The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-12-08
Watson in tho Field

- Tom watson Is Keeping lbs "Olu do
everybody knew he would when he an
nounced from New York just after the
election that he would take the field
and for the next four years devote
most of his time TO fignting the Il
and their allies and supporters, the two
old parties. Last week he delivered
one of his characteristic speeches at
Charlottesville, Ca, to an immense au-
dience. The following extracts from
the speech is all that The Independent
has been able to secure, but in them
is found the same honesty, the same
searching logic and the same burning
and blistering denunciations of demo-
cratic frauds that characterized his
speeches during the campaign. His
speech in part was as follows:
"In national politics, the democratic
party stands without a platform,
declaration of principles, or accepted
leader. 1t is utterly bankrupt in repu-
tation 1t has no unity of conviction,
sentiment, or purpose. 1t contains
santagonistic elements which can never
be harmonized. Its secret purpose is
go foreign to what democratic masses
approve that the eternal struggle Of
the national leaders Is to prevent the
democratic masses from penetrating
that secret purpose What is that Sec
ret purpose? To use the democratic
party in support Of the same system
Of class legislation which the republic
can party stands for"
"The watchword is Keep up the at
tack upon republican individuals, but
do not attack the system Of special
privileges, which Is responsible for
present conditions. In other words,
the secret mission or the democratic
party is to keep up sham battle. By
keeping the people divided and de-
luded, they hinder the organization of
real opposition to privileged class leg
islation and corporate greed. Thus
the national democratic party is the
best friend of which the plutOcratic
republican party can boast, for the Bel
monts, who call themselves democrats,
are just as much in favor of special
privileges as the Carnegies and Nor
gans, who call themselves republicans.
II make this prediction. Bryan will
be the candidate of the democratic par
ty in 1908. And | make this second
prediction. When Bryan runs for pres
ident in 1908 as the candidate of the
Parker, Belmont, Cleveland, German
combine he will be worse beaten man
than Parker was.
Does Mr.. Bryan sincerely believe
that he can commit the national demo-
cratic convention to his recently re-
paired and replenished populist plat
form? If SO, he must see that the coun-
try would then have two populist par
ties. Such contingency would be
laughable. were not the crisis SO grave.
Mr.. BRYAN must know that his pro-
gram promises nothing better than
another spectacular combat another
st. Louis convention with another dog
fall as the result. another surrender
on the part of Mr.. Bryan, another sham
battle, before the people, and another
Waterloo in which all will be lost. ~
Guiding honor.
he democratic party can no longer
claim to be national. 1t is sectional
The south is still it's victim. The
south is still the quadrennia. sacrifice
which corrupt or stupid southern poll
ticians deliver over to Wall street. But
for the solid south, the eastern democ-
racy would have to shut up shop, join
the republicans and face genuine
party of opposition
what keeps the south solid? Moth
ing in the world except an out-of-date
sectional animosity and the shameless
" hypocritical cry Of negro domination
In each southern state there is {
monopoly of privilege and of power
which is fighting for its life AS a rule
this monopoly is based upon the sup
port of northern railroads, northern
banks, northern manufacturers, TIL
school book trust, the Standard Oh
trust, the tobacco trust, the whisk.
trust and the cottonseed oil trust. Fet
bountifully from these rich sources, tn,
democratic machine in the southern
states is very naughty, indeed.
wants no change. Southern politician
will sacrifice the national ticket an
time to maintain the local monopoly
And the negro question is the joy Q
Ia ~ \