The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-07-15

calm. clear reasoning, in its simple
eloquence. in its strong logic and con-
yinclng truth, il makes one of the
finest presentation speeches ever de-
livered upon such an occasion. He
said in part:
Mr.. Chairmen and Gentlemen Of the
Convention We do not expect here
that stupid peace which smells of chic
reform. We do not wish that unctuous
unaninity which springs from unin-
flcted emotions of a solitary man. We
would not have our harmony in SIN
gle harness. We. too. love the stir of
a strenuous life; but we believe in
equal strenuousness for all and special
strenuousness for none. We do not
derive our power from the seats of
the mighty. but from the souls of the
humble. We do not ask for inane
agreement springing from faithless
fi1e, but rather outbursts of dissension
issuing from robust freedom. We are
not in executive session, but rather in
the Committee of the Whole. We were
sent here by the people to select a can
dldate. We were not sent here by the
candidate to notify the people. Our
adversaries, by dwelling tenderly on
the simplicity of the lamented Nc
Kinley, managed to endure for three
days the strenuosity of Roosevelt. By
recounting in atfectionate terms the
achievements of the one they evoked
an enthusiasm, which they immed-
lately credited to the other. Through
tears that were shed for the now dead
they saw a larger outline of the living
Driven by lash and lured by luck, they
called on all the sacred dust to keep
their spirits up. Set to run three full
days, the pendulum petered out, the
hand stuck fast and only strenuous
shake could make the wheels go round. |
Spiritless in the sullen task, they |
worked up hill, against the grain and |
gravity of the hour. Without the |
master whom they had learned to love
they fingered iistless under the whip
of one whom they have learned to fear.
Stripped of premeditated pomp and
shorn of scathing phrase, the occasion
meant no more or less than an era of
boots and spurs. Take away the
tribute to the dead and all that is left
is horseman on the slopes of San
Juan. Remove the reverend black that
tells of a Nations grief and under
meath is khaki uniform. Withhold
the record made by hands and hearts
now still and all that is left is usurpa-
tious account y
Somehow of late the atmosphere of
our National life is filled with spray
Of blood; somehow the march of
progress sounds of hammered steel
somehow, although the sunlight of ,
peace is ali about us, there is now and
hen the CLEAN of bayonets in its /,
'adiant fire and flash of swords in its /,
silver beams; somehow, although the :
Constitution is still in force. there is a :
ense of failing power and growing .
lisfespect which makes us feel that
he venerable old man-so to speak 4
s halt and blind with years and bur-
lens the strenuous household OF his .
Somehow, at times, +
here runs a sort of shock right down h
o the foundations of this Republic H
which makes the structure tremble, and =
ii the country pauses and listens and =
hen returns to work. Somehow, al d
hough the future welcomes us, it does
o with a mailed hand; somehow, al n
hough you cannot put your finger ON Il
he cause, there is universal fear;
he mother watches while her children 7
leep now and then she hears the bugle n
all, the tramp of soldiers and staring r,
n the darkness of a dream she sees the az
rigid up turr ed face" The tilleI, n
lrnlng all his time and sinew into +;
ain which others get, begins to doubt n
nat the Government is just. The n
ian of means who puts it out in the n
ctive currents OF the tide and sees 4,
le peril of this doubt and the Govern "
ent compromise with both. begins re-
feel that it is better boarded than "
nployed. of
Met to Reason Together.
Gentlemen of the convention, beyond
70 exciting passions of war and the :,
stracting panics of peace; beyond the o oe
ach of disaster dread appeal and the ~ ~
lad past's dying, we meet in the clear " -.
I'd rational calm of seasoned common s..
nee to reason together for the well-be- o. o.
g of our country and our party. No - %
an here can have his exact way. No " "
ader can take US along the narrow ~
1ge OF his unquestioDed logic. No ~ ~
ctlon should swerve US from the course ~ ~.
at leads to union and fellowship. No bbp
ctlon can divide US into weakened -
rts and leave us on the field of battle 20
the enemy. No man is greater than 90
. party, and no party is greater than ha
principles. There is no principle ="
itch ooes rest not upon a condition, -
d there is no condition which may not -.
angc. There is no creed set down In
,ck and white to which we are forever
4 b