The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-29

infested any state. / hope that he will
do more than that. | hope that he will
send every bribe-giver and bribe-.aker
to the penitentiary.
What is being done in Missouri is
being done in Wisconsin. The fight
in Wisconsin is to keep the government
that has been retrieved by the people.
am glad that Wisconsin has a man
with such strong convictions and such
high moral courage.
The Missouri candidate tor governor
is a republican. In Missouri thou
sands OF republicans will vote for JOS
eph W. Folk for governor, and it is not
to the credit of the republican party OF
that state that they have put up a
candidate against him. In Wisconsin
thousands OF democrats will vote for
Governor LaFollettes reelection. Par
ty lines there have faded away before
the vision OF all sincere and patriotic
men. The people are standing together
for their common good. Ii | was in
Missouri, / would vote for Joseph w.
Folk for governor, and it Was citi-
zen of Wisconsin. | would vote for
the reelection of Governor LaTo gillette.
/ some time wonder il we are not
forgetting what it means to be a citi-
zen OF this country. There is an OBJ
legation that rests on the conscience OF
every true man. What splendid gov
eminent we have and how much 1t does
for us. Can we forget this? This
government can not survive il patriot
ism and the sense Of individual OBJ
legation dies out among the people.
The American flag protects us in every
lana and on every sea. The power that
it represents, the liberty that it guar
antees, makes the American citizen
hold up his head in every seaport on
the globe Can We remember this and
at the same time fold our hands placid
y AID ~ e NJ ice,,a -rolitics
While conspiracy against free govern
ment is plotted and carried out under
the very dome of our state house?
AS an illustration OF what our gov
eminent does for us, I am reminded OF
story, told before, but worthy to be
told again. An American boy had I'M
Willingly taken service upon Cuban
vessel some years ago when the Cubans
were in rebellion against the Spanish
Soy1- 'nIient. The Cuban vessel was
captured by the Spaniards, and the
crew, including the American boy, &C
cused OF piracy, and were ordered To
be shot the next morning at sunrise
The young man was innocent OF any
intended wrong. He did not fully nm
derstand the character OF the vessel ON
which he was employed. And now this
new danger and awful fate that was
waiting for him stirred his dull wits to
the utmost for some means OK escape.
When he had grasped the full meaning
that the power of great government
across the sea was about to be used
against him, he began to consider Sc
riously the relations of a government
to its citizens, and whether there was
not some relation between him and his
government that could be now used to
his benefit. He remembered how as a
little boy he had followed his father
down the mountain path from his old
Virginia home to the little village
where the Fourth of July celebration
was in progress. The stars and stripes
were waving from the top OF the tail
|a{las apoley@haW~it~Wa explailsd- 10 him
at That CeiEDIaIIun, .iiat t34sat ss.1ssL rs
American flag: that that flag was the
sign of the American government and
that wherever that flag fioated, wheth
err on land or sea. it carried with it the
power Of all the American people for
1t was their flag and represented their
government The power which ii rep
resented was pledged to protect the
humblest American citizen wherever he
might be in any country or on any sea
on the whole face OF the earth. And
now as this boy sat there in the span
ish prison waiting for the hours to be
counted before his execution. he Won
dered If what he had beard at the
Fourth of July celebration was really
true. and how could he make the con-
nection again which he had LOST be-
tween himself and his government. lie
found out in conyersing with his as
sociates Ia prison that there was an
American consul at that port. and he
managed 10 set word To tina, officer,
who went 20 the Spanish authorities
and protested against bis execution he
cause he was innocent and an American
citizen The lntereession nf the Amer