Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-25
TOE THE Line"
; Watterson's Test for a
Democrat in 1904.
In Characteristic Way He Scores
Roosevelt and the Republicans.
Speech With Enough Fire to Suit Most
Rabid Democrat.

Washington. March 24.-About $50
guests were present, tonight, at the BIZ
enniaI banquet of the Virginia Demo-
cratic Association at the Metropolitan
Hotel They included Democrats of
national prominence and most of the
political leaders and Democratic MEM
bers of Congress from the Old Domin-
ion. Among the speakers were Col.
Henry Watterson of Kentucky, Senator
Carmack of Tennessee, Hon. Lewis
Nixon, the leader of Tammany Hall,
Representative Kitchings of North
Carolina. Representative DeArmond or
Missouri, and members of Congress
/ from Virginia.
Col. Watterson urged on Democrats
a general union of forces in opposition
, to Imperialism in all forms. He said in
part
I'VE are Democrats. We love our
| country. Our hearts beat time to its
institutions. We would rescue the gov
eminent from the hands of those who
are converting it into a government of
| the trusts. for the trusts and by the
trusts, and restore it to the hands Of
| those who will have some regard for
the rights of the people.
have the man on horseback Affecting
the simplicity of the cowboy, he con-
ceals beneath the self-confidence and
queer manners of the broncho buster.
the sentiments and ambitions, if not
the talents of n Diaz.
ITO him. little thing like treating
an admiral of the navy as if he were a
baby in arms, is merely an undress
affair. To him, the reprimanding of
the Lieutenant general OF the army be-
comes an amusing horse play. A bill
of army reorganization is urged upon
will make the power of the President
absolute. Because the lieutenant gem
eraL answering the summons Of com
mirtee of Congress expresses an opin-
ion adverse to this hin. it is proposed to
retire him. -
Look at the Republicans in Con-
gress. The TRAN of the trademark is
over them all. Esvsfkthing for the syn
dicates. nothing for" the people. And
not content with their arbitrary power
in the White House and their mer-
cenary power in Congress. the leaders
of his party would rip open Pandora's
box to fitch thence the black, piraticaI
lag Vi negro uOllll1ldtlOn-lne equally
disroputable and bloody shirt of Sec
tional agitation-and in order to make
sure Of the next House they are pro-
posing to bring forward another force
bill to smite the South, to blight the
Norht and to convert a land teeming
with love and peace into a land reeking
with hate and strife.
Such is the banquet to which the
~ nf MnI> iDlp ha cta
the advent of Roosevelt, the Rough
Rider, has invited u.s.
Il believe in the expanding greatness
and glory of my country. / never see
the flag floating above the domes of
yonder Capitol that my heart does not
throb with the thought that l am an
American citizen. God bless the flag
and God bless the boys that fight be-
meath it.
II want to know what is going on
across the Pacific. / want other wit
nesses than self-seeking politicians
and self-exploiting soldiers to come
here and tell me. l refuse to hold my
tongue. If | am told by q whipper-
snapper in shoulder straps that unless
| do, am traitor to my country, my
reply to him shall be a slap in the face.
There will be but one test of a Dem
ocrat in 1904-toe the line, saying to
arbitrary power and absolutism. Thou
shalt go no further; we, too, are in the
expansion business; but our expansion
is for the religion of the constitution
no less than for the religion of Christ.
Our expansion means peace. NOT
war; the honor. not the degradation of
the flag; and just as surely as Jeffer-
son wrote the Declaration fof Indanend
ence-to resist despotism-shall we
make new Fourth Of July in resist
ing this unrighteous scheme to abolish
the constitution and Mexicanize the
government"