Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-03
ADDRESS BY
SENATOR KNOX

"Hu 'u' pIcSluenl > was not III othcT
words. the question OF the existence
Of constitutional power is TO be deter
mined by the discretion with which
il is exercised. This is a curious
theory,
Neither do | understand how the
fact that congress saw fit TO give a
service pension to Mexican veterans
when they reached the age Of sixty
two throws any light on the presi-
dents power to use the lights OF eX-
perience to help him 10 ascertain the
fact OF total or partial disability un-
der a law which does not give n ser
vice pension at any age but a disabil
ity pension. regardless Of age.
! think, however, that is all beside
the question now up for the peo-
pies decision. 1t is not only the zeal
and fidelity of individuals with which
the people are now concerned, but
the case in which those
virtues are manifested. The
mar in gray we're as conscien-
tiously attached to their cause as the
men in blue. The danger to the coun-
try was the seriousness Of their mis-.
taken convictions.
We have the authority of the gentle
man who put Judge Parker In nomina-
ton that no man Is greater than MS
party and no party greater than its
principles, and it cannot be success
fully maintained that the personnel
of party management or the character
of democratic policies have undergone
sufficient change and modification to
Justify the people in entrusting the
control of their government to the
democracy.
| think il entirely fair to Judge
Parker to say ntil, through David B.
Hill and other political friends in
New York, he became an avowed
candidate for the democratic nomi-
nation for the Presidency, the coun-
try knew nothing and had no opportu-
nifty to know anything of him beyond
the fact that he had filled the office
of chairman of the New York State
Democratic Committee; had conduct
ed the campaign that resulted in the
election OF Mr.. Hill as governor of
New York, and that subsequently he
became Chief Judge of his State,
which position he seems to have cred
itably filled.
The people Of the United States,
though naturally anxious, in view OF
his candidacy, to know Judge Park
ers views upon national policies, We're
unable to gain any information be-
yond what his vote had indicated in
former national elections. Judge
Parker adopted a very unusual and
curious policy of silence concerning
public questions, which was. unbrok-
en- until the day following his nomina-
ton and after the convention had be-
gun to d~isintegrate. He then pro-
claimed his belief that the gold money
standard had been irrevocably fixed
tas, indeed, it had been by republican
legislation in spite of almost unani-
nous democratic opposition), and
that he would act accordingly, if elect
ed.
Immediately his supporters pro-
Gained throughout the land that this
first expression of Judge Parkr mark
ed him as a statesman of superior
mould and heroic courage, and they
have been exceedingly tenacious Of
this view and sensitive Of its criti-
cism.
Now, without in any way seeking
to put this matter in any other than
its true light under the facts, and
without the slightest desire to ques-
ton the truth of Judge Parker's ut
.terance as TO the irreyocability OF the
gold standard so long as the republi-
gold standard remains in over, Or his
wisdom in making il, | do not think
the facts, which | sail not repeat, JUS
tify such an ~extravagant characeri-
of the motive and nature of
his performance. j
When the st. Louis convention was
ready to receive nominations Judge /
Parker's silence vas u%nbroken. he
long. long struggle owe the money
plank, the one vital to the democracy,
IN view of its past. had developed
nothing but t the statement
Of his next friend. David B. Hill, that
he did not know where Judge Parker
on that question, and eventual
ed in the deliberate resolve of the
convention that the democratic party
lid not owe it to the American peo-