Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-09


party. Those who are really devoted
to Democratic principles viii neither
practice deception themselves nor per
init others to practice deception in
writing a platform or in securing the
control of the party machinery. L
hope that in this and other states the
party may be able TO avoid those
fierce factional contentious which
sometimes distract attention from
party principles and waste in personal
fights the energy that should be di-
rected against the common enemy.
Defeat Should Not Discourage.
'.The defeat which the party re-
Gently suffered ought not to discour-
age anyone who believes in the prin-
ciples set forth in the Kansas City
platform, for If those principles were
right when the platform was written
and when they were indOrsed ny
nearly 6,500.00 voters they are right
still. The Democratic party has been
defeated before, but defeat has Meth
er destroyed its hope nor its tenets.
In 1872 the defeat was overwhelming,
and yet we won in 1876. In 1880 we
thought that the people would rebuke
the counting out of Tilden four years
before but we We're doomed TO disap-
pointment. We won In 1884 and lost
in 1888. We won i'll 1892 and lost in
1896 and in 1900. If anyone is in
clined to attribute recent defeats to
the platform adopted or to the organi-
cations in charge of the fight, let him
remember that the defeat of 1886
came at the close of an administration
entirely satisfactory to those who are
most anxious to reorganize the party,
and that the defeat of 1894. which
occurred under a similar administra-
fes,e So.
that has taken place since.
Cannot Foresee Future Conditions.
mo one can foresee the conditions
which our party must meet, but. we
can face the future with the determi-
nation to apply Democratic principles
to every emergency and to make the
party faithful exponent of the views
of those who believe in equal rights
to all and special privileges to none.
Whether the money question will fig
ure prominently in future campaigns
will depend upon circumstances which
no one can measure with certainty.
What is desired is sufficient quantity
of money to keep pace with the de-
naItd for money. If an unexpected
and unpromised increase in the out
put of gold restores the level of prices
and protects the producers of wealth
from the. evils of an appreciating dol
lar, those who have labored for hi
metallism will rejoice more heartily
than the financiers who advocated the
gold standard at a time when gold
was scarcer and the dollar was be-
coming dearer
Republican Ideas Doomed to Defeut.
>''Monopolies will ultimately become
so hurtful that the Republicans will
no longer be able to defend them. Even
today their defense is more sequent
than open. 4 colonial policy. when
put into full opera fon, will prove so
repugnant to American principles that
it must finally be repudiated by the
American people. If i'm the cases now
pending the court holds that the con-
stitution follows the flag a large por-
ton of the Republican party will op-
pose the retention of the Philippine
islands. If, on the contrary. the court
holds that president and congress
can govern colonies without regard to
the restrictions of the constitution.
many Republicans viii be able to real
ize what imperialism means.
Truths that Can Never Die.
But if fate DEGREES a change In the
ideas and ideals of our nation and we
are to witness a return to the brute
force doctrines upon which empires
rest. our struggles will still have an
SWereQ purpose ana the WOrk OF our
party will live in history and inspire
the lovers of liberty in future years,
when mankind again takes UP the fight
for the principles of self-government
We are advocating truths that cannot
die and we can afford to share in
reverses that may come to
them. The love of freedom will live
while the human race endures, and
those who suffer for the right will re-
ceive their reward in history even If
their eyes do not behold the victory.
Kruger to Wear a Crown of Fame.
'In defeat those who support the
set forth in the declaration
of independence can take courage
from the heroism manifested by those
in South Africa who are giving their
lives in. defense of the same doctrines.
Cronje suffers in lonliness on st.
Helena, but his name will live in
poetry and song when the name of
Roberts is forgotten and Kruger will
wear a crown of deathless fame when
kings and emperors are known no
more
At the conclusion of his address Mr..
Bryan was presented with a solid
gold paper weight by a representative
of residents of Dawson City, Alaska.
ADDRESS By MAYOR HARRISON.