The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-07-01
Blacks Tribute to Roosevelt
Former Governor Of Ne1p York Mominates Hin, at Chicago

Mr., President II Gentlemen of tho
Conventions: We are here to inaugurate
a campaign which Geems already to be
nearly closed. So wisely have the people
sowed and watched and tended, there
seems little now 10 do but to measure up
the grain. They are ranging themselves
not for battle hut for harvest. In one
column reaching from the Maine woods
to the Puget Sound are those people ana
those states which have stood 50 long
together, that when great emcrgeicles
arise he nation turns instinctiNeiy 70
them. In this column, vast and sohd. -
a majority so Overwhelming that the scat
tered squads in opposition can hardly
raise another army. The enemy. mas
neither guns nor ammunition. and II lhey
had they would use them ON each other,
Destitute of the weapons of effective war
fare, the only evidence OF approaching
battle is in the tone and number of their
bulletins. There is discord among the
generals; discord among the soldiers.
Each would fight in his own way, but be
fore ~assaulting' his republican adversarics
he would first destroy his own comrades
In the adjoining tents. Each believes the
weapons chosen by the other are not
only wicked hut fatal to the holder. That
Is true. This is the only war of modern
times where the boomerang has been SUD
stituted for The gun Whatever fatalities
may occur. however. among the discord-
ant hosts nov moving on st. Louis. no
harm Will ON this fail to the American
people. There will be no opposition suffi-
cinet to raise a conflict; Thetg WIN ne
hardly enough for competition. There are
no democratic plans for the conduct of
the fall campaign. Their zeal is chiefly
central in discussion as TO what .Ihomas
Jefferson would do if he We're living. He
is not living. and but few of his descend
ants are among the democratic remnants
of today. Whatever of patriotism or Wis
dom cmanated from that d~istinsulshed
man is now represented in this conven-
| ton.
|. Democracy's Need of an Issue.
1t is a sad day for any party when its
only means of solving living issues Is by
guessing at the possible Att attitude Of t,oa a
leaves that party always Il beginner ana
makes every question new The demo
cratic party has seldom tired a problem
on its own account. and when it has its
blinders have been its only monuments.
its courage is remembered only In regret.
As long as these things are recalled That
party may serve as ballast. but 1T Will
never steer the ship.
When all the people have forgotten viii
dawn a golden era for this new democ-
racy. But the country is not ready yet TO
place a party in the lead whose most eX-
pensive motto is the cherries word for
get That motto may eNpress contrit.on,
but it does not inspire hope. Neither con-
tidence nor enthusiasm will ever be
aroused by any party which enters each
campaign uttering the language of the
mourner.
There is one fundamental plank, how
ever. on which the two great parties are
in full agreement. Both believe in the
the democratic party would make every
man as low as the poorest. while the re-
publican party would make every man as
high as the best. But the democratic
course will provoke no outside interfer-
ence now. for the republican motto is
that of the great commander. never IN
terrupt the enemy while he is making a
mistake"
Argument by Contrast.
In politics as in other fields, the most
impressive arguments spring from con-
trast. Never has there been a more str!k-
ing example of unity than is now afford
ed by this a~ssemblage. You are gathered
here not as factions torn by discordant
views. but moved by one desire and in
sentatives Of the most enlightened party
in the world. You meet not as strangers,
for no men are strangers who hold the
! same beliefs and espouse the same cause.
You may separate two bodies of water
for a thousand years. but when once the
barrier is removed they minsle Instantly
and are one. tn same traditions inspire
and the same purposes a%etuate us all,
Never in our lives did these purposes
stand with deeper root than now. At least
two generations nave passed away since
the origin of that great movement from
; which sprans the spirit which has been
the leading impulse in American politics
for half a century. In that movement,
which was both a creation and an eX-
ample, were those great characters which
endowed the republican party at its birth
with the attributes OF Justice, equality
and progress, which nave held 1T to this
hour in line with the highest sentiments
of mankind. From these men we have in
herited the desire, and to their memory
we owe the resolution, that those grcat
schemes of government and humanity. in
spired by their patriotism, and established
by their blood, shall remain as the fixed
and permanent emblem of their labors.
and the abiding signal of the liberty and
progress of the race.
R.,,hIie,,isn, Inepi,,+ion
!. a.,
inefe arg h.alS = ~ na.res W. 80 nv
Gays, pus tHe iepupt-Gan pa te'sto ~
new .,le. ~ slaiiI9 NV MHeae ~ sto aI
M tne oei thn B., ~ 80, ntbioh 3ha ~,
ea 10 .ell we soulnv truAa mtieh 5re az,
Spiia i y eoe ~ S,,iifr ,on, as >
nienloaa Mo.ai. us - a,' ~ *" 49,. a. /.
49, Nv ~ ~ NO ran,.15linan ~,
astn, ~ W VI ~ ~ = ~ ~ go
seahas oneI ewe's ~ 49, har, ! !, "s9b'
cred around every movement. no matter
how weak, if inspired by high resolve; 1t:
flag for more than fifty years has beef
erty was the word. Thai party. needs NJ
new name or platform to designate it!
purposes. 1t is now as it has been
equipped. militant and in motion. Thu
4 problems of every age that age mus
solve. Great causes impose great de
mands, but never in any enterprise hay
the American people failed, and never il
any crisis has the republican party faiiet
to express the conscience and intelligence
of that people.
The public mind is awake both to 1T