The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-06

populouS state carved out of the IoulSi-
ana territory. acquired by the father of
| Democracy. The time is the centennial
anniversary celebration of the acquisi
| tion of that territory vast area of
contiguous territory whose possession
was necessary for self defense and
which was fitted in climate and soil for
nome making by the sons and daugh-
ters of the republie-the anniversary of
real and not pseudo expansion, an ex-
pansion of our population, our industrial
life and our free institutions over un-
inhabited lands or lands sparsely set
tied by savages whose tribal indepen-
dence we recognized by treating with
them, or settled on spots by white men
easily and willingly assimilated; not
a socalled expansion by mere Superim-
posed force of our flag and our military
authorities. The Democratic party af-
terward guided the country to further
expansion of this real free character
in the acquisition of Florida, the ad-
mission of Texas, as a state and the
acquisition from Mexico of a magnifi-
cent far west fit to be made states in
the union and governed under the con-
stitution.
Most Important Event.
The most important quadrennial event
in the world is the election by the
American people of their chief execu-
place. at which all men are supposed
to arrive a. q choice by ways of hon
eSty and intelligence-would to God
they did-at least two minor elections
of a different character are held. There
have always been two great parties
which, since the first national political
convention have elected delegates to
conventions for the purpose OF select
ing a candidate and promulgating a
platform. One of these parties has gone
through it's party election of delegates
has selected a candidate and announced
a pla tforn. It was one of the deiietest
11jT1OlIS' occasions
the muses. of history have recorded
Everything seemed to have been liked
before hand. There are some conVen-
fences about a convention ofthat sore.
One of them is that the temporary
chairman knows six or nine months
before hand that he is going TO De
temporary chairman. He also KNOWS
what he is wanted to say, compared
with what he wants to say. I could
appreciate that, assure you. The per
manent chairman also knows Wnat Is
expected of him for half year before
hand The platform comes ready VIII
ten-no discussion about it-and is per-
hans revised by the candidate himself
who has also been agreed upon.
The address of the temporary chair
man of the Republican national con-
vention was in one sense historical. 1t
dealt much in history, at any rate
most of it was ancient history, ana a
great deal of it bad history There
was a labOred argument to prove that
the party of Roosevelt must by some
thing like evolutionary process act as
the party of Lincoln and Mckinley
This was necessary in order to dis
guise the palpable fact that it is not
so acting Not without reason, then.
this Iabored argument by this great
and ingenious lawyer. 1t was to draw
away attention from Rooseveltism and
volcanic. eruptive and reckless char
acter by dwelling upon the fact that. |
at some period of its history, the Re-
publican party has been a party
which did things" and did them
safely. The orator hoped to have the
country lose sight of the fact that it
is now in both of it's legislative
branches a party of passivity. of nom
action, of obstruction to reform and
progress; in a word, a. party whose
only sacred precept is the shibboleth
which maketh them known, one of
them to the other a shibboleth drawn
from the gamblers table, stand pat"
lC,n tira11ed On pa Sig