The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-07-22
FRANK S. BLACKS SPEECH,
Nominating Roosevelt at Re-
publican Convention.
Not a Stranger Waiting in the
Shade to be Called Into
Public Life.

Mr.. President and gentlemen OF the
Convention: We are here to inaugu-
rate a campaign which seems already
to be nearly closed. So wisely have
the people sowed and watched and
tended, there seems little now to do
but to measure up the grain, They
are ranging themselves not tor bat
tie but for harvest. In one column
reaching from the Maine woods to
the Puget Sound are those people
and those States which have stood so
long together that when great emer-
gencies arise the nation turns In
stinctively towards them. In this
column, vast and solid Is a majority
SO overwhelming that the scattered
squads In opposition can hardly raise
another army. The enemy have
neither guns nor ammunition, and II
they had they would use them on
each other. Destitute of the weap-
ons OF effective warfare, the only ev-
idence OF approaching battle Is 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 publican adver-
saries he would first destroy his own
comrades In the adjoin Ing tents.
Each believes the weapons chosen by
the other are not only wicked, but IA
tai to the holder. That Is true. This
Is the only war OF modern times where
the boomerang has been substituted
for the gun. Whatever fatalities may
occur, however, among the discordant
hosts now moving on st. Louis, no
harm will come this fall to the Amer
lean people. There will be no oppo-
sition sufficient to raise a conflict.
There will be hardly enough for COM
petition. There are no Democratic
plans for the conduct OF the fall cam
paign. Their zeal Is chiefly centered
In discussion as to what Thomas Jet
ferson would do If he were living and
but few of his descendants are among
the Democrat Remnants of to-day.
Whatever OF patriotism or wisdom
emanated from that distinguished
man Is now represented In this con.
vention.
1t Is a sad day for any party when
It's only means of solving living Is
sues Is by guessing at the possible at
titude OF a statesman who Is dead.
This condition leaves that party al
ways beginner and makes every
question new. The Democratic par
ty has seldom tried a problem on Its
own account, and when 1t has, Its
blunders have been It's only monu-
ments, Its courage Is remembered on
~ with regret. AS long as these
things are recalled that party may
serve as ballast, but 1t will never
steer the ship.
THE DEMOCRATIC MOTTO, "FoRGET. "
When all the people have forgotten
will dawn a golden era tor this new
Democracy. But the country is not
ready yet to place party In the lead
whose most expressive motto Is the
cherries word "iorget." That mot.
to may express contrition, but 1t does
not inspire hope. Neither confidence
nor enthusiasm will ever be aroused
by any party which enters each cam
paign uttering the language OF the
mourner.
There Is one fundamental plank,
however, on which the two great
parties are In full agreement. Both
believe In the equality OF men. The
difference that the Democratic par
ty would n. axe every man as low as
the poorest, while the Republican
party would make every man as high
as the best. But the Democratic
course will provoke no outside inter
ference now, tor the Republican mot
to Is that of the great commander,
never interrupt the enemy while he
Is making a mistake"
In politics, as In other fields, the
most impressive arguments spring
from contrast. Never has there been
a more striking example OF I'M
ity than Is now afforded by this
assemblage. You are gethered here
not as factions torn by discordant
Views, but moved by one desire and
intent; you have come as the chosen
Representatives of the most enlight-
ened party OF the world. You meet