The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-08-25

Cne government have exceeded the re-
ceipts by S21,7l5,00O. There could be
no stronger evidence of the extraya-
gance into which the republican party
has fallen, and no more potent argument
in behalf of change to the party whose
tenets have always embraced prudence
ana economy IN administering the peo>
ple's affairs.
"Our republican friends are prone to
refer to the great commercial growth of
the country under their rule, and vet
the census reports show that from 1850
to 1860, under democratic rule and the
Walker tariff, the percentage of increase
was greater in population, wealth, manu-
factures and railroad mileage, the fac
tors which affect most largely the pros
perity of the country, than in any de-
cade since.
''The cost OF government has largely
increased under republican rule. The
expenditures per capita for the last
years respectively of the administra ton
given, taken from the reports of the
secretary OF the treasury, were as fol-
lows:
In 1860, under Buchanan, S2.01.
In 1898, under Harrison, S5.77.
In 1897, under Cleveland, $5.1O.
In 1901, under Mckinley, S6.56.
In 1904, under Roosevelt, $40.
The republicans now claim great con-
sistency in their attitude upon the cur
rency question, and the president in his
recent speech of acceptance said that
they know what they mean when they
speak of stable currency, "the same
thing from year to year" and yet in the
platforms aan of their party in 1884, 1888
and 1892 they favored the double stand
nf val In LOTT le
they said: "The republican party is in
favor of the use of both gold and silver
as money, and condemns the policy of
the democratic administration in it's
efforts to demonetiZe silver"
81 congratulate your committee, and
the constituency it represents, in the
selection by the delegates to the nation
al convention of the nominee for the
presidency. He is man of courage.
yet prudent; of high ideals, yet without
pretense; Of the most wholesome re-
spect for the constitution and the mai
esty of the laws under it, and a sacred
regard for their limitations; of the keen
est sense Of justice, which would rebel
against compounding wrong to an in
dividual or to nation; positive in con-
viction, yet of few words; strong in
mental and moral attributes, and vet
wlthal modest; possessed of sturdy
constitution and magnificent manhood,
and yet temperate in his actions and
dignified in his demeanor. 1t is not the
orator Or man of letters, but the man of
reserve force, Of sound judgment, of con-
servative methods and steadiness Of pur-
pose, whom the people have called to
the Office of the presidency. Notably in
the contests between Jefferson
Douglas, Grant and Greedy, Clevelan.a
and Blaine.
"Dire predictions were made by our
political opponents of what would hap
pen at the st. Louis convention. but
they misjudged the temper of the party
and the people. While there had been
differences in preceding campaigns, vet
at st. Louis they were all harmonized
and a common ground was found upon
which all could stand and do battle for
democratic principles. A platform was
adopted, by unanimous vote, embrace
ing the issues of the day and presenting
to the people declaration of principles
which, in the language of the times, is
sane, safe and sound.
"With candidate whose personality
appeals to the good sense and sound
judgment Of the American people,
platform whose principles are for the
greatest good to the greatest number,
and reunited party earnest for the
restoration of good and economical
government, we should succeed and the
principles of democracy again triumph.
81 beg my countrymen, as they value
their liberty, to guard with great care
the sacred right of local self-govern-
ment and to watch with Jealous eve
the tendency of the times to centralize
power in the hands of the few.
"Mr. Chairman, it is an added pleas
ure to receive this notification at YOUR
hands. You have been conservative
and courageous as leader of our party in
the house of representatives, position
which few men have filled with the sig
nal ability that you have displayed.
ut will be my pleasure and duty, at
time not far hence, to accept more form
ally in writing the nomination which
you have rendered in such graceful and
complimentary terms, and to give nv
views upon some of the important ques-
tions now commanding the attention of
the country"