Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-09-16

sentatives of the great American press,
one Of the mighty forces in the upbulld-
ing and Strengthening Of sturdy
American citizenship You have been
in conference tothe end that your work
In this campaign may be rs effective as
possible. Organized effort and concer-
ted action must always increase the
effectiveness Of the common endeavor
OF many hands.
1.-THE lea ders who have made thor
oughfare through history. dewn VIII ch
In all the centuries their fame will
march with giant strides, have all been
men who, though unmoved by hasty
expression of the hurried judgement Of
people. were yet guided In all their
public acts by the knowledge Of what
| the deliberate and mature Judgement
Of the people would be.
$50 the great papers are those which
anticipate the care ul judgement Of the
majority. The great tribunal Of the
American people may be implicitly
relied on TO decide all questions with
unerring and exact justice when all the
evidence is in, and elaboration had and
those who would hold place as leaders
of the reoble must be so thoroughly
American, so discreet 80 farsighted and
so sure Of the pulse of the people as to
discern the course public opinion will
take.
Though the instant Judgment OF
the people may be often at fault, the
ripe and final decision Is always for the
right. And the part of leadership Is
TO know the right and 20 honestly, pa
triotically, fearlessly and zealously ad-
vocate 1t. Just as long as the press can
| discern and lead the unhurried and
wcll.consid cred Judgment of the people
so long will its power grow nightly,
and so long will 1t hold Its place in the
front rank of the unfaltering and vigor-
Gus march Of progress.
"To the upbailding Of the power of
the press. 70 the best use of that
power, you have devoted yourselves.
There are questions of great import to
be passed upon by the people in Now
mber-questions that it will be your
duty and therefore am:sure your plea
sure as well to present honestly, and 80
clearly that the people will understand
them.
II shall not take up your time, how
ever, with any reference to the great
issues upon which our party, through
It's platform and candidates, confidently
appeals to the people for Enforcement,
but crave your indulgence while brief
y refer to single feature of the plat
form Of the Republican party.
The platform opens with a declara-
ton of that party's mauy years OF con-
troll of government, couples with the
assertion that 1t has displayed high
capacity for rule and government
which has been made even more con-
spicuous by the incapacity inf, nifty OF
purpose shown by the opponents.
"This challenge to comparison OF
Democratic and Republican administers
tions since the republican party came
into existance should be welcomed.
Fortunately We have eight recent years
of Democratic administration Of the
executive department Of the Govern
ment which we will gladly compare
with any similar period since 1850.
1.-THE comparison will show that uu-
der Democratic coAtrosl the admins
trative purity Of the fathers was obser-
we'd in the conduct Of the government:
that no ore Of Its departments was
permeated, ~ Of late, with corruption
rivsllng the days Of the Star Route
frauds: that successful effort was
made to check the growth OF expendi-
lures: that it resulted in each instance
In cutting down the expenses within
the control of the executive department
Of the Government below that Of the
preceding administrations.
The comparison will show also that
each succeeding Republican adminis-
tration after 1888 increased expenses
and in some instances 80 greatly ~ to
indicate reckless extravaganza and
waste OF the peoples money.
"During Mr.. Cleveland's first term
the average annual expenditure was
about two hundred and sixty nine mill
ions. For the past three years IL has
been about five hundred and ninteen
millions The government expenditure
last year mounted up to fivo hundred
and eighty two millions. which Is moi
equalled by any year since the civil wal
with the exception Of the year Of the
Spanish war.
There is Al inevitable result in such
extravagence. Instead of a surplus 10
the annual receipts of absAut eight,
rniJliau which the rraasut Exoeutive