The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09


Republic there assembled in Kansas City
the most intensely American convention
that ever came together in It's history.
This great body was made up OF men from
every State and Territory in the Union.
They came from their respective districts
filled with unfelgned enthusiasm for the In
EDiring cause which brought them together.
Their seven millions Of constituents had
empowered them 20 frame platform OF
principles and select candidate FOR Presi-
dent and Vice President OF the United
States in what they conceived 10 be the
supremest political crisis that ever came
10 our country. These delegates all realized
that the Republic was in peril. They FELT
that the duty was theirs TO take such ac-
SioE would rescue the state from the ;
gulf of Imperialism in which IL has been
plunged and thus preserve for themselves
and posterity unimpaired the priceless
blessings Of free government and civil I'D
crty. You see before you to-day commit
tee OF delegates from that convention, and
for whom / speak. upon which Is represent
ed each State and Territory, whose duty IL
Is to convey to you in formal manner the
notification that the august assembly
have mentioned, acting for its members.
their constituents, and for all who love and
cherish liberty everywhere, with no dis
scnting voice, chose you as the candidate
FOR President and adopted platform OF
principles upon which the campaign We
now are inaugurating shall be conducted.
The declaration of party principles enun-
ciated / now have the honor to present to
you. Here the duties OF our committee
might with propriety end, but beg indul-
gence for a few minutes.
The delegates assembled at Kansas City
did not take haSty action. Their conduct
was characterized by the greatest firmness
and determination. In the alarming condi-
tion In which the country has been placed
by the present weak and vacillating and
un-American administration at Washington
they RELAXED do our fellow-citizens gen
orally. that a change of men and policies
IS imperiously demanded. They proceeded
deliberately and chose you to lead in the
battle for the restoration of the true po-
ntical faith.
Four years ago you led the party in the
most brilliant contest il has expert
enced. You then failed TO win the goal, the
presidency, but you did more; you won the
respect and admiration of your political
foes and the ardent love and devotion of
your followers That contest was made by
You against stupendous odds, in the face
OF hostile press, and with unhappy divi-
sion in your ranks. / congratulate you and
the country that all these unfortunate con-
ditions do not confront you to-day. It is
true you were then bitterly, sometimes
wantonly, assailed, and when partisan ran
cor ran high occasionally coarse things
were said of you and your party. But you
and they survived them all, and were per-
haps stronger for them. We trust this
campaign Will be pitched on higher plane
and that it Will be conducted in manner
worthy of the great dignity which attaches
20 the two most exalted offices at stake.
II is true that you and your party friends
have already been characterized as dishon-
est and lawless at home, and as towards
abroad feel sure however, 1t will stop
at this or. at least, if such hyperbolic flow
crs of speech are used at all, ii will be in
rare instances, and only then by someone
whose coarse manners before the public
are equaled only by the roughness of his
riding habit.
EVENTFUL CAMPAIGN.
During the eventful and exciting cam
paign of 1896 you were constantly before
the public. The eyes of the Nation were
they were never before upon public man.
Then. and in all times since, you have been
under a light as glaring as the sun at high
noon. yet no flaw of dishonor or cowardice
Is pointed out in your record by the foe.
Review and criticism have wholly failed
10 ipjure or weaken you in public esteem.
And now you are. with absolute unanimity,
by every State, Territory and district in
the Union, made the candidate of the re-
united and harmonious party. You arc by
all real Americans regarded the best
exponent of the faith of our fathers, which
was articled in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and sealed by the blood of
patriots. We deny that the Declaration is
back number. We solemnly affirm that,
by the faithful il is yet venerated as the
erandest charter of human rights and hui
man liberty ever devised by man. The
lust of greed and power breaches contempt
for its superb doctrines. but we hold it as
the only guiding star by which ship
of state can be safely sailed. We know
that IL has served our purpose we'll and
glOriously until of late when another star.
the star of Imperialism, has been selected
as the great guide of our course.
The platform which 1 handed you is a
new Declaration OF independence. You will
IL takes no step backward upon any
issue or party creed heretofore pronul-
gated. II soIemnly affirms that the ques-
ton OF imperialism is the paramount issue
OF this campaign. This declaration did not
make IL so. but only gave recognition to
an admitted fact The Republicans have
made IL the issue which in this campaign
overtops all others. They may well en-
deavor 10 run away from it. as they are do
ing. but they cannot escape II. by their
fruits ye shall know them," was the best
philosophy nineteen hundred years ago,
and IL Is the best now.
Imperialism consists I'm levying upon the
people and collecting from them unequal
taxes. IT consists in levying taxes on one
territory of the United States, and not levy
ing the same on the other portions thereof.
The Constitution says that all taxes shall
be uniform throughout the United States.
The power TO tax is the power to destroy.
When those i'm power proceed as they have
by rece.aJ acts OF Congress, to construct
tariff wall against one territory and thus
exclude its products from other territories
and States of the Union, seek to dodge as
they may, they exercise imperial power.
No king or emperor can do more. They
cannot do the acts and deeds which can
only be done In a kingdom or an empire
there is no issue of Imperialism. The plat
form declares that Imperialism means con-
quest abroad and oppression at home; il
means the strong arm or the military, and
its concomitant, great standing army
which has ever been fatal TO all free
institutions. Ii was this that drove from
Europe to our shores millions of Eel
low-eitizens, and which is a constant men
ace 20 the liberties OF the people. Large
standing armies have place i'm re-
public An imperial government can only
be maintained by brute force, and without
mlitarism Imperialism cannot exist The
union or mating of the two brings forth
CaesariSm. whether under that or some
other name. Imperialism means death te
democracy and republicanism. II means
more swords and fewer plowshares? Mili.
tarism means death TO self-government
and more spears and fewer pruning hooks
CALLED a MONSTER
In the great battle upon we will make
the fight thickest and hottest upon this
monster imperialism. which always feeds
upon the life blood OF liberty The cause
you represent. sir. is humanity. The high
est duty OF humanity is To help others TO be
free The just punishment OF people thai
enslave and rule over another is the loss
OF their own liberty. for a democracy can.
not be an empire and remain both.
The platform also declares unceasine
warfare in nation. state and city against
frr,e+e aud private