The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-09-08


day, September /, 1904. The canii-
dates for state Office made addresses
at the Baldwin theater in the after
noon, and Hon. William ]. Bryan de-
livered an address at the baseball
park In the evening.
The opening was the most enthu'
siastic in years. The theater was
packed in the afternoon, and many
who came were turned away. Mr..
Bryan's speech was delivered in the
open air to an audience that num-
bered fully $4,000. Such an suspicious
opening indicates that Missouri Is
more safely Democratic this year than
ever before.
Judge w. N. Evans, chairman of the
state committee, presided at both
meetings. The speakers at the after
noon meeting were Joseph w. Folk,
nominee for governor; Thomas l.. Ru-
hey, nominee for Acknowledgements;
Sam B. Cook, nominee for secretary
of state; Albert o. Allen, nominee for
auditor; James Cowgirl, nominee Tor
treasurer; Elliott w. Majors, nominee
for attorney general, and H. R. Ogles'
by, nominee for railroad and ware
house commissioner.
Mr.. Cooks speech was especially
worthy of note by reason of its grace
flu, tact and the excellent campaign
material 1t contained. 1t helped to
emphasize the complete harmony now
existing in the party. He said, among
other things, that he had a message
for the friends all over the state who
had supported him so Loyalty In the
past, and it was to the effect that he
wanted them to allow no one to exceed
them in their earnest work for the
success Of the whole ticket.
Gov. A. NJ. Dockery followed the
candidates in an address that Appealed
to the Democratic voters OF the state
to make the victory in Missouri this
year decisive. Mr.. Bryan closed the
afternoon meeting with short speech
The speech of Mr.. Folk follows:
In the early days of our government
II was found that public affairs could
be best administered through political
parties. 1t is through political parties
that men come to an agreement on
public policies, and announce their
principles and intentions. One man
may be just as patriotic as another,
yet they may differ on governmental
questions. Political systems develop
as other things do. Changing condi-
tions eliminate old questions, and
create new issues to be determined by
the people in their sovereign capacity
as electors. The Democratic party has
always been ready to submit to the
test Of full and free discussion every
question, believing that out Of the con-
flict of ideas the truth will emerge. II
the principles of the Democratic party
are the best to guide the national gov
eminent by, then 1t should be put In
power. If the Democratic party has
well and faithfully administered the
affairs Of Missouri entrusted to Its
keeping, then it should not be turned
out as unfaithful
Democrats and Republicans have an
equal interest in this country. Most
Of the members Of all parties are hon
est in their convictions and patriotic
in their purposes. To these we must
appeal in upholding Democratic ideas,
and in doing so it is not necessary TO
misrepresent the facts, which would
avail nothing, and it would be out OF
place to indulge In Islander and vitu-
peration, that convinces none but the
vicious or weak-minded. shall ap-
peal only to the reason OF honest men.
with no argument but the truth. De-
mocracy means the rule Of the people,
for the people and by the people. The
Democratic party in the United States
is the fruit of hundred years Of our
country's history. Take away from the
history OF the United States the record
OF the Democratic party, and thers
would be little left The record Of the
Democratic party in Missouri is the
history of a states glorious achieve
ments and wondrous progress.
NATIONAL QUESTIONS.
Soon after our republic was born,
citizens became divided on public
policies. The leaders Of the contend
ing theories were Thomas Jefferson
and Alexander Hamilton. JEFFERSON
believed in the absolute rule Of the
people through their ballots; that all
power should be vested in the people,
and that government should derive all
of its authority through their consent
and by their will. He taught the prin-
oiple of equal and exact justice to all,
special privileges to none. Hamilton
advocated a restricted franchise and
the favoring of special interests. These
opposite theories Of government have
been the basis of the various political
parties that have lived and died In the
past hundred years. The Democratic
party has combatted error for a CEN
tury in the name of Jefferson. The
Republican party Of to-day is the ex-
ponent of the doctrines Of Hamilton.