Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-07-01

MIR. President n Gentlemen of the
convention: We are here to i~naugurate
"a campaign which Seems already to be
nearly closed. So wisely have the people
sowed 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 reaching from the Maine woods
to the Puget Sound are those People ana
those states which have stood so long
together, that when great emergencies
arise the nation turns instinctively, TO
them. In this column, vast and Solo. IS
a majority so overwhelming that the scat
tered squads in opposition can hardly
raise another army, The enemy mas
neither CUR nor ammunition, n II they
had they would use them on each other.
Destitute Of the weapons of effective war
fare. the only evidence of approaching
hattie Is in the tone and number OF their
bulletins. There is discord among the
generals: discord among the soldiers.
Each would fight IN his own way, but be-
fore assaulting his republican adversaries
IN the adjoining tents. Each believes the
weaDons chosen by the other are not
only wicked but fatal 70 the holder. That
IS tfEe. This is the only war of modern
times where the boomerang has been sub
.stituted for the gun. Whatever fataltles
may occur, however. among the discord-
ant hosts now moving OF st. Louis, no
harm VIII come this fan to the American
people There will be no opposition sufl-
cinet to raise 4 conflict. There VIII pc
hardly enough for competition. There are
no democratie plans for the conduct of
the fan campaign. Their zeal is chiefly
central in discussion as 10 what Thomas
Jefferson would do II he We're living. he
IS not living, and but few of his descend
ants are among the democratic remnants
Of To-Day. Whatever Of patriotism or Wis
dom cmanated from that distinguishes
man IS noW represented in this conYen-
ton.
Democracy's Need of an Issue.
II is a sad day for any party when its
only means Of solving living issues Is by
guessing at the possible attitude OF a
statesman who is dead. This condition
leaves that party always a beginner ana
makes every question new. The demo-
cratic party has seldom tired a problem
on It's own account, and when It has it's
blun&ers have been it's only monuments,
It's courage is remembered only IN regret,
As long az these things are recalled that
partE may serve as ballast, but IT viii
never steer the ship.
When all the people have forgotten Will
dawa,a golden era for this new democ-
racy But the country is not ready yet to
place a party In the lead whose most ex-
pensive motto is the cherries word for
gee That motto nay express eontriton,
lht Ii does not inspire hope. Neither con-
fidepee nor enthusiasm will ever be
ai9ESgd by any party which enters eaeh
caulpaign uttering &se language OF the
There is one fundamental plank, how
eHer on which the two great parties are
coma WV 81 men. The dlnerenee is that
the democratic party would make every
mar as low as the poorest. while the re-
publican party would make every man as
high as the best. But the democratic
course will provoke no outside interior
cree row, for the republican motto is
that of the great commander. never IN
teirupt the enemy while he is making a
mistalge,"
Argument by Contrast.
IN politics as in other fields, the most
Impressive arguments spring from con
trast Never has there been a more strik-
ms example OF unity than is now afford
sod by this assemblage, You are gathered
here not as factions torn by discordant
views, but moved by one desire and IN
tent, you have come as the chosen repre-
sentatives Of the most enlightened party
IN the world You meet not as strangers,
4 for no men are strangers who hrld the
u sasne beliefs and espouse the same cause.
Nou may separate two bodies of water
Tor q thousand years, but when once the
sbarrier is removed they mingle instantly
and are one. The same traditions inspire
and the same purposes actuate us all.
Never in our lives did these purposes
stand with deeper roo than now. AT least
two generations NAVE passed away SINCE
the origin of that great movement from
which sprang the spirit which mas peen
the leading impulse i'm American politics
for half q. century. In that movement,
which was both q creation ana an eX-
ample, were those great characters which
! ePdowed the republican party at It's pirth
with the attributes OF justice, equallly
and progress, which have held 1t to this
hour in line with the highest sentiments
of ank.n From these men we nave in
herited the desire, and to their memory
we owe the resolution, that those great
schemes of government and humanity, M
spired by their patriotism, and established
by their blood shall remain as the hxed
\ Hnd bprnlan9 emblem OF their labors,
1919 the abidr&g signal OF the liberty ana
"a. aYcgresS OF the race.
Ran.4bliea.is.sis Inspiration.
There are many new names in these
DAYS. but the republican party needs nf
new title 1T stands now where Il STOOD
IN The beginning. Memory alone IS neeu-
"a to tell the source from which the IN
spirations of the country flow. A droWsy
memory would be as guilty now as a
sleeping Waterman. when me enemy -
astir The name of the republican party
STANDS over every door where q righteous
cause was born. It's members nave gain
cred around every movement no matt Tts
flag for more than fifty years has been
the sign Of nope on every spot where nd
erty was the word. That party needs nc
new name or platform TO designate its
purposes. 1t Is now as II mas been.
equipped, militant and in motion. The
problems Of every age ma age must
solve. Great causes impose great, de-
mapds. but never in any enterprise have
3NIhe American people failed, and never N
B4,Any crisis has the republican, party talied
8jlko express the conscience anu ihteHistneS
4 Ebf that people.
\ VI The public mind is awake both to its
opportunities and its dangers Nownere
IA the world. in any era, did citizenship
mean more than IL means today in Amer
~ Sca Men of courage and sturdy character
are ranging themselves together with a
unanimity seldom seen. There IS no ex-
.cuse for cropping in the dark, for the light
Il plain to him who will but ra.se MS
eyes. The American people believe IN q
man or party hat has convictions and
Lnows why. They believe that what ex-
n~srsence has proved It Is idle 20 resist. A
tyfse man is any fool about to die. But
there Is a wisdom which with good for
sl,nc NAV guide the living and the strong.
THAT wisdom springs from reason, obser-
xssfion AMI experience. Guide by these
tb5s thing ~ plain. and young men may
RELY upon IL. that the history and purposes
have described, rising even tc the es-
<eace and aspirations or patriotism, find
their hest concrete example in the career
and doctrine of the republican party
The Standard Bearer.
l.ut not alone upon the principles OF that
8narty are it's members in accord With
Mo Same devotion which has marked their
&ah%rence to those principles, magnificent
1911 enduring as they are, they have al
F@Adv singled out the man 10 bear their
efandard and to lead the way. No high
er badpe was ever yet conferred. But
ssreat as the honor Is, the circumstances
Which Surround ii make that honor even
faore profound. You have come from every
state and Territory In this vast domain
The country and the town nave We'd with
each other Isl sending here their contripu-
tons TO this spiendE throng. Every high.
way In the lard Is leading here and
crowded with the members OF that great