Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1900-02-09
THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

I THE MAN OF THE HOUR.
The man Of the hour, earnest defend
or Of the principles OF republican gov
ernment, ablest and sincerest champion
Of the American people, admired by all
\ patriots for his intense zeal for the pre-
servationof the principles immortalized
by the founders of the great republic,
D and make conspicuous by the bitterness
with which he is attacked by tories ia
an age when toryism writes treason in
the nations law-the man of the hour,
\ Hon R. F. Pettigrew, of South Dakota.
It is trying time in national affairs,
time for coolness, honesty courage,
quick wit, experience, ability, patriot
ism-and Senator Pettigrew has all
these attributes. Senator Pettigrew is
himself the very storm center. What
has he done? Simply this, that from
his seat in the senate as a representative
SfA stale of the union he has insisted
Id demanded that the American people
shall know the trnth and the whole
truth about the war which was inaug-
urated Dec 81, 1898, by President Nc
Kinley and is not yet ended, and all the
train of evil consequences following
that warincluding the dangerous depar-
ture from the foundation principles Of
republican government by return to col
onialism, militarism and Imperialism.
Senator Pettigrew has demanded that
the ban Of secrecy be removed from the
words, actions and purposes of an ad-
ministration direlict in it's duty to the
people it is sworn to serve.
Senator Pettigrew has defended the
principles Of the Declaration of 1nde-
pendence. For this he has been de-
nounced as traitor. He has insisted
upon obeying the constitution and for
this he has been charged with giving
comfort to alleged enemies of his coun-
sHkewords of the martyred Lincoln
4 yre quoted by Senator Pettigrew in
J sapport Of the principle of political
equality for all men, and forthwith the
servile idolators of an administration
that has legalized slavery under the
stars and stripes denounce the senator
as an enemy of human liberty.
Senator Pettigrew lifted his voice in
defense of American institutions, Amer
ican ideas, the American home, and
with one accord, every sycopha ntic de-
fender of president who has guaran-
teed the protection Of the American
flag to polygamous autocra,, Joined
in chorus of vituperation like that
which greeted the abolition pioneer of
forty years ago.
Why all this unseemly wrath? The
answer is easy. Widespread suspicion
Of the conduct and motive Of the presi-
dent and his immediate advisers prev
ails There is general belief that there
has been such an Abandonment of the
principles of republicanis1n as to prac-
telly constitute treason to the
perican people. The administration
~ met all Inquiries by resort to the
censorship TIE administrations agents
have CIRCULATED notoriously untrue
statements. The cable has been used
freely at public expense to convey across
the ocean and continents the most dis
torted and dishonest dispatches which
conscienceless imitators Of monarchial
supporters could devise. The seal of
secresy placed upon the history of the
origin, growth and triumph Of an i'm
perialistic policy, was not toprotect the
the nation from foreign foe, for no
state of the union has been threatened.
The administration has resorted to des-
perate measures to maintain secrecy, to
prevent discussion, to silence inquirers,
to throttle those who would contend
that principles are immortal.
What Senator Pettigrew has done,
and it is for this and this alone that he
has been denounced, to insist that the
truth be published SO the American
people may know and judge for them
selves if their servants have been faith
fuiyto their vows and mindful of the
principles upon which free government
azef founded.
& 1t would be different if the admins
tracion could or would meet Senator
Pettigrew with arguments or defense.
It does not. Its spokesman dare not
attempt proof that the principles of the
Declaration of independence are out
grown. Only few of them claim that
the conditional provisions for self gov
ernment need revision. They have re-
sorted to the towards weapons-mis-
representation, abuse, vituperation,
SANDER. They have exhausted their
vocabulary of slang and profanity, All
Ala:. 1lo;oon4 kill n "a hos hnnn