Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-23
BLACK NAMES THE LEADER
Says the cattle is Won Before the Con-
tending Armies Engage.

EX-Gov. Black said in part:
MI. President and Gentlemen of the
Convention: We are here to inaugur-
ate campaign which seems already
10 be nearly closed. SO wisely have
The people sOwcd and watched and
tended there seems little now to do
but To measure up the grain. They
are ranging themselves not for battle
but for harvest. In one column reach
ing from the Maine woods To the Puget
sound are those people and those
states which have stood SO long to-
gether that when great emergencies
arise the nation turns instinctivcly to
them. In this column. vast and solid.
is majority 80 overwhelming that the
scattered squads in opposition can
hardly raise another army. The enemy
has neither guns nor ammunition, and
if they had they would Use them ON
each other.
The speaker then said that Demo
cratic zeal was chiefly centered iii
what jefferson would do if living. and
then proceeded:
1T is II sad day for any party when
its only means of solving living issues
is 10y guessing at the possible attitude
of IL statesman who is dead. This con
dition leaves that party always be-
ginncr and makes every question new.
The Democratic party has seldom tried
Il problem on its own account. and
when it has its blunders have been
its only Monuments, its courage is re-
membered only in regret. As long as
these things are recalled that party
may serve as ballast, but ii will never
steer the ship. There is one funda-
mental plank. however. on which the
two great parties are in full agree
ment. Both believe in the equality of
men. The difference is that the Dem
ucratic party would make every man
rs low as the poorest. while the Repuh-
lican party would make every man as
high as the best.
But not alone upon the principles of
the Republican party are It's members
in accord. With IT," Same devotion
which has marked tMc3r adherence to
those principles. magnificent and en-
during as they are. they lave already
singled out the man To lear their
standard and lead the way. lie Is no
stranger waiting in the shIdc TO he
called suddenly into public light. The
American people have seen him for
many years and always where the
fight was thickest and the greatest
need was felt. He has been alike con
Spicuous in the pursuits OF peace and
in the arduouS stress of war. His
qualities do not need 10 BE retold. for
no man In that exalted place since Lin
coin has been better known in every
household in the land. He is not con
sentative, if conservatism means wait
ing till it is too late. He is not wise
if wisdom is to count 4 thing q hum
dred times when once will do. There
is no regret so keen. in man or coun-
try, as that which follows an Oppor-
tunity unembraced.
lie does not always listen while all
( the sages speak, but every day at
nightfall beholds some record which if
not complete has been at least pursued
with conscience and intrepid resolu-
( ton. lie believes in going ahead. He
/ believes that in shaping the destinies
of this great republic. hope is a higher
/ impulse than regret. He believes thai
preparation for future triumphs is a
! more important duty than an inventory