The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-05

next November that you keep your eye
I on the old badger state of Wisconsin
plause). The Wisconsin Democrats
are fighting Democrats. We have been
| carrying meat axes around under our
coat tails for the last forty years
| daughter and applause). The Demo-
Gratis of that state today, one and all,
are engaged in sharpening their meat
axes (applause). Four years ago the
| leaders of our party, those who had
been elevated to places of trust and
| high position, deserted US A new DEM
| ocracy sprang up (applause), Dem
ocracy that stood for a new hope, that
stood for a new political creed, imbued
with a new energy and a new ambition.
That Democracy is in the saddle to
fight for the old principles of Jefferson.
personified in the Jefferson of this day,
the Hon. William Jennings Bryan Zap
plause).
We have been asking our Republican
friends questions. We want to know
what they propose to say to the people
OF Wisconsin among whom are largely
represented the people of that foreign
country that has felt the stings of mil
itarism. We want to know what they
propose to do with US when the volun-
teer system will no longer supply our
armies in foreign service We want
them to say to us whether they propose
to engraft upon our constitution a syS-
tenn of compulsory miIitarism. If they
do not propose to do that then we ask
them how they expect to retain possess
sion of the territory which they say now
belongs to US and which they admit
can only be kept under control by a
standing army. We want them to an
Swer the people and if they are so much
opposed to the trust organizations that
are now dominating the finances. the
industries and the commerce of our
country, that, although they have had
three congresses, not one syllable of
remedial legislation have they given to
us. (Applause) They have had the OPP
portunity and we can only read the
pledge of the Philadelphia platform III
the light of their history during the
last three years That history gives the
lie to their promises (Applause)
There is a great army of voters NOT
only in Wisconsin, but in the United
States scattered everywhere that con-
Stitute the balance of voting power.
That great army is inclined in our d.
rection (renewed applause) The prin-
ciples of the platform that will be
adopted at this convention covering the
questions that have sprung up since the
last national convention convened are
perfectly familiar to them. / refer to
the great army of German voters Of
this country. Great applause) Thir-
ty-eight per cent of the population of
Wisconsin Is of German birth or of
German extraction.
we believe that we can secure their
cooperation, that we can induce them to
enlist under our banner, and every induce
ment that can be held out to them should |
be held out to them by this convention. |
1t is not sufficient for us to assemble |
here and adopt the platform and nomi- |
nate candidates. The battle is only then
begun. We must stop and inquire where |
it is necessary to strengthen our line in !
ask YOU. gentlemen. whether It is not a |
fact that in order for US to succeed at /
break into the bunch of state that lie east /
of the Mississippi and north of Ohio. |
I am at a loss where 1t will be possible |
for US to succeed, unless we get the sup |
port of some of those states. The dele |
cations who come here to represent the |
bod Of Ion orr-I Of
should be consulted. (Applause.)
They know political conditions as those
conditions exist in their respective states |
better than they be told by any per-
son who lives beyond their borders. Gre
ton which was touched by Mr. Dock
cry, the gentleman who preceded me: that
that is burning and that awazens US to
the realization of our true condition. The
standing for all that there is the world
of human liberty and human freedom,
see our two little sister republics over
ridden by the proud tyrant who seeks to
Great appiause.5 If there was reason for
us to interfere in behalf of Cuba, a people
had been recognized as a ntion-if there
was reason for US to interfere in their
son for us to interfere in behalf of the
only two sister republics whose govern
ment approaches our own. (Applause)
For my part, would like to see this con-
vention say to England, YOU shall take
off your hands from these little sisters
(applause) until the nations have deter
mined by arbitrations or other amicable
moves whether you are right? If you
are right you may proceed, but if you are
wrong, then in the strength that God
gives US, you shall not proceed further"
A declaration of that kind in the
platform will arouse the enthusiastic
support of thousands of duty lovers in
this country and thousands of German
sympathizers, (applause yea, more, it
will arouse the active sympathy and CO.
operation of every man who places hu-
plause). /
A Democrat has the right to express
his individual views and individual
preferences but he has no right to ques-
ton the policy of this convention after
that policy has been adopted. Gap
plause)- For my part, it makes no diff
ference, SO far as my personal views are
concerned, what the platform of this
convention shall be. It shall have my
enthusiastic, earnest support Cap
plause). But, when you are making
platforms, consider the voters who live
nthe middle western states, and what
is necessary to get their cooperation
and support.
So far as I am concerned, I do not be-
lieve in taking one backward step from
the stand we took in 1896 cloud ap-
plauSe). Let US stand by the Chicago
platform, and everything there is in it
Applause, and cries of good" "good'O. |
Let US reaffirm that platform in letter
and in spirit (applause). But it seems
to me that reaffirmation means re-
affirmation applause and cries of good
for your and that it is not necessary
for US to travel over the thorny, broken
paths that led us to defeat in 1896 |
Cloud a3lHause).
I make these suggestions to you, my |