The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-22
An Arraignnent of Republican Extravaganza
inMissOuri and in the Nation.
Low Tax Rate and Careful Management of the States Affairs
Under Democratic Administrations imperialism
and the Currency
REPuBLIc SPECIAL.


Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Felow-Citi-
Eens: I congratulate you that we assemble
to-day in this beautiful city under auspices
which assure an old-time Democratic ma
Jority In Missouri ana the election 10 me
presidency of that intrepid friend OF the
people William Jennings Bryan The Mis-
souri Democracy is also 10 be congratulatei
upon the presence of our honored SutSi,
that distinguished Democrat of'illinols, VINO
has served his party and ms country Win Win
conspicuous ability and fidelity, ana VINO
Will again preside over the DELIBERATIONS OF
the American Senate-the next Vice Presl-
dent Of the United States. Adlai h. steven
son. -,
Jeffersonian theory of government under
which this young Republic has grown to be
the greatest and most powerful nation OF
the earth, is 10 be supplanted by the e. Ham am
titonian theory. 1t Will determine the mo
ynentous issue whether the great fundamen-
tai doctrines OF republican government are
to be subverted and give place 10 govern.
mental theories resting upon 4 distrust OF
the capacity of the people for selt-goNern-
ment. 1t Will determine whether we are 10
,rent in disregard of constitutional iimtta-
tions. and thus practically surrender the
control of local affairs heretofore exercised
by the State. 1t VIII determine whether the
government OF the British Empire is prei-
cradle to the government OF the kepuollc.
The conflicting Hanliltonian and Jefferso-
MAN theories struggled for supremacy I'M
der these great leaders at the time our Gov
ernment was founded. Thomas Jefferson
was the very incarnation OF IallN IN lile III
tegrity, capacity and patriotism of the peo-
pie. Alexander Hamilton distrusted the ca
pacity OF the people Tor seii-govefnInent,
and declared that the British Government
forms the best model the world ever pro-
duced." In that tremendous contest Jel-
ferson was tbs vic Ir. Our more IMAM a
the principles of the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence, as crystaliiZed in the Gonstitu.
tien,. has witnessed the establishment ana
development OF the most wonderful Repub-
lie of all time.
The achievements of the American people
under free institutions constitute the ro-
nance of history. During our national life
political parties have arisen. played their
parts upon the stage of national politics and
passed away. Differences upon purely DO
irestic questions have appeared at almost
every period of our history. questions OF
france. taxation and other great issues
have aligned our people from time TO time
Irde- opposing political standards, but
from the days Of Hamilton until the pres
ent Republican administration no political
party has ever dared to propose colonial
system fashioned after the Empire OF Great
Britain. This is the issue rendered by Pres
ident Mckinley and the leaders Of the Re
publican party. under the gauzy subtertuge
of manifest destiny" 1t was unnecessary
that the Kansas City platform should de-
clare IL TO be the paramount issue, lot II
IS an obvious Tact.
Internal policies may be changed al any
time. Not so with this issue. 1t viii be
settled irrev5cably at the coming election.
If the American people should decide TO
surrender the Republic and establish the
English colonial system they viii be power
less TO undo that crime against liberty EN-
pires once founded are never overthrown
except by revolution.
In the great contest between Jefferson and
Hamilton. the people Were triumphant. In
this supreme crisis of our beloved country,
may the God of fathers be with US ard give
US victory as he gave II 70 ,r JeneFom Ps1,,c ana
Let US make the high resolve. in the lam
Euege of Abraham Lincoln, that the Gov
ernnent of the people shall not perish from
nf Th,-
Fellow-citizers the platforms Of both the
national and State Democracy nave been
formulated, our leaders have been chosen,
and the great jury of the people must Try
the Issues presented. ! most heartily IN
dorse our party platforms. and VIII brlefiy
review some of the issues irVoiVec IN thls
campaign.
The state Campaign.
The Republican party of this state mas
challenged the Democracy of Missouri to
the combat for State supremacy. and
therefore propose TO enter upon prleL
analysis of the records OF the opposing
parties. The people can best 1udse OF @ .ne
value and sincerity of the promises OF po-
litical parties by the records of past per-
formances- Both OF the great parties have ,
State The official records will determine
with a certainty as unerring as the Jaws
of grayitation. or the ebb and flow OF the
charged with the high responsibility of the
administration of the AFFAIRS OF this "oh-
derful State.
Ininistration of the affairs of our state
from 1865 to 1870 inclusive. The liberal Re
publican party was In power during inc
IL resumed control under the administra.
ton of Governor Silas Woodson the lst OF
january, 1873. Its control would have been
undisturbed. but for the Landslide" of 1894.
which gave three State officers ana the
House of Representatives to the control OF
Tine Tine sen Ien Ripsnbcaa pab to
the national legislature. At that time, Tor
reasons satisfactory to themselves, more
than 1900 Democrats In the State remained
at home on election day. The reasons re
lated to national rather than to state
affairs. There vii! be no stay -at-home
vote in the ranks of the aggressive DEM
ocracy OF Missouri at the coming election,
The Republican party. has invited the
Democracy to s comparison OF es}tv .
mands the most exacting scrutiny of IT'S
financial record. The Republican party
Ssnn9; escape the 9q,ein e 9I m reeord
is a record of honesty. sagacity and fru-
gality in the collection and disbursement men
record is an exhibit of wanton and corrupt
prodigality il administration. without
parallel except among the carpet-aag gov
ernments of the South Immediately Sue
ceeding the Civil War.
From January /, 1873. TO July is. 1900, the
Democrstie administraton Of MisseTTi SSIn col Col
poses sl05. 25s 1924. including the proceeds
CT the sales of renewal bonds. This money
teNCEpt 81, fi!u-'.-S IN liie 4EedSutyl' was uia-
bursed withou: the loss of . dollar to the
taxpayers, while all the various functions
OF government have been wisely admins
tered.
History of the Railroad Debt.
The State debt in 1861, when the Civil War
began, amounted to s24. 32S. ooO all of which,
except s622.ooo. was incurred by the issue OF
bonds to aid in the construction of rail,
roads. Prior to the Civil War, Missouri and
other States o.. the Union adopted the poi
icy of aiding In the construction OF trunk
linz railroads. Whenever one of the aided
roads established to the satisfaction of the
Governor that Its stockholders had actually
expended certain amount for construction
and equipment, the Governor, as authorized
by law, issued and delivered bonds TO such
road to the amount of one-raff or the money
S5 expended, the State retaining the first
lien on ali tie property of the railroad
companies, Including the lands granted by
Congress. 1t is obvious, therefore, that nc
loss was possible, except through fraud
Eight of the trunk lines of the State were
thus bond-aided. and all of them, except
the Hannibal and St Joseph Railroad. de-
faulted in the payment Of interest on tht
bonds at the BEGINNING or early In the Civi
War.
No efforts were made by the State during
tho war to collect the amounts due tht
State. These railroads cost Sfl, 100000, anC
were amply sufficient to secure the pay
ment OF the Indebtedness due the State. In
address. III January, 1866, declared that the!
We're .'ample security for the amounts ad
vanced on them respectively"
In 1859, during the administration of Gov
ernor Fletcher. the Republican Legislature
sold" the States lien on the railroads
then amounting 70 s31, ,7S5, $40, to various Re
publican politicians and promoters, and real
ICED for the State but Sc, 4ge. loss Q
SO, 3A to the taxpayers. The so-calle
.'sales" OF the railroads by the Republican
ALL 81 fv,s. ef-f4