Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-08-24
THE POPULIST SLOGAN

IRE ~
II. D. Sutherland: Mr.. Chairman.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The pleas
ant duty of Introducing to you gal
liant son Of the south has been placed
upon me. Our nominee Tor the pres1-
dency is native son Of Georgia. He
is this side of fifty years OF age. He
is an author and writer of some of
the best and strongest history that
we have in our libraries today. He has
been a warrior. and a strong gallant
fighter for populist principles ever
since there has been populist party.
(Applause.) He served two years in
the United States congress and from
the very moment that he entered, that
moment he assumed leadership OF
that small but energetic band OF men.
They labored for the best interests of
the country as they saw it, the popu-
lists OF that day. One OF the meas
ures that our candidate for the presi-
deucy offered in that body and secured
its passage, is the bill that provided
for the rural free delivery system. In
February, 1893, when the postofnce
bill was up for consideration he OF
fered an amendment that $4,000 OF
that sum should be set aside Tor the
experimental use of l1e 1ree delivery
of mail outside Of the cities and towns
and our candidate for the presidency,
Thomas e. Watson, thereby secured
into law the first great principle OF
the populist ideas, the looking after
the interests of all the people OF our
country, and it is Thomas e. Watson
to whom is due the nOnor or beng
the father and originator of the rural
free delivery system anc the first sue
cessful one to secure an appropriation
from the government for the benefit OF
all the people of our great rural COM
munity Ladies and gentlemen, have
the pleasure and honor of presenting
Thomas E. Watson OF Georgia. (Gfeat
app!ause.)
(Mr. Watson's speech reported stem
graphically by ]. E. rerris.)
MI. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: For the first time in eight years
assume to make a political speech.
For the first time in eight years take
part in q political campaign. In 1896
I met you people Of Nebraska, and so
TAR as knew, proclaimed the
principles of Jefersonian democracy,
those principles upon which popular
government must rest, no matter
by what name you call them, the right
OF the people to dictate, their laws,
mold their institutions and shape the
destinies OF their government. ZAP
Dlause.) All over the broad plains of
Nebraska, as far as my strength would
allow, l fought loyalty for these prin-
clples and did my utmost to bring
success to them. The eight years that
have interviewed have not been hap
py ones to me- The eight years that
have interviewed have been years OF
sorrow to me. But l come back to
Nebraska in 1904. l can look you
squarely in the eye, meet you front
to front, and foot to foot, and tell
you that the fires Of populisn that
burned in me then, ourn just as
brightly today. (Applause.) am
proud to believe that I represent a
people that stand for principles, prin-
clpies which are necessary to good
government; principles, without which.
the name democracy is but delusion
and a snare; people who, planting
themselves upon the rock of what they
believe to be right, are not to be
shifted back and forth at the ballot
boxes, but will stand by their princi-
pies as long as their conscience die
tates to them that they are in the
right.
In 1898 the populists OF Georgia
rendered me the nomination unani-
mously, Of governor. 1t was Just aft
er the great campaign of 1896. It was
not possible for me to accept that
nomination. I had something then to
tight for, and in declining that nomi-
nation, l said in 1898 to the people of
my state as follows:
Let no man believe that 7 desna5r
OF your principles, for do not. You
stand Tor the upward tendency of the
middle and lower classes You stand
where the reformer has always STOOD
1or improvement, for beneficial advan-
tages, for recognition of human BROTH
erhood IN its highest sense; for equal
1ty OF all men before the law, and for
an industrial system which is not
based upon the right OF the strong
TO plunder the weak; you stand as
sworn foes OF monopoly, not monopoly
IN us narrow sense, but monopoly of
power, monopoly of place, monopoly of
wealth, monopoly of progress. You
stand knocking at the closed door Of
privilege as the reformer has ever
stood, and saying to those within.
open, open wide the door that all who
are ready, may enter therein, let all
who deserve, enjoy; erect no barriers
against the unborn; snuc out no gener-
atoms that are yet to be. God made
life for all. Put no barriers around
the good things of life. Make no laws
which foster inequality, establish no
caste; and legalize no robbing under the
name of taxation; give to no person.
natural or unnatural summary powers
over his fellowmen. Open, open wide
the door, keep the avenues of honor
free; close no entrance to the DOOR
est or. weakest or humblest. Say to
men everywhere, the field is clear, the
contest fair. Come, and win your share
II you can. (Applause.)''
Such Is populism. Such is its clear
est creed. AS such, I have loved; it
with jealous preference. AS its dis
ciple I~have loved you, fought for
you, dared for you; never for one mo-
ment doubling that you were right. but
that your creed was the same, simple:
creed which in all ages has CHALLENGED
wrong. Such q creed can never die