The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-09
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party dynasty, and to perpetuate it's
favorites and agents in power. Every
economic question must pause before
an issue so t~ranscendant.
In v%enturing to discuss it tonight,
though surrounded by members of my
own party and profession, may L not
take a superstitious standpoint. and
declare that. if I were a Republican,
and, over the headwaters of Bitter
Creek, there are Democrats who in
sist that / am not much better-I
would vote for Parker and Davis and
against Roosevelt and Fairbanks.
Being only a plain American. who
loves his country and clings to its in
situations, I mean to do this anyhow.
7 shall do ii, because it seems to me
the upright thing to do, the ~enlighten-
ed thing to do, the prudent and hon
est thing to do.
In spite of some excuses Of feeling
and mistakes of judgment the Demo-
cratic heart beats true to the essential
principles of the Republic as it was
created by the sublime Declaration
and ordained by our incompatible
| Constitution. In spite of their intelli-
gence n energy, h Republican
leaders are losing sight of their fidel-
| ity to both. I've h errors of the
Democrats lean to virtues side, whilst
the very virtues of the Republicans
are beginning to be sickled DER with
the pale cast of corruption and abso-
lutism. This is not because the DEM
ccraIs are Democrats. or the Republi-
can are Republicans. The label has
little to do with it. 1t is because the
nature of long dominancy tends first to
corruption, n then, threatened with
exposure. to tyranny.
The old Democratic party came
into being, like the Republican party,
l as the friend of man. If grew Sn
strong, by prolonged domination. that
It was able to make it's exit from
power, the signal for q long, bloody
n senseless war. I would take no
chance of a repetition Of this evil his
Tory. I would have a change of par
lies, though only for the sake of the
change. Little as the two administra-
lions of Grover Cleveland effected,
either in the statutory laws or in the
general policy, they were benefcienL
interludeS to the u~nbridled ambition
n the grasping inclinations of the
Republicans. They did bring the Re-
publican leaders to a realizing sense
of their public obligations. They did
| serve notice ven upon the saints that
they do not possess the earth. Such
will be the effect. if none other, of the
| election of Parker and Davis and the
defeat Of Roosevelt and Fairbanks.
The issue before us, therefore, is
WIlStIST the pSOpIC VIII dfiOW Tie ne
publican party to grow So potent, so
to intrench itself in power, as that
nothing short of some dire CONFUSION
Sh allhe able to uDroot it. or whether
they shall. before it is too late, take
Roosevelt and Fairbanks by the hand,
and bid them stand aside. whilst ir
The persons Of Parker and Davis they
recover into their own hands the lost
balance of power; of power which is
now lodged in the executive mansion
at Washington, fanked on one side by
the speaker of the House and his COM
mittee on rules, supported on the other
side by a group of Senators who seek
| only to know the Presidents will in
order to obey *.
Inevitably The personality, the char-
| acter and performances of Theodore
| Roosevelt occupy the foremost place
in the public mind. They will consti-
| tute the chief horn of the peoples
dilemma in the coming campaign.
They are, as it were, the beginning
and h end of the chapter. Yet, be-
| cause we propose to discuss the Presf-
dent and to hold him to a just measure
of accountability, We are accused Of
I, abusing him. ] would not. for my
part. utter an unkind or discourteous
word. / admit that he is as sweet a
| gentleman as ever scuttled a ship or
| cut a throat. Indeed. very much that
kind of a gentleman; for, hosting the
lac flag over the South, has he not
! scuttled the ship of civil service reform
and cut the throat of reciprocity?
| Has he ever obeyed the law in case
il stood in the way of his humor, from
the time when. owe the acquitting
report of his own commission, he re-
moved a states attorney from the Of
fee to which sthe people had elected
him.. here in the city n county of
w.
scratch of his pen, he usurped the
power of Congress and added many
millions OF outlay TO the pension rolls?
Is he not responsible for The fy-by-
night theatrical combination miscalled
the Republic of Panama? Was his
treatment of Miles and Schley the act
of a wise or considerate President?
Was his promotion of Wood just, eth
or to the army or The people? Was