The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-27

Hay, secretary of state who made the
first speech was given an ovation when
he appeared. The band played and
flags were waved on every part of the
house while the audience cheered.
The audience rose as one man, when
the presiding officer characterized
President Roosevelt as a Man whom
all admire and love- Great cheering
greeted Secretary Hay as he arose.
Many times while he was speaking
Mr.. Hay was interrupted by applause,
and there was a great outburst of
cheering when he finished. Mr.. Hay
said:
This campaign will be memorable in
our annals as one of the quietest ever
known. Rarely in our recollection has
there been so little excitement, so
slight disturbance of the orderly course
of affairs. Why is it that these great
assizes where 80 millions of people are
to decide in whose hands they are to
place their interests for the next four
years should be approached with so
little noise, with such unusual calm?
Why is it that the American people are
possessing their souls in such repose?
There is. venture to say, no explain
alton of this state of feeling, except
that the people of this country have
made up their minds that there is to
be for the present no change in the
principles and policies that have prov
ed so successful in the last eight years.
They had resolved definitely and clear
ly in 1896 that their temporary aberra-
ton from the policy which as long ago
as the time of Henry Clay was called
the American system had not resulted
favorably. They intrusted William
Mckinley with the task of bringing the
country back to its old bearings, of
restoring the well-tried ways of the
national housekeeping. He showed
himself worthy of their confidence. In
four years the country made great
progress along its regular Old-fashion-
Of ,oo md r
1900 when he gave an account of his
stewardship the people approved it and
renewed his term of office. An I'M
speakable crime snatcfled him away
from his glorious task and oHr loving
confidence. In the classic myth when
the golden bough was torn away an
other Immediately appeared in it's
place. Theodore Roosevelt took up the
burden our beloved chief laid down and
with Incompatible courage ard
strength has carried it on. With the
work of both these faithful servants
the American people are satisfied. Be
ieving and intending that the work
shall go on in the hands and under
the guidance which has been found so
efficient, they are not wasting so much
time as usual from their private affairs
versal to need much advertising.
None of us will make the mistake of
thinking the contest of this year unim-
portant. On the contrary, it goes down
to the very foundations of our national
welfare. 1t is not campaign rhetoric,
it is merely the simple fact, to say
that nothing but disaster could follow
the reversal. of the policies to- which
We are indebted for the prosperity of
the past few years. The country can
not afford to give up the gold stand
ard and to drift on the shifting cur
rents of financial experiment and
quackery. 1t can not afford to give up
the principle and practice of protection
to American industries. Any radical
meddling with the tariff would throw
a thousand industries into confusion
and bring many to ruin. Stability, I'M
ity of purpose, is absolutely necessary
to the complicated and delicate ma
chinery of modern business, where the
change in the price of single by
product may vitality affect the pros
perity of a great industry and may
make all the difference between COM
fort and want to thousands of work
ingmen and their families. Nobody
denies that the tariff must from time
to time be revised. But it is too evil
deuk 60r argument that the revision