The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-25

new. And the greatest novelty about
it was that the railroad attorney, Oh
ney. was able to force democratic
president into position vastly more
undemocratic than that which Alex
ander Hamilton and Daniel Webster
had ventured to take when similar
crises occurred in the administrations
of Washington and Jackson.
They tell us that Judge Parker is
man of judicial temperament-calm,
meditative, circumspect, dispaSslonate
and yet in his speech Of acceptance
he prejudges the laborers of Colorado.
assumes as proven the unestablished
accusation that union men resorted to
dynamite and thus demonstrates that,
if elected president, he will go into
Office with his mind made up against
the laborers upon one OF the most Sc
rious and doubtful problems OF the
day.
Who has supplied Judge Parker
with the proofs that the union la
borers committed that dynamite out
rage? Where has he listened to wit
nesses whose testimony was given
under the solemn obligation OF an
oath? Surely Judge Parker-eminent
jurist and just judge-did not find
these men guilty until they had been
proven SO. Surely, as lawyer ana
a judge, he presumed that even
union laborer of Colorado-hCunded
and driven and bull-penned and ban
ished by the Peabody and Bell combine
to be innocent till proven to be
guilty?
No. He could not presume inno-
cence in such case. He could not
give the accused the benefit oil any
doubt. Upon the one-sided statement
of their bitterest enemies, the demo-
cratic nominee for the presidency pre-
Judges the case of the 1aborers, and
grayely declares that to their use OF
dynamite must be traced the horrible
conditions in Colorado.
| am not here to say who is to blame
for the lawlessness in that distracted
state. 1t may have been the fedora
ton. it may have been the alliance!
I simply do not know. But this much
I do say: the conduct of the legiSia-
ture of Colorado in refusing to enact
the eight-hour law after the people
had sanctioned and demanded 1T by
ballot, was in it's very essence far
more destructive to republican gov
eminent. far more demoralizing in
it's influence and tendency than any
mere dynamite outrage that ever was
known in Colorado.
When corporations can corrupt the
law-making power to such an extent
that the will of the people as legally
expressed at the polls, is nullified
then the end of popular government is
at hand. 1t is revolution-nothine
less. Judge Parker, while condemn
ing the laborers for the alleged use OF
dynamite, utters not one word OF CEN
sure against the INSCRIPTIONS mOnop-
olists who debauched legislature into
a base betrayal of its trust.
So much for the democratic plat
form. and for the nominee who stands
upon it. Again ask. what is the
issue between Parker and Roosevelt
The Hon. Henry G. Davis came uI
to New York soon after his surprising
nomination for the vice-presidency
and in the first gush of his exIltatioT
told the truth. He declared that The
platforms Of the two old parties "wers
almost IDENTICAL and that the issue:
were narrowed down to a choice o.
persons. What pity it was that the
politicians got hold of the old gentle
man and inoculated him with the
"don't talk" policy which prevails a
Esopus!
The two platforms almost identical
Certainly they are. Boiled down to it
real essence. sifted to its real mean
ing, the democratic campaign of 100
is a mere INSCRIPTIONS hunt for OF
fee. They have no fixed and certain
creed. They have no articles OF faitl
by which democratic loyalty can b.
tested A party. like an individual
should seek to build up character. AM
without convictions there can be n,
character.
BY convictions mean essential be
liefs which become part of a man
very life. convictions by the light o
which he works; convictions To-
which he would die. Has the demo
cratic party any such character? Ca
you measure 1t by standard lik
that? Stealing the platform OF tn
peoples party In 1896; stealing that O