Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-07-30

W lien the members Of this faction rise
To make their nominating speeches we
see that the speakers teeth are all Of
gold. and their arms ase of gold, and
their hair is of gold. and their legs
are of gold. Their fingers are of gold,
though they have gold rings upon
those fingers. Their necks also are of
gold. though the collars around those
necks are of pure gold. Their feet are
of gold, though the shoes which cover
those feet are not made of leather, but
of gold. BY the old Roman law a
man could not vote unless he was
valued, | believe. at something like
$1,000 in our money. Today there is
tendency not so much to restrict the
vote i'm presidential elections to the
property owner as to those who either
own gold or can be influenced by the
prospect of getting gold.
If gold Is not becoming a great fac
tor in American political life. what
was the meaning of the sudden change
of American sentiment in reference to
war when, in 1894, Grover Cleveland
president of the United States, drifted
dangerously near to war with Great
Britain? When the presidents demand
that the British government submit
its dispute with VaAcZuela to arbitra-
ton was first learned, there was an
outburst of approval of his daring
course. But the next day there was
fall i'm the price of stocks in Wall
street. the money markets of the world
were c0nvIlsed. and the millioniares
Joined with ministers of the gospel and
wise patriots throughout the land In
urging the president at all cost to
avoid war with Great Britain. What
was the cause of the sudden change?
Why was the policy applauded on one
day deprecated on the next? Were
the principles Of the Monroe doctrine
which the president was praised for
championing. discovered to be fal-
lacious? Was Venezuela any less
worthy of our protection on one day
than on the other? Was II not rather
that the money power of the country
realized that war would involve ruin
to some and loss to all: So the good
men and wise patriots who had de-
nounccd the prospect Of war at the
beginning on righteous principles were
unexpectedly REINFORCED by men who
know no god but the golden calf.
Do you profess to believe that gold
yellow gold-as would be bramble
king is not trying to get possession of
this government? DO you for one mo-
ment profess TO believe that the United
States would be as quick to declare
war against England or Russia or Ger
many or France ms II was against
poverty stricken nation like Spain?
Touch the nations pockctboOk and in
many parts of this land you will make
the word "patriotism." written in let
tiers of gold. turn as black as the heart
Of Selfishness and deceit. One OF the
great dangers threatening the welfare
of our land is the power of the great
money combinations. 1t is rapidly
developing power. and it is ever aim
ing to seat in the presidential chair of
this free nation its branble king. gold.
as the supreme ruler of this great peO-
pie. When the great railroad trusts
and the oil trusts and the tin can trusts
and the beef trusts and the sugar
trusts and the steel trusts can dictate
who is to be president of the United
States let us beware! Take thy cloven
foot. O yellow and would be King
Bramble. from off the front doorstep
M hn f1ct Il
strOy the Roman and the Grecian gov
ernments when their national power
passed into the hands of the few cap
italists. Thy foul breath is now hot
upon our cheeks. but by Gods help
thou shalt not be allowed to destroy us
King Alcohol AS Bramble.
But again we find the destroying
bramble canvassing for supremacy in
American politics in another way He
now appeals to the diseased and in
famed appetite of nan for strong
drink. But. though, if man may
look ut this bramble long enough. he
can see him changed into the wriggling
coil of n snake; yet. like Melusina. the
most famous of all the French fairies.
when first he appears he looks like a
beautiful god. instead of like devil.
His hair is cluster of luscious grapes.
rich as those of Eshcol. which the spies
carried back from the promised land
to the Hebrew encampment. His
cheek has not upon it the pale look
Of corpse. but it is flushed with what
looks like the redness of health. He
comes to us not as a pauper. In his
pocket he jingles the coin of his taxes
as he says: YOU cannot. you dare not.
do without me. l am King Alcohol.
There is not a political convention in
all this land except one that has dared
hurl defiance Mt my scepter. My den
may seem to he the saloon. but my
throne will yet be built under the great
dome i'm the rOtunda of our national
capitol. l shall yet be publicly recog-
niZed as king in American politics as
l am everywhere in secret recognized
as King Alcohol now
Is not the defiant assertion true?
What political convention. with the eX