Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-06-23
BLACKS NOMINATING SPEECH
ANElOQUENT MASTERLY ADDRESS
Convention Carried off its Feet by the forceful
Periods of the Famous
New Yorker


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 for battle 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 emergencies arise the ma
ton turns instinctively to them. In this
column, vast and solid, is majority
so overwhelming that the scattered
squads in opposition can hardly raise
another army. The enemy has neither
guns nor ammunition and IL they had
they would use them on each other
Destitute Of the weapons OF effective
warfare. the only evidence of approach
ing battle Is In the tone and number OF
their bulletins. There is discord among
the generals: discord among the SOL
diers. Each would fight in his own
way, but before assaulting his repub-
lican adversaries ne would first destroy
his own comrades in the adjoining
tents. Each believes the weapons
chosen by the other are not only wicked
but fatal to the holder That is true.
This II the only war of modern times
where the boomerang has been substi-
tuted for the gun. Whatever fatalities
may occur, however, among the dis
cordant hosts now moving on St. Louis
no harm will come this fall to the
American people. There will be no op-
position 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 Jeffer-
son would do II he were living He Is
not living. and but few of his descend
ants are among the democratic rem
nants OF today. Whatever Of patriot
ism or wisdom emanated from that dis
tinguished man IL now represented in
this convention.
II II sad day for any party when It's
only means OF solving living issues is
by guessing at the possible attitude of
: statesman who IL dead. This condi-
ton leaves that party always a be-
ginner and makes every question new.
The democratic party has seldom tried
- problem on III own account and
when 4 has IT. blunders have been its
only monuments, Its courage is remem-
bered only In regret AZ long as these
things are recalled that party may
serve a. ballast. but II will never steer
the ship
When all the people have forgotten
will dawn = golden era for this new
democracy. Butt he country II not
ready yet to place party in the lead
whose most expressive motto Ii the
cheerless word forget" That motto
may express contrition. but II does not
inspire hope. Neither confidence nor
enthusiasm win ever be aroused by any
party which enters each campaign ut
tering the. language Of the mourner.
There II one fundamental plan. how
ever. on which the two great parties
are IN full agreement. Both believe In
the equality OF men. The difference Is
that the democratic party would make
every man as low as the poorest. while
the republican party would make every
ocratic course will provoke no outside
interference now. for the republican
motto n that of the great commander.
..never interrupt the enemy while he Is
making mistake"
In politics az In other fields. the most
trast. Never has there been a more
striking example Of unity than Is now
afforded by this assemblage. You are
gathered here not as factions torn by
discordant views. but moved by one de-
sire and intent, you have come as the
1ightened party In the world. You meet
mot ~ strangers. for no men are
strangers who hold the same beliefs
and esp0use the same cause. You may
separate two bodies Of water for q
thousand years. but when once the bar
4sSS - bCsssVSc0 euCy ulAi8IC uloSduNly
and are one The same traditions In
spire ana the same purposes actuate us
an. Never IN our lives did these pur-
pooss stand with deeper root than now.
At least two generations have passed
AWAY since the origin OF that great
movement from which sprang the spirit
which has been the leading impulse in
American politics for half a century.
In that movement. which was both .
creation and an example. were those
great characters which endowed the re-
publican party at it, birth with the at
tributes Of justice. equality and pro-
graes. which have held It to this hour
In line with the highest sentiments Of
mankind. Frsm these men we have in
heritsd the Aeaire. and to their memory
~ owe the resolution. that thcss great
schemes a. sossrnmsnt and humanity.
Inspired by their patriotism. and estab-
lished by their blood. shall remain al
the fixed and permanent emblem OF
their labors. and the abiding signal Of
the liberty and progress Of the race.