The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-23
senator Beveridge,. Address.

Senator Foraker closed with a eulogy on
the junior Serator of Indiana. whom he
then introdus d. Senator Beveridge was
received with rousing cheers, and spoke
as follows:
the way Senator Beveridge described the
present political contest. I'm four months"
by the opposition and deserted soon as
attacked. efhey were deserted because they
were NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. every issue was
not an issue in fact, but a fictitious pre-
tense based on passion. prejudice and the
unsubstantial foundations upon which the
demagogue always builds"
Continuing, Senator Beveridge said: The
day OF passion In politics is past. The day
when prejudice controls elections is gone
forever. The day when the demagogue
can influence American voters Is no more.
At the end Of the argument the American
people never have decided any question
upon any other basis than that of reason.
But time was when, for a brief season.
waves Of unrighteous agitation could sway
masses OF voters for a period and menace
the well-being of the Republic. In the end
these have always been overcome and with
greater ease and in shorter space time
wore on. 1t was a bitter battle and long
one against agitation for reputation; but
the sound cause won. 1t was sharp fight
and an earnest one against fiat money; but
the sound cause won 1t was desperate
struggle against free silver, but, after all,
the battle lasted only three months; and the
sound cause won. The storm of fear against
Imperialism dissolved almost before 1t
formed: and just so to-day the crusade of
the opposition against organized industry
has ended almost before its banner was un-
furled. The opposition's battle-cry. De-
stroy trusts'-'abolish the organization Of
production and trade-has died almost
without an echo IL died because honest men
and thinking men met their proposition of
Industrial annihilation with reason and the
facts the instant IL appeared. And so 1t Is
that we are nearing the end of campaign
of abandoned issues.
DEMAGOGY AND DEMOCRACY.
why Is 1t that the power of the dema-
gogue in American politics has declined
and is declining now with accelerating
speed? Why is 1t that appeals to passion are
daily becoming more powerless at the bal
lot box? 1t is simply because of the growth
OF American intelligence; 1t is because the
facts any question get TO the voters
more quickly every month. Only a few
years ago weeks were required 10 place
before each citizen facts on any question,
and error, Misrepresentation and all the
crafs OF designing men based thereon had
time ID take root and flourish. Imperfect
communication among the people was the
demagogue opportunity. But to-day the
facts on any question proposed at sunrise
are laid before the whole people before
nightfall. In the cities an extra edition
OF newspaper may dissolve falsehood
in an hour. Rural free delivery places be-
fore every farmer the truth of every situa-
ticn at each days set OF the sun. The tele-
graph brings the mind of Los Angeles and
that of Boston together quicker than the
speed OF daylight. Communication be-
tween New York and Cincinnati is instan-
taneous. Railways put every citizen of the
Republic in personal contact with every
Other citizen scsinn eetS &c roads roads have a6o
Eighty millions of people are in
closer touch to-day than the Inhabitants
OF Cincinnati alone were thirty years ago.
What one man knows all men may know.
And. knowing the facts. the people reason
on them. and. reasoning on them, the peo-
pie reach just conclusions. and. reaching
just conclusions. they act, they vote. And
IL is that the influence of passion on the
American mind has passed. And so 1t is
that the day OF the demagogue Is done.
the opposition TO the government is with
out an issue But they would not be with
out an issue had any proposition they ad-
yanced been true and sound. They are
without an issue now because every propo-
eftion they advanced is false in fact and
wrong in reason, And therefore while We
cannot tonight discuss single living ques-
fion on which this campaign began, we can
examine 81 cI:tosities of history those
the enemy have deserted. A political speech
can now be nothing but a lecture on politi-
cal antiquities
LET us take them In their order Last
spring the opposition to the government
declared that Imperialism was running the
Republic American soldiers were dishonor-
fng the American flag and disgracing the
American name, an ocean voyage had
changed the nature of American officers
tropic skies had transformed gentlemen into
savages; havoc. pillage, outrage were
vance across the seas. Where now is this
campaign OF SANDER Abandoned before
the charge of facts led by reason. Who
dares now TO ask the support OF American
voters upon the ground that their soldiers
have shamed their country? And vet that
was the battle cry OF the opposition 10 the
~ many votes would any candidate get to-day
nQon the Issue that Lawton. Macarthur,