Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-09-27
CAMPAIGN Is OPENED

SeHtefVltle, sept. 24.-Ihe opening
gun OF republican campaign was fired
here yesterday afternoon. Hon A. b.
Cnmmins, candidate for governor, address
thousands
Mr.. Cummins's speech was master
piece CT diplomacy. Partisan rapcor was
remarkable for its absence Railway taxa
lion was handled in an honest and fearless
expansion issues. but stated firmly his OPP
position to tariff that breeds monopolies.
My Fellow Citizens: In the ancient
Gays When every man administered justice
tor himself and preserved his own safety as
his time and all his strength to maintain
his rights and to keep his head firmly on
al ms h shoulders In these modern days, when
been substituted to accompli sh these pur-
poses, it still requires much time, much
the part of the voter to secure just laws
and their honest execution. The more com
pick society becomes, the more difficult
will be. and each recurring year will de-
mand higher intelligence, purer patriotism
ana more thougetf% attention at the hands
gagged therefore in the most serious bust
ness of life and my purpose is neither to
entertain nor amuse you, but to join you in
conference upon public affairs.
What is said here will have little in
fuence upon the fate of our country, but
deeply concern the future of your fellow
men.
Good government is the ultimate object
inspires every conscientious political act.
There never has been and never will be
what GOOD @ s ana
how it can best be attained are matters up
on which honest, Intelligent and PATRIOTS
it may safely be said they always will diff
fer 1t is this Concurrence in the end TO
be reafhsS and dfere9Ge respecting the
create the basis for political gatherings Eat
res of # Is
mark the limits OF the region of fair dis
pute. we instinctively. know, whether any
other:It is plain that when we meet to
consider questions that are still open for
consideration, the most tolerant spirit
can conceive of no hours of graver moment
than those in which the voters Of the re-
public re-eXamine their political faith and
discharge their political duties.
1T may sound somewhat startling, but
I think you will agree with me when l say.
that there is one thing even more essential
do right; it is that you should believe that
you are doing right. 1t is better for your
believing that you are doing right, than to
do right, believing that you are doing
wrong.
will disclose my mental attitude toward
our opponents in beginning the campaign
Oh che belief that the rep%blc n party holds
and enforces principles which are neces-
sary to the honor of the nation and to the
which gives it better title to your conf
dence and support, and future with
orighter and clearer promise than any my
history of your country. But l am not
here to impugn the motives or question the
fri
unfairly disparage and unjustly belittle
any other political party. When | have
Mistaken. but l am determined that none
of you shall say that I am either bigoted
An Appeal to Citizens.
which ordinarily form the texts Of politi-
cal speech. you must permit me to say a
word upon subject in which we are all
us as citizens of a common country, and
upon which we must not be divided |
feel that there is a sentiment. gradually
rising, that the government fails to accom-
pish in proper measure the noble pur-
poses for which it is organized. 1t is true
state or municipal, are not perfect, There
are many evils vet to overcome there is
much Injustice yet to be repaired; there ere
are all conscious that our constitution and
our laws are often inadequate in their
provisions, and we know that they fire.
But these things must not be permitted to
shatter our confidence in the progress of
the world nor destroy our faith in the up
ward tendency of our civilization.
I'VE must remebcr that governments are
framed. that laws are made, and justice
is administered, not by the unerring Ruler
of the universe, but by mortals who some
times wander through temptation, some
times, stumble in weakness and sometimes
in public affairs until it becomes universal
in matters of private concern. There Is
still another thought that should not es,
laws arc adopted with present knowledge,
to meet present conditions. Growth and,
development, increase in population. and
ways modify, and frequently abolish old
conditions and substitute new circum-
out OF Whleh myriad of preG
ways on the alert, fastcn themselves upon
the new order Of things, and it is beyond
to linden the M
pulse Of upright and enlightened intel
ligence, turns to meet it's new duties. 1T
the wrongdoers. but it moves slowly. A
republic must move slowly. There will be
innumerable opinions as to the remedy to
and out of the chaos of judgment there
must come a plan upon which majority
tutions must be e Changed and it is inevit
able that laws must be reformed AND
thus the hand of justice is stayed. but re-
ton. that it is only stayed. 1t will fall as
surely as God reigns and inclines the
hearts of men to love right and to hate
wrong.
Judge your government by comparative,
not absolute standard. Measure 1t by any
other government the face of the earth
and your blood will riot in your veins and
your faces will glow with pride, for no,
where in the whole realm of humanity will
YOU find another government that SO com
pletely recognizes and protects the inner.
ent rights Of man. as the government of
which you are citizens.
Compare it with itself in any earlier
stage Of it's development. and 1t will steady
YOUR hope in the destiny of free institutions
Tor toi!some IS the journey has been. slow
progress has been the highWafX ro OF 4 tTr
moment in which we took the first step
until the moment in which am speaking.
Mr.. Cummins then turned to the political
issues which are If interest to the voter
this year, and his address was full two ard
a half hours duration. 1t is impossible to
give in a single newspaper article more than
q brief synopsis of his remarks: At the
outset, he directed attention to the import,