The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-25
swer. Yes. In form and in spirit it

In purpose and III practice it is
Hamiltonian. Every corporate inter-
est on the continent knows that it has
2 champion in the republican party.
Every beneficiary of special privilege
knows that he has a welcome IN the
republican party. Every trust. levy
ing its tribute upon the million homes
OF the people feels secure in the or
ganized power of the republican party.
have no words Of abuse for Theo-
dore Roosevelt. | believe him TO be a
brave, honest, conscientious man. |
give him full credit for having a
splendid courage of conviction. but in
asmuch as he stands for those govern
mental principles, which, in my iudg-
ment are hurrying this republic into
q sordid despotism of wealth, L will
combat him and his principles as long
as there is breath in my body.
How is 1t with the democratic
party? Our political history has new
er seen situation so ludicrOus as
that which the national democracy
now holds. can understand how the
citizen can work for the republican
party and vote its ticket with enthus-
iastic zeal. II the republican party
represents his ideals of government.
then he is justly proud Of It, can
justly confide in it, for it has stood
by it's principles through storm as
well as sunshine; and no matter how
bad you and l may think it's creed is
we are bound to admit that the re-
publican party has creed, is willing
to fight for it, is willing to cling to it
in defeat, and continue to struggle for
It until victory comes again. But why
any human being should, in the year
1904, vote the national democratic
ticket is something that passes my I'M
tutored comprehension.
can understand why the citizen
could vote local democratic ticket: /
can understand how in some cities
and in some states that party may be
struggling to do some distinct thing,
which he believes ought to be done;
but in the name of common sense tell
me why any sane and sober citizen
should in this campaign vote the ma
tional democratic ticket
What principle of democracy does it
stand for? What does it propose to
do for the people, different from what
the republicans are doing? To what
point is 1t directing it's line of march,
except to the republican camp? Sur
rounded by the Wall street magnates
who had financed his campaign for
two years, Judge Parker bided his
time till the perils of the two-Lhirds
rule were passed; and when it was
too late for the convention to retrace
its steps-for even the democratic
utes to turn completely round in-he
cracks the Wall street whip over the
heads of his leaders, and with prompt
obedience the great democratic le-
gions were made to furl their flags
and reverse their line of march
The mass of the democratic party
feel outraged at the way in which
their leaders have sold them to Wall |
street. do not believe that the six and
q half million men who followed Bry-I
al, with cheers on their lips and warm
convictions in their hearts, can now
be delivered like cattle to the Cleve-
landites who knitted the ticket or
bolted it in 1896 ! believe that the
great majority of the men who voted
for Bryan are men of conviction,
can not but hope they will realize that
I am fighting their battle now.
Where are the voters who followed
the fortunes of the democratic stand
ard-bearer in 1896 and 1900? Were
they men of conviction? Did they
honestly believe in the principles they
pr0fessed? | believe that they did.
Acting upon that belief, our party
Joined hands with the democrats who
had adopted our platform, and | my
self did yeoman service for Bryan
stamping his own state and helping
to give Nebraska's vote to him. To-
night remind the democratic voters
that the peoples party stands just
where 1t did then, and If they believed
In our principles then they ought to
come with us now.
call upon the six and half mil
lion voters whose political faith was
crystalized in the Chicago platform of
1896 and in the Kansas City platform
0f 1900, and | ask, What Is there in
the democratic platform OF 1904 that
hida vOtl hOnp7 What Ia there FIR you