact that the patriotic
intelligence of America, the men who be-
lieve in the declaration of Independence.
the men who believe in human freedom
and equality, these men are all coming
toward us. Our strength lies in the
dynamic force of proper ideas and In
the concentrated power of Justice. two
forces that have never yet been ar
rested and which nave given the world
its civilization. These are the two forces
upon which we depend, and they are SO
ing to give us victory"