The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-09-09
SOUTH.END BARC;ooM
We s s'I"o"
= TELLS DEMOCRATIC EDi'
TORS WHY HE
THINKS PARKER WINNER
Four Hundred Banquet t
ers at Waldorf Astoria

the stronghold OF National Democ-
racy. Nothing but Judge Parker, his
chances for election and reasons
therefore, were discussed and had the
hotel corridors been canvassed for
opinions nothing could have been
heard but roseate assurances that
November was going to see a land
slide for the sphinx of Esopus.
The occasion was the banquet CIV
en- to the Democratic editors of the
country and four hundred of them
gathered about the board in the main
banquet hall to receive inspiration for
their editorial pens during the cam
paign.
On the program of speakers for the
evening were found the names of Hen
ry Watterson of the Louisville Cour-
ier Journal who dscoursed on the,
for him, impossible hypothesis, "lf l
were a Republican," Clark Howell, of
the Atlanta Constitution who dealt
with Democratic Success the Surest
Guarantee of National Unity Her
mann Ridder, of the New York Stats
Zeitung, who explained, why the In
dependents Are Supporting Parker;
and Andrew Mclean of the Brooklyn
Citizen, who dealt on THE Democ-
racy of the Empire State" Sylvanus
e. Johnston held the post of toastmas-
ter. After the few words of welcome,
he introduced THE Honorable Henry
Watterson of Sweet Kentucky" Mr..
Watterson said:
In order to allay curiosity and sup
press conjecture-or words to that eff
fect-let me say in the beginning, that
/ believe we can win this Presidential
battle l will go even further, and say
that, with anything like an even show
down CT powder and ball, it will be
our fault If we lose it. The two par
ties will go to the finish fairly united.
Each will poll very nearly, if not quite,
it's normal strength. The independent
vote, therefore, will decide the result.
In the fine debatable states of New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut,
in the east, Indiana and Wisconsin,
in the west, there are on a rough es-
innate, a million of these independent
voters. Half million of them are
Germans The other half are mug
wumps and foaters. For the life of
me | cannot see how the self-respect
ing mugwumps can vote for Roosevelt
the recreant civil service reformer,
nor how any intelligent German, much
as the President resembles the Kaiser
can be willing to take even a lottery
chance in a war with the mother coun-
try, precipitated upon the drop of a
hat, to glorify the administrator.
Parker, the jurist, means peace with
all nations, entangling alliances with
none. Roosevelt, the war lord means
complications abroad and corruptions
at home, designed to prolong a single
party dynasty, and to perpetuate Its
favorites and agents in power. Every
economic question must pause before
an issue so transcendant
In venturing to discuss tonight
though surrounded by members of my
own party and profession, may ] mo-
take a suppOsititious standpoint. ant
declare that, If I were a Republican
and, over about the headwaters o.
Bitter Creek, there are Democrats who
Insist that | am not much better
would vote for Parker and Davis anC
against Roosevelt and Fairbanks. Be
ing only plain American, who love-
his country and clings to its institu
tions, | mean to do this anyhow.
shall do it because it seems to me tn,
upright thing to do, the enlightened
thing to do, the prudent and homes
thing to do.
In spite of some excesses OF feelin,
and mistakes of judgment, the Demo
cratic beart beats true to the essentia
principles of the republic as it wa
created by the sublime declaration an,
ordained by our incompatible consti
tuition. In spite of their intelligenc
and energy, the Republican leaders ar
losing sight of their fidelity to both
Even the errors of the Democrats leal
to virtues side, whilst the very virtue
Of the Republicans are beginning t,
be sickled o'er the pale cast of corrup
ton and absolutism. This is not be
cause the Democrats are Democrats
or the Republicans are Republicans
The label has little to do with II. I
Is because the. nature of long domin
ancy tends first to corruption, an,
then, threatened with exposure, T.
tyranny.
The old Democratic party came int
being, like the Republican party, as
friend of man; II grew so strong, b.
prolonged domination, that II was abl
to make Its exit from power the sigma
for long, bloody and senseless wal
'q7would take no chance of a repetition
fof this evil history. would have
change of parties, though only for tn
sake of the change Little as the tw
administrations of Grover Clevelan
effected, either in the statuary laws O
in the general policy. they were bene
ficient interludes to the ufibridled am