The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-09
Henry Watterson's Elo-
quence Stirs the Great
Assemblage.
ADVICE BY PULITZER
The Vermont Result, He Writes, Should
be Accepted as a Warning, Notas
a DiscOuragement. Where
the Battle Will
be Fought.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated PreSS.)
Democratic Headuarters, New York
Sept. NEARLY 500 Democratic edi-
tors from all parts of the United
States met at a banquet at the
being a national conference of Dem
ocratic editors which was called at
the instance of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee.
The toast list included several of
the best known Democratic editors in
the country, and all of them respond
ed to toasts on political subjects.
Sylvanus e. Johnson, Washington
correspondent of the Cincinnati En-
uuirer, and former president of the
Gridiron club. was the POSTMASTER :
A large orchestra furnished music
during the dinner.
When Dixie" was played the
diners. many of whom We're from the
South, jumped to their feet and the
rebel yell was given several times.
Enthusiasm was at the highest pitch
when the selection was encored.
Speech of WattersOn.
Colonel Johnson. in a brief speech
introduced Colonel Henry Watterson,
and the Outlook" He said:
In order to allay curiosity and sup
nresS coniecture-or words to that
efTect-let me say in the beginning,
that l believe we can win this Presl-
Dental battle. l will go even further,
and say that, with anything ike an
even show down of powder ana pail,
it will be our own fault if we lose II.
The two parties will go to the finish
;,.lxr
nearly if not quite, its normal
strength. The independent vote, there
fore. will decide the result.
In the five debatable States OF New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut, In
the east, Indiana and Wisconsin III
the west, there are, on rought eStl-
mate, a million of these independent
voters. Half q million OF them are
Germans. The other half are mug
wumps and floaters. For the life OF
me l cannot see how any self-respect-
ing mugwump can vote for Roosevelt
the irecreant civil service reformer
nor how any intelligent German, much
rs the President resembles the Kaiser
can be willing to take even a lottery
chance in a war with the mothei
country, precipitated upon the drop
of a hat. to glorify the administration
Parker, the jurist, means peace with
all nations, entangling alliance with
none. Roosevelt, the war lord, means
complications abroad and corruptlons
at home designed to prolong Single
party dynasty, and to perpetuate lts
favorites and agents in power. Every
economic question must pause before
an issue so transcendant.
In venturing to discuss it tonight,
though surrounded by members of my
own party and profession, may l not
take a suppositious standpoint, and de-
clare that if / were a Republlcan-
and, over about the headwaterS OF Bit
ter Creek. there are Democrats who
insist that l am not much better
would vote for Parker and Davis and
against Roosevelt and Fairbanks. Be
ing only a plain American, who loves
his country and clings to its institu-
tion. / mean to do this anyhow. l
shall do it because it seems to me the
upright thing to do, the enlightened
thing to do, the prudent and honest
thing to do.
Democracy's Heart Ever True.
In spite of some excuses of feeling
and mistakes of judgment, the Demo-
cratic heart beats true to the essen
tiaI principles of the Republic as it
was created by the sublime Declara-
ton and ordained by our lncompara-
bic. Constitution. In spite of their in
telligence and energy the Republican
leaders are losing sight of their 1deH-
Nv to both. Even the errors of the
Democrats lean to virtues side, whilst
the very virtues of the Republicans
are beginning to be sicklied DER with
the pale cast" of corruption and abso-
lutism This is not because the
Democrats are Democrats, or the Re-
publicans are Republicans. The label
has little to do with it. 1t is because
the nature of long dominancy tends
first to corruption, and then, threaten
ed with exposure to tyranny.
The old Democratic party came into
being, like the Republican party, as
the friend of man; it grew so strong,
bv prolonged domination, that it was
able to make it's exit from power, the
signal for a long, bloody and senseless
war. | would take no chance of a re-
petition of this evil history. / would
have a change of parties though only
for the sake of the change. Little as
the two administrations of Grover
Cleveland effected, either in the sta
tutory laws or in the general policy
they were beneficent interludes to the
unbridled ambition and the graSping
inclinations of the Republicans They
did bring the Republican leaders to
q realizing sense of their public OBJ
legations. They did serve notice even
upon the saints that they do not pos
Sess the earth. Such will be the eff
feet. if none other, of the election OF
Parker and Davis and the defeat OF
Roosevelt and Fairbanks.
The issue before us, therefore, is
whether the people will allow the Re-
publican party to grow so potent, sc
TO intrench itself in power as that
nothing short of some dire convul-
sion shall be able to uproot it, OF
whether they shall, before it be toe
late. take Roosevelt and Fairbanks by
the hand, and bid them stand aside
whilst in the persons of Parker an(
Davis they recover into their owr
hands, the lost balance of power; o.
power which is now lodged in the