Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-12

so with a mailed hand; somehow, al
| though you cannot put yOur finger OF
| he cause. Their, is univer.al fear;
the mother watching while her chill
dren sleep, now and then she hears
the bugle call. the tramp of soldiers
and, staring in the darkness OF a
dream. she sees the rigid, upturned
face The toiler, turning all his time
and sinew to gain what others get
begins to doubt that the government
is just. The man of means, who puts
1 it out in the active currents of the
tide and sees the peril of this doubt
and the government compromise
with both, begins to feel that it is
better boarded than employed.
THE north and south each wearing
scars that tell of war, almost for
given and forgot. feel the fear again
that a problem which only time can
settle right, will be forced upon them
wrong. Behind these fears and doubts
and startled dreams and vague mis-
givings is many hidden cause. But
over them is one at least revealed. For
Lincoln said in the sadness of his
great soul, with malice toward none,
with charity for all, with faith in the
right as God gives us the wisdom to
see it. And Roosevelt, said in the
glory of his self-cOntemplation, tread
softly and carry a big stick
CInImS of Republicans.
"And between these the beginning
and the end of republican growth in
time and temper is all their wild, de-
scending flight. With all they know
and feel of the country's question of
their course, the republican party yet
claim every fruit of soil and sun, of
brain and soul. They say that by a
wise administration of natures laws
they brought abundant harvest from
the soil. They say that by careful di-
rection of scientific search they added
untold volumes to the store of COM
mon knowledge. They say that inven-
ton, under their control, has lifted
loads of labor from mankind. They
say that religions long sleep was
broken by the stimulus of republi-
can virtue. and they point with pride
TO the churches all over the land.
They say that education was unpop-
ular until they took it up and that now
almost everyone is willing to be edu-
Gated. They say that while popula-
ton was increasing some, there was
never any steady, advancing, general
increase until the republican party
came into power. When attention is
called to the economic, industrial and
administrative vices resulting from
their incompetency. they see that af-
ter all there are some things which
the All-Wise Providence insists upon
doing without giving any particular
reason for ii.
So, on the whole, we may conclude
that whatever the good Lord does
in administering this good universe
that turns out to be good they credit
it to themselves; and whatever the
republicans do in administering the
government that turns out bad they
charge up To the Lord.
Gentlemen of the convention, be-
yond the exciting passions of war and
the distracting panics of peace; be-
yond the reach of disasters dread APP
peal and the dead past's dying wall,
we meet in the clear and rational calm
Of seasoned common sense. to reason
together for the well being of our
and our party. No man here
can have his exact way. No leader
can take us along the narrow ledge
Of his unquestioned logic. No section
should swerve us from the course
hat leads to union and fellowship.
No faction can divide us into weak
ened parts and leave us on the field
IF battle in front of the enemy. No
man is greater than it's principles.
There is no principle which does not
rest upon a condition. and there is no
condition which may not change.
There is no creed set down in black
md white to which we are forever
strapped, as to- a corpse There is no |
platform which can last forever, unless |
t be made of abstract things incapa- |
de of demonstration. The world is |
moving in its majestic course and ey- |
Try dreary detail of it's toll works out |
some mighty change. Civilization is |
light and day working with its count |
ess hands, and its influence runs
-head TO where we cannot see or hear.
political party is an agency in the
lands OF these material and multiplied
OrceS and If il ceases to interDret |
vents with intelligence it will be de-
erted. The recent past is filed with
record OF our disagreements. Many /
I Us wosld change that past if it were
within our power-most of us would
ot-but whether we would or not. the
oint is ii is past. If we intend to set
lie here the question as to who was
light and who was wrong. then we are
)redoomed to failure. For if we did
OF settle it then, how can we succeed
ow?
IF you tell me | was wrong and
tell you You We're wrcrg and we halt Z
here 10 thrash il oGC that is the emil L
'ut if yOd tell ne right or wrong. we
lc't AGAIN after Il short. sharp sepa
alton at the democratic altar and L
hat we must clasp hands in a natural
p.ance Of femOc-ati, fai'h and FL. Il
ore common ground upon which we
ach may starf with honor, say il
ocs not matter Who Was " ong, the
.tuf < We arc tooe no au,sr