The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-11
Mr.. Watson's Eloquent Address
Before
The Nebraska StAts Convention

or like that OF Austria or OF Russia.
No, they had had enough of the privi-
legged few: they had had enough OF class
law; they had had enough or cOrrup-
tion; they had had enough of oppres-
sion. they had had enough of tyranny.
and they came here not to make !
government lie those abroad, but J.
! government different from those
abroad (apppiause). anc throwing on
the yoke OF the king. the combination
OF church and state. the yoke of the
nobility, the dictatiOn OF the priest.
they dedicated their energies to the
government Of ali the people, equal
and exact justice to all men, and class
privileges to none. (Applause)
need not dwell for a moment ex-
cept to remind you that under these
splendid principles, with these splon-
did beginnings how the colonies rose
into great democracy, a great re-
public; because In the broad sense of
the term the two words mean the
same, the rule Of the people, by the
people, and for the people. lApplause.)
The mother country endeayOring 70
fasten her grip, her tax system. her
caste system upon us, we cried out.
liberty or death; and the soldier said.
liberty or death; and the statesman
said, liberty or death; and Americatl
citizenship, men, women and children.
said liberty or death, and they fought
and riSked death rather than wear
the chain OF seryitude OF the king Of
Great Britain (applause) against
whole people, In arms We won out
because we were united. We won out
because we were consecrated; we won
out because we were right. (AppIauseJ
And today, my c0untrymen, ii the
spirit OF our fathers is still to dwell n
the institutions which they estab-
lished, we have got TO resolve onco
more that we will make our fight, and
fight all along the line for the lib
critics which they bequeatned us tau
planse} when independence was estab.
lished. Before the old eternal civil con-
flct which takes place In every gov
ernnieht began in ours, as Tar back as
the historian can see there Is conflict
In every organized society, Just as
inevitable as the conflict between right
and wrong. just as Inevitable as the
conflict between light and darkness
what is it? The impulse Of the masses
toward liberty, and the impulse Of the
classes toward oppression, impulse OF
the few to m0nopoli1e the benefits of
government. and the impulse Of the
masses to resist it, and have them
distributed so that all men may en-
JOY It. Applause.) Two great schools
OF political thought sprung up--Eam-
lltonian and Jeifersonian You know
without repetition what Hamilton be-
lieyed and stood for; also what JEFF
ferson stood for Hamilton believed
that the English government was the
best; that the few should always rule.
but despised the mob, calling il the
great beast, had no confidence in ii.
no respect for it, no pity for 1t, no
sympathy with it. Put the govern
ment into co-partnership with the
rich; put the law making power into
the hands of the few, create an aris-
tocracy OF wealth and privilege and
commence as nearly as may be, under
our laws, of establishing what they
have In the old world AS opposed
to that came Jefferson believing in
the people, sympathizing with the pco-
pie, hoping for the people. cham
pion Of the people, and says to Ham
itoa and his disciples. all the people
fought for this; all the people prayed
tor this; all the people are interested
In this; all the people shall have
share In this. tAppiause.) We shalt
have no class legislation: we snail
have no special privilege; We shall
have no aristocracy OF wealth, but we
Will have now and forever democracy
20 the principles OF equal
and exact justice 20 all men. TAP
tlause)
You remember that under Cen
'ral WASHINGTON. MIR. Hamilton
being his adviser. with the entire
democratic press against Washington
establishing national banks. macting
class laws. creating funding Sys-
lem. patterned after everythlng of
Great Britain as far as possible. Icf-
ferson resigned from waahlngtonn
sablnet and Sald. I will fight II. / will
ight IL: Il IS wrong: n violates the
compact. the purposes of the pioneers:
( violates the spirit I'd the early set.