Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-03

speech delivered at Toledo, the even
ing of the LIST instant. before the Ohio
Association of Democratic Clubs, by
Hon. John p. Altgeld, of Illinois:
There are only two principles or sys-
TENS OF government known to man
government by brute force and gov
eminent by consent of the governed.
The one is applied from without and
is repressive. and, In the end, destruc-
tive, because 1t arrests growth; while
the other works from within. Is eyolu
tionary and progressive
government by force has existed for
thousands OF years. and its tendency Is
everywhere the same. 1t has checked
Srowtn. arrested development. cowed
the nobler aspirations of man. stunted
the intellect. and covered the earth
with suffering and misery
government by consent of the gov
erned stimulates the higher aspira-
lions of man. Under this system of
government the people reach their
higher capabilities. not in one line, but
In all lines. They reach the highest
standard of manhood and womanhood,
the highest ideals of Justice and hui
man felicity; and the nations of the
earth have been great in proportion as
they recognized the principle of free
dom.
The principle of government by con-
sent OF the governed was first applied
in Its broadest sense in the formation
OF the Republic. and 1t worked n revo-
luton in human society. 1t has given
The world more progress in ono CEN
fury than 1t achieved In the so or 60
centuries OF recorded time.
MARVELLOUS DEVELOPMENT.
Not only has this given us the mar
Vicious development of the American
continent, but 1t has made US the most
potential nation on the globe. For n
third OF century our nation has been
don the principles that made us great,
not through it's armies, or Its navies, or
its display OF material splendor. or its
brute force; but through It's high ideals,
through its high standards of Justice
II has commanded the respect, the con-
fidence and admiration of mankind,
and has drawn after 1t all the peoples
OF the earth.
We have seen the spectacle of q
major general of the United States
army, who was sworn to defend the
Constitution and was paid salary
by the government for that purpose.
stand up in his gorgeous uniform and
tell an assembly of wine drinking mag
mates that the constitution was no lon
ger binding.
Now after Il career of unparalleled
splendor, after having been the hope
OF the human race for n century, after.
having shaped the civilization of the
age. 1t Is so1emnly proposed to aban-
don the principles that made us great.
to come down from the heights where
we have been reckoning the nations,
and TO get on the lower plane of brute
force, and enter into scramble with
the despotic nations of the earth in an
attempt to plumber weaker people. In
credible as IT may seem, at the close
of this marvellous century, which is the
child OF the Declaration of Indepen-
dence. we are asked to go back to those
principles which have cursed the world
for thousands OF years. and which, If
again given sway. will bring back the
dark ages"
REPUBLICAN POLICIES.
For forty years the Republican
party has controlled the policies of this
Government. while during that time
the Democrats twice elected a Presi-
not have control of Congress, and
during the other nothing was done that
changed the policy of the Govern
ment. 1 wish to speak kindly of the
Republican party; it came into the
world with great mission. and when
guided by Lincoln 1t stood for justice,
equality and humanity; but with the
wiping out of slavery It's mission was
performed and it passed into the hands
of corruptionsts until 1t stands for
exactly the opposite principles of those
that were represented by the martyr
President.
Since the civil war every method of
plumber that genius of man could in
vent has been practiced: government
has been used to enrich the few.
THE TRUSTS.
Through the special privileges OBJ
tanned from the government great COM
binations and syndicates known as
trusts have been formed. which are
to-day devOuring the substance of the
American people. which control every
great industry. all the means of trans
portatiOn, control the money of the
country, have destroyed the small, in
dependent men of the land; have de-
stroyed the hopes of the young men of
the land; have made an independent
and honorable career for young man
impossible.
Every trust in America is fighting
the Democratic platform. Even the
alleged Democratic stockholders on the
Republican ice trust in New York. con-
trolled by Tom Platt's son. are fighting
our platform. Why? If they thought
we would not overthrow the trusts
they would not fight us. Trusts do not
fight for nothing. The trusts consti-
tute the head, the shoulders, the spine,
the limbs and the soul of the Republi-
can party of to-day. They own. con-
troll and direct 1t. They have erased
every great motto from Its banners and
have substituted n vulgar dollar mark.
The men who to-day speak for the Re-
publican party, as rule, arc mere
trust creatures. who have to change
their song every moon in defense of
their masters and secret employers.
On the other hand. the trusts are
only speck on the tail of the Demo-
cratic party. and It Is doing it's best to
lash thom off. In order to perpetuate
their power the trusts are now raising
millions of dollars to help Mark Hanna
dsbauch the American elections. Will