The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1904-07-15
viii ever forget the ardent en,nusiasm I

tlDn, WIN mtU lDIEfl lHcIbatiNNn dhNt
in spite Of habit, OF interest, and OF
prejudice, follow their oonsciences
wherever they may lead.
THE movement was universal.
Sumner In the east, Seward in Now
York, Chase in Ohio, Bates In Mis-
souri,. Blair In Maryland, all sent fsrth
their identical appeal TO the highe-
motive; and in Illinois. where the
most popular man in the state bold
ly and cynically announced: I don't
care whether slavery Is voted up or
voted down. a voice. lev to the ma
ton. replied: There are some Of US
who do care. II slavery Is not wrong
nothing Is wrong-and Abraham Lin
coin cane upon the field. not to leave
It until he was triumphant in death.
'Our opponents sometimes say We
have no right { claim the credit Of
the great deeds of tho last half CEN
tury-that we could not have accom-
plished them without the aid Of demo-
Gratis. Nothing truer was ever said.
and IL ~ one of the chief glories Of
our annals. and II forms the surest
foundation Of our hopes for the future.
"The principles upon which our par
ty is built are so sound. they have SO
irresistible an attraction to patriotic
and fair minded men, that whenever
a time of crisis comes. when the ma
tional welfare is clearly at stake. when
voters must decide whether they shall
follow their prcJudices or their con-
gal.na.a no.. lR.ss NsA.. .sl.. s.uVNaaa
their best men By thousands.
bright among the brightest Of
those who founded our party shine tho
names OF democrats; and when tic
war came on the picked men OF that
party rallied to the colors. Douglas.
shortly before he died. declared his
unfaltcring support OF Lincoln. Tho
sun would 20 down before I could
name the democrats who fought like
heroes for the country-Grant. Sher-
man. Sheridan. Dix. slckles. Logan
In short. an innumorablc host.
ASK. them. the democrats. has tho
president been a good citizen. a good
soldier. a good man In all personal re-
latlons? IL he a man OF intelligence. Of
fth'hhAPhs 't'n h' hhp" AhAH 'bhhAAs
well? Docs he know the world outside?
Has he studied law. history and poll
tics? Has he had great chances to
learn, and has he improved them7 Is
he sound and strong In mind, body and
soul? Is he accessible aud friendly to
all sorts and conditions OF men? Has
he the courage and the candor and tho
God-giycn ability to speak to the people
and tell them what he thinks?' To all
these questions they will answer yes
Then what 10 your objection 10 him?
They Will either stand speechless or
they will answer with the parrot cry
which We have heard so often: lie Is
unsafe!
"In n certain sense we shall have TO ad-
nit this TO bo true. To every grade Of
lawbreakers. high or low: to a man who
would rob a TIL or n ballot box: to tho
sneak or the bully; 10 the hypocrite
and the humbug. Theodore Roosevelt
Is more than unsafe: he is positively
dangerous"
Fairbanks Pays Tribute.
Senator Fairbanks. the next speaker,
said In part:
senator Burrows and Fellow Citi-
zcns: We are met 70 commemorate
no ordinary event. tor here. a half cen
tury ago. American patriots solcmnly
pledged themselves TO yindicate the
first principles OF republican govern
ment;' TO challenge the aggressiors Of
tho slave power. Here was issued tho
second declaration OF freedom. Here
vas taken the initial step which led to
tho overthrow OF slavery and the estab-
lishment Of the government upon truly
national lines. We freely pay the tribute
OF our grateful appreciation to the mem-
DRY OF those who raised here the srlnd-
ard Of republlcanism.
"The republican party was here
chrlstened and sent forth to accomplish
a more vital mission than had ever chal-
lenged the consideration OF the people
since the foundation OF the government
ITO the republican party was COM
mitted. In Gods providence, the stupen-
dous responsibility OF preserving the
integrity OF the nation itself. We would
not here klndle anew the fires OF past
hates. or reopen the debates OF long
buried differences which divided Sec
ton against section, for we stand re-
united under the acknowledged SUI
premacy OF ore flag and one constitu-
ton. But w may appropriately recall
the history OF n past generation in which
American contested with American for
the triumph OF opposing theories. In
that contest the republican party stood
for national solidarity. II stood for the
nation above state, and the victory II
achieved blessed both the victor and