The Irish standard., 1900-07-21
FIRST SHOT OF THE CAMPAIGN.

Last tuesday evening, Governor The
odore Roosevelt, OF New York, the Re-
publican candidate for vice president,
opened the campaign in St. Paul before
large and enthusiastic audience. His
speech occupied over an hour in its de-
livery, and the greater portion OF it was
abuse OF the Democratic party and its
principles. He made no attempt at ar
gument and spoke in coarse language
bordering on vulgarity and redolent OF
the plains. Though the keynote of his
speech was expansion he said nothing
on the subject that people did not know
before. He did not think it worth
while to waste any time upon what the
Kansas City people call imperialism and
militarism," and therefore he made no
attempt to discuss them. In fact, he
discussed nothing. His speech consist
cd Of statements without any substan-
tiation. Among other things he said:
AT Kansas City the men engaged in
preaching the gospel of dishonor and
reputation solemnly asserted that i'm
perialism abroad will lead quickly and
inevitably to despotism at home You
men OF Minnesota and the Dakotas who
are here this evening can appreciate
the fatuousness Of that statement by
the simple process OF thinking whether
your liberties have been abridged by
the return OF the Minnesota and Da-
kota troops who won such honor for
themselves in the Philippines
There are gcometrical propositions
so essentially absurd that mathcmati-
clans hold their statement to be equiv
alcnt to their rcfutation. So it is with
this proposition. II it were worth
while | would point out its dishonesty
and insinccrity. But fragrant though
these are. its absurdity is so much more
llagrant that nothing need be said. So
1t is with their cant about militaris,n.
and intimidation and oppression at
home as following what they are
pleased to call conquest abroad We
cannot argue will, them on this propo-
sltlon, because no serious man thinks
Tor one moment they believe what they
assert"
The rough rider believed that the
Democrats were dishones, and insin-
ccrc, and for that reason he spoke Of
them in the most contcmp!uous phrases
he could coin to elicit applause from
his partisan listeners. He seemed to
forget that Republican leaders have
protested vigorously against the Phil
ippine and Porto Rican policy OF WI
liam Mckinley. Senator IIoar predict
ed the downfall OF the republic ii the
imperial policy is carried out. Ex-Scn-
ator Edmunds has denounced it. So
has Carl Schurz, Thomas Bracket
Reed and Senator Hale. OF Maine. are
opposed TO it. So are many other prom
incnt Republicans whose names will oc-
cur TO the reader. Are these Rcpub-
licans dishonest and insincerc? The
leading gold Democrats who cam
paigned for Mckinley in 1906 are op-
posed to imperialism Edward Akin
son. Prof. Laughlin and Bourlc Cock
ran arc dcnouncing imperialism in all
the modes and lenses. They were hon
est and sincere i'll 1906; arc they dis
honest and insinccrc in 1000?
The two United States senators from
Minnesota listened to Teddys TRADE
They voted against the tariff on Porto
R'can products in accordance with the
plain duty" message OF William Nc
Kinley Were they dishonest and in
sincere in doing so? They must be if
the rough rider is to be believed. Was
William Mckinley dishonest and insin-
cere when he said that forcible annex
alton is criminal aggression, and is he
honest and sincere when he undertakes
to rule alien peoples by military force?
Are Democrats "damphools" for be-
lieving in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and the constitution of the United
States?
What is imperialism? A system of
government by imperial authority such
as that which prevailed in the thirteen
original colonies under the British ty-
rant, George III. of infamous memory.
How does the government of Porto