The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-25


ln5 power is manipulated by the few;
ana that while both the old political
parties pretend to devote themselves
To the interests of the common people,
they are both financed by Wall street,
both dominated by Wall street. both
willing and the seryile tools of Wall
street.
Tell me that the people Of this
country are resting easy under condi-
tions like these? Tell me that the
confidence game being played upon
them by the willy leaders Of both the
old .s.aitical parties creates no angry
tiiSLOntent:
The man who comforts himself with
that Lt.ief has no conception what
ever O. the true feelings OF the Amer
ican people. Do you need proof that
the masses are ready to rush to the
support OF any leader who is. brave
enosglt to challenge the right of the
corporations to rule this land?
Sea how they rallied to w. r.
Hearst. Because he had taken sides
with the III asssssess because he was de-
nouncing oppression and pleading for
the rights of the common man there
was from ocean to ocean an uplleavaI
in his. favor which astounded the pro-
fessional politicians and strained all
of the resources OF political strategy
to defeat that noble-hearted champion
of the Jeffersonian democracy.
To every American citizen ques-
tion Of supreme Importance is this:
Does the government still represent
the ideals of those who framed it? Is
it the government which the states
man planned, for which the orator
pleaded, and to establish which the
soldier shed his blood? Is 1t still
government Of the people? Does 1t
respond to the will of the people? Is
its chief aim the welfare of the peO-
pie? Is it run in the interests of the
great mass Of it's citizens? In other
words, IS II truly a democratic re-
public?
From the depths OF my Heart be-
lieve that such government is what
the American people want and mean
to have. | believe that seyenty-iye
per cent of our citizens are firmly
welded to the old doctrines OF popu-
lar self-goyernment as they were in
the days of Samuel Adams, Patrick
! Henry and Thomas Jefferson.
| Since human society was organized
/ there has been constant struggle
between two principles of govern
ment one of which seeks to cOncen-
| trate power, wealth and privilege in
the hands Of class; the other which
strives to have the benefits of the
state shared by all alike
| AT the very beginning OF our his
| tory the two antagonistic principles
| clashed. The one was represented by
| Alexander Hamilton who had no con-
| fidence in the people, no love for the
| people, no sympathy with the peo-
pie, but who believed that wealth
should be taken into co-partnership-
| with the government, given control of
its laws, given command OF its pol
| icies, and thus the favored few, be-
coming identified with the govern
| ment, would give it that kind Of
strength which, according to his the
ory, ii needed. Devoted as he was to
the English model, utterly scouting
| the idea that the people were capable
Of self-goyernment he brought all the
powers of his magnificent intellect.
and of his indomitable energy, to the
introduction Of measures to evolve the
moneyed arstocracy. which, according
to his ideal, had the right to govern.
On the other hand came Thomas
Jefferson proclaiming the principles
of democracy. With the idea OF hui
man brotherhood. with perfect faith
in the great body Of the people. and
with constitutional love OF right and
| Justice which made class legislation
abhorrent TO him, he challenged the
doctrines OF Hamilton and struggled
to hold the government true 10 the
principle OF equal aud exact justice to
all men"
Tonight, fellow citizens, | ask you 70
take this simple question home 10 your
hearts and your consciences. Which
Is the party. and who Is the candidate.
that proclalms the principles of
Thomas jefferson. and goes forth 10
| fight for the great mass Of the Amer
lean people, Is II the republican
partys How can any sane man an