The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-11-02
MASTERLY ADDRESS.
David Overmyer Eloquently Out
lines the Democratic Issues.
Republican Administrators Domineered By
the wealthy Glasses and Promises Pro-
lection Only to the Rich-Nsti0n
10 In Grasp Of . Monarchy.

t0CcoOu Only 10 the RlC0-NoS1Oo
IL In Grasp Of . Monarchy.
Manhattan, Kan, Oct. 22.-BefOre
a large audience in this city. Hon.
David Overmyer, of Topeka, deliv-
the campaign from democratic
standpoint. He said: ~
At the end Of ITO years of constitu-
tiOnal life We find ourselves face to face
with questions relating to the first prin-
ciples OF government and society and In
vOlving consideration of the origin and
sources Of public powers. We are con-
fronted also with the inquiry as to wheth-
er at last ours shall be any exception to
the fate of other nations in other lands
whose institutions we have decried and
denounced. We are face to face with the
question as to whether republic can
endure the advent OF great wealth;
whether 1t can survive the corruption,
the effeminacy. the avarice. the dishonor,
sentiments and human impulses which
always follow in the wake of affiuence
and luxury.
1t has been said that the revolutionary
age in this country was an age of plain
living and high thinking. This suggests
the possibility of an age OF high living
curately describe the conduct of a large
body of influential and powerful people
in these United States at the present
, time, cannot be denied.
adopted at Kansas ci a', ON july last.
declares that in this campaign imperial
Publicans deny and make light of. They
declare that there Is no such issue; that
there Is no room in this republic for i'm
periaLIsm But Imperialism does not ask
for room. 1t makes no REQUESTS: it never
wants: it makes room for itself: 1t never
announces aus coming. but always denies
it. 1t comes with events; unheralded and
unDrOclaimed. IT cOncealS its 1Oentitv hV
every possible device; alleges its absence
when 1t - actually present and is never
tablished. Doubtless the citizens of the
Greek republics in their fancied security
imagined that there was no room in
their systems for imperialism. But from
the hour in which war-like Philip of
Macedon began the organization of the
Macedonian phalanx into a regular stand
ing army the liberties of Greece were
doomed. and it was his own son. Alexan-
der who less than a generation after.
tire civilized world. Doubtless the Roman
citizen INDUCED In the fond belief that
there was no room In the Roman republic
for imperialism, but from the moment
in which Claus Marius began the organ
ization of the Roman legiOns into a reg
ular standing army. maintained out of
the public treasury. the fate of the RO-
man republic was sealed. And in about
the space of one generation thereafter
the imperial dictator Of the Roman empire
line of emperors. And thus it has ever
been and 1t will ever be.
LARGE STANDING ARMY IS MENACE
TO PUBLIC PEACE.
A large standing army is a constant
menace to the peace of any country. Its
very existence Is a temptation to exert
its power, and the country to which it
in war upon slight provocation. or no
proyocation. and thus the peace of the
world is impertled Unjust wars are en-
DrODRrtV
happiness of the human race sacrificed to
satisfy .ne ambition. of reckless. violent
of nations In their hands. At the last con-
gress bill was passed through the house
of representatives by republican votes.
the democrats. voting against 1t. fncreas-
Ing the standing army of the United
States to 100000 men, It was defeated in
sent ons tbe
rotary of war would recommend to the
coming congress the passage of such a
part Of the administration to increase the
100000 men. At the outbreak of the civil
States consisted Of q. Oo0 men, At Its close
when the volunteer army was disbanded
1sssa but OF sss
we enlisted more than 100000 of men
In the union army during that war and
cd in history and at its close we return
ed them to the ways of peace. proves
beyond question that the republic is not
In need Of large standing army. Our
fathers who formed our institutions un-
derstood this very well and so they made
no express provision In the constitution
for q standing army. and the practice Of
the government for more than 100 years
proves conclusively that all Of our states
men in the past have construed the con-
stitution as not authorizing a large stand
ing army. ! do not mean to say that the
very small army which we have hereto
fore maintained Is an unlawful body.
NATION SHOULD RELY UPON CITI-
ZEN SOLDIERS.
While the constitution nowhere recog-
nizes a standing or regular army. it shows
distinctly that the expectation of its
trainers was that the reliance Of the ma
ton should be upon q citizen soldiery.
Among other powers conferred upon con-
gresS is power ITO provide for organiz-
ing, arming and disciplining the militia
may be employed in the service Of the
United States, reserving to the states re-
spectively the appointment of the officers
and the authority of training the militia
congress" Sec. Art. l, constitution Of
the Unite,I States.
The second amendment to the consti-
tuition provides that "a we'll regulated
of a free state. the right of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be in
fringed."
These provisions show plainly that the
fathers of the republic understood well
the whole theory Of public powers; They
the principle that all power Is inherent in
the people. all power must. therefore.
be exercised by or kept under control
OF the people, or 1t would pass out of the
all forms Of power the military was the
one which II not kept under the stricteSt