The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-09

white to which we are forever
strapped, as to a corpse. There is no
platform which can last forever, I'M
less you be made of abstract things
inca pa BILE for demonstration. The
world is moving in its majestic course
/ and every dreary detail of its toll
works out some mighty change. Civil
| lization is night and day working with
| its countless hands, and its influence
runs ahead to where we can not see.
a political party is an agency in the
hands of these material and multiplied
forces, and if il ceases to interpret
events with intelligence it will be de-
serted
Past DiSagrcementS.
The recent past is filed with a rec
ord of our disaSreements. Many of
US would change that past if it were
in our power-~noSt of us would not
but whether we would or would not,
the point is, it is past. If we intend
to settle here the question as to who
was right and who was wrong, then
we are fOredoomed to fail. For if we
did not settle it then. how can we
succeed now? If you tell me 1 was
willing and I tell you we were willing
end. If you tell me right and wrong
we meet again after a short, sharp
separation at the Democratic altar and
that we must clasp hands in a nat
ural alliance of Democratic faith and
find some common ground upon which
we each may stand with honor, 1 say
it does not matter who was wrong,
the point is, we are together again.
The science of sensible government is
founded on compromise The integ-
rity of party existence rests on the
homely rule of meeting each other
half way. A platform is not n pho
tograph of party faith, it is a COM
poSite sketch of party compromise A
policy is an approximation. not a pre-
else plan. 1t is better to give up some
untimely doctrine and occasionally
succeed than to hold them all faith
fully and always fail for if we could
become master of a few things we
might become ruler over many. To
place success in disregard of principle
is mere folly. Winning is not wicked.
strategy is not sin. 1t is far bet
ter for the country to relight the fires
of Democratic hope by success COM
ing from concession than it is to put
out what is left by failure fastened
to formula
come together in the historic valley
of the Mississippi at the time when
uncontented minds are making q pa
triotic pilgrimage to a shrine erected
by Democratic wisdom and foresight.
Surely, you gather here, with the
present breaking upon your raptured
vision and the past filling your heart
with songs of praise and joy; surely.
as YOU contemplate the commonwealth
filled with happy homes that stretch
out in bewildered succession to the
southern seas and recall with unaf-
fected pride that your party gave this
kingdom of wealth and courage to the
worlds advancing reach; surely, here.
close to the quickened pulse of the
great southwestern giant as he comes
to strike hands across the years with
the spirit of the old Dominion; here.
swept by the thrilling and ennobIing
memories of the long ago, and inspired
by a spectacle which makes these
memories dearer and nobler still, sure
lv Won are urged bV every innDuISe
and entreated by every recollection to
forever sink the differences that dis
tract and the causes that confuse. and
gathering afresh from this exhaust
less headwater of our hope the spirit
of fifty years of ascending party faith,
resolve to restore our party to its