The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-07-06

4
who will carry the standard We piac
In his hands, even as the Riacl
Douglas carried the sacred cake
that enclosed the heart of Bruce.
He must not declare gor fre
trade with Porto Rico. and then a
the persuasive suggestion of t!si
sugar and tobacco trust, sign BIZ
providing for a tariff on the pro
ducts of that island.
He must not denoGace O policy a
one of terminal aggression ans
then at the demand ofA power be
hind the throne, pursue the policy
he has 90 denounced.
He must mot, while protesting op
position to combines and conspira
cies against trade, send his ennis
saries to the trust baron's castle tc
beg, like Lazarus at Dives gate, fol
subscriptions to his campaign.
He must not lend the moral sup.
port of his administration to mon
archy in-its- efforts to destroy a re-
public. But he must ever sympa-
thize with a people struggling for
the right of seif-government.
Instead of the republican pc clicy of
nlono-metallism, he must offer
the free and unlimited coinage of
the money metals of the constitu-
ton, the gold, that polished the
winged sandals of Hermes, and the
silver that glitters in the bow Of
Diana.
Instead of panic-breeding, credit
currency, controlled by the bank
trust, he must offer government pa
per controlled by the people.
He must be able to distinguish be-
tween Democratic expansion and
Republican imperialism. The fret 10
a natural growth by the addition Of
contiguous American territory. into
every foot of which 10 carried the
constitution, the flag and the deca-
logue, and over the shoulders OF
every inhabitant OF the added terri
tory 10 thrown a purple robe of
citizenship. 1t is
growth that has added eighteen stars
to the field of blue in the Banner
OF the Free" to symbolic the states
that have been carved from terri
tory, annexed to the domain of this
nation, by the wisdom and states
manship of the democratic party;
this is an expansion that is bound
ed on the north by the Constitution
of the United States, on the east by
the Monroe doctrine, on the south
by the Declaration of Independence
and on the west by the Ten Com
How different Is this from the
bandit policy of Republican imperi-
alism, with its standing army, and
bayonet rule of conquered provinces;
it's government of sullen subjects
against their will, by force and
fraud; it's denial to them of the pro-
lection of the constitution or tbs
command which says Thou shalt
not steal''-a policy that would send
our Uncle Sam off his American
range with a cowboy hat, a rope
and a branding iron to rustic and
brand-over all the loose islands OF
the Orient, while hypocritically,
chanting the long-metered doxology.
Democratic skies are tinged with
roster hue today than when we met
in convention four years ago. Then
q financial cataclysm had spread
over the country. and although its
every inducing cause was easily
traced to errors and follies of the
Republican party, yet we were in
power when it came, and were
wrongly held responsible for the
wreck of shattered fortunes which
followed in its wake. Torn asunder
by dissensions within, and disasters
without, our party faced a gloomy
and foreboding future which seemed
to augur its dissolution. The prob
lem then was TO select a standard
bearer bold enough to cover the rear
of a retreat and save the party from
destruction, if not from defeat.
While discord with her flaming
torch confused the counsels there
from out the sunset realm n cham
pion came and bid defiance to the
oncoming host. With the strength
of youth, and the wisdom of age,
with knightly mien and matchless
speech, he lowered above his peer,
and all who saw him then, with one
accord, did hail him "Chief," and
gave our party's banner to his hand.
Slowly despair gave way to hope
confidence took the place where tim
orous feet had been; the broken,
shattered columns formed again
and behind him, singing, came six
million FIVE hundred thousand vail
ant men to that unequal fight.
And the story of how well be
fought, how fearlessly he fell, and
how dearly the enemy's victory wal
bought, has all gone out into history
now.
Back from his First Battler hs
came, baffied but tunconque.ed hero
OF the right of man. Conscious o.
| the rectitude of his purpose, anC