The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-07-16
Says Delegates Were Sent by People to Name
Candidate, Not Sent by Candidate
to Notify the People.
A Platform, Not Photograph of Party Faith
But Rather Composite Sketch of
Party Compromise.

The speech In which Martin w. Lit
tleton, of New York, nominated Judge
Parker, was one Of the greatest
ever delivered at political conven.
ton. 1t rivaled the great speech by
which Robert G.. Ingersoll named
Blaine at Cincinnati in 1876. 1t was as
follows:
"NIr. Chairman and Gentlemen of
the Convention: We do not expect
here that stupid peace which smells
of chloroform. We do not wish that
unctuous unanimity which springs
from the unconf1icting emotions of a
solitary man. We would not have our
harmony in single harness. We, too,
love the stir of Il strenuous life, but
we believe in equal strenuousness for
all and special strenuousness for
none.
eve do not derive our power from
the seats of the mighty, but from the
souls of the humble We do not ask
for insane agreement springing from
fathless fire. but rather outbursts of
disscntiOn issuing from robust free
dom. We are not in executive session,
but rather in the committee Of the
whole.
eve were sent here by the people
| to select candidate. We were not
sent here by the candidate to notify
the people. Our adversnries by dwell
ing tenderly on the simplicity Of the
lamented Mckinley managed to en-
durc for three days the strenuosity Of
Roosevelt. BY recounting in affec
tionatc terms the achievements of the
one they evoked an enthusiasm which
they Immediately credited to the
other. Through tears that were shed
for the noble dead they saw n larger
outline of the living. Driven by lash
and lurcd by luck they called on all
the sacred dust to keep their spirits
up.
"Sct to run for three full days, the
|
fast and only strenuous shake could
make the wheels go round. Spiritless
in the sullen task, they worked uphill
against the grain and gravity Of the
hour. Without the master whom they
had learned to love they fingered list
less under the whip of one whom they
have learned to fear. Stripped Of pre-
mcditated pomp and shorn Of soothing
praise. the occasion meant no more
or less than an era of boots and spurs.
"Takc away the tribute to the dead
and all that is left is horseman OH
the slopes of San Juan. Remove the
reverend black that tells of nations
grief and underneath is khaki uni
form. Withhold the record made by
hands and hearts now still and all
that is left is usurpation's bold ac-
count Pull Off the mask that wears
the kindly smile Of peace and see the
grim and firm set teeth of war.
TT was the change from sure and
certain ways to the shifting, eddying
currents of the wild unknown. 1t was
a leap in the darkness of Republican
eclipse, and four years hence will find
them vainly looking for the light. II
marks the place where party, rich
in years of service, forsOok the beaten
path and went on winding way OF
untraveled roads. 1t marks the gap
between the era Of the conservative
and the radical. 1t looks good now be.
cause they do not see where the old
force ends and the new begins. But
as they drive away to sea the ever.
widening span 'twixt craft and land
will set many lifcboat toward the
shore
"Therc is much talk Of twisting ten.
dons in the race of life, of running out
of breath toward the open grave. The
old and honored way is still the best,
but not so strenuous as to strain your
self, nor yet so simple as to fall
asleep.
'"There is much said by those who
sit on cushioned chairs about towards
and weaklings in the nations life. The
j sunburnt farmer is just as brave az
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