New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-23
THE OREGON'S BUILDER SPEAKS.
TRATION BY IRVING NJ SCOTT
DEMOCRACY INVITES TO
POLICY OF INGRATITUDE
AND MADNESS


San Francisco. June % (specaD-Irving NJ
Scott president Of the Union Iron Works, the
builder OF the battleship Oregon, said:
"Only a reckless and improvident master, for
the qualification OF a whim would part with a
faithful servant whose Administration has
brought honor. wealth and prosperity. The
world would declare such a man mad indeed
II he should replace that servant with one whose
prior employment had been fruitful of failure
productive of discomfort and marked by forbid
ding years of commercial and industrial de-
preston. Yet such IS the wild and III advised
course that Organism urges with mock patriot
ism upon the American people-a course the
sober intelligence of the Republic Will and must
refuse to pursue.
The smokeless chimneys of the silent fac
tories that marked the misrule of Democracy
breathed mute but eloquent impeachment Of
that misguided party's policies. Note the con-
trast. To-day, under the wise guidance Of a
master hand, chosen as the standard bearer Of
the greatest political party earth, voorhees,
labor no longer jostles hunger on the street or
elbows with despair toward Populism suicide
The skies are silhouetted with the words
Mckinley and Prosperity" written and rewrit
ten in smoke from busy mills and factories
Cheerful industry finds profitable employment
and for the willing hand OF brawny toll there
waits q sledge q shovel. a loom a lathe.
1T is beyond my comprehension how any
man with a grain OF common sense, with a
memory strong enough 10 carry recollection back
TO the dark period Of q Democratic rule, can
permit either his private prejudice or his party
zeal his small antagOnism or his individual
theories Of government, 10 so warp his judgment
as TO permit him in the broader affairs Of the
Nation 10 violate and forsake the cOmmUnest
rule dictated by common sense. I have firm
and abiding faith in the intelligence Of the
American people. When that faith is destroyed
frnf=10 lie
degree my confidence in the Republic itself
But being firm and sincere in that faith, it Is
inconcetvable that cheap and tawdry appeals TO
passion and 70 prejudice VIII outweigh lnleILl-
gence or lead the American people TO forsake
that which they know to be good for that which
they know to be bad.
The growth Of manufactures, the steady and
healthy increase Of wages, the swelling exports
and the long train Of benefits that have blessed
the State and Nation under President McKin-
ley's Administration familiar 10 every
schoOlboy in the land as are the brilliant achieve
ments Of our Army and Navy. These things do
not need exploring at my hands. Dun staustlcs
viii carry 70 the mechanic. the farmer, the
merchant or the manufacturer any fresh or re
newed sense Of his obligations 10 this Admins
tration. The dollars that Jingle in the pockets
Of labor speak stronger than words or figures.
The frightening invoice and multiplying bills Of
lading tell 10 the merchant the story that he
would hear. The ready market for agriculture
tells TO husbandry the tale of better times. The
roar Of the furnace. the singing OF the anvil the
jar Of sedge the deep laden vessels outward
bound. burdened with products Of farm and fac
that none misunderstood and none can disre-
gard.
The question you PROFOUND to me is this:
Would il be wise for the American people to
change the present Administration and forsake
the policies that have brought much 20 these
United States| Would IL be wise for a man TO
pull down his house about his ears? Would II
be wise TO abandon all that makes for the great
ness OF nation. all that makes for the better
ment Of the welfare OF its people, all that makes
for honor all that makes for conservative, hon
est Government, 70 take up with q thing which
in the past has proved itself unfit and in the
future promises only 10 do worse than It has
/ ever done befOre2
TO state these questions IS TO answer them,
and the American people viii record their votes
. next November in a numbering, positive and
unmistakable Nor that will forever bury the
. dread and fear Of Organism and the unwhole-
some brood Of evils that atter1 il"