Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-23

| poration is greater than than the state;
whether the created is greater than
| the creator. In a word, whether this
is to be government by the people, or
/ a government by the corporations. l
have no fear of the -esult. The Amer
/ lean people have met and overcome ev-
! cry difficulty in the past. and they Will
meet and solve this problem and solve
| il properly. Let us. while paying trib-
ute to the memory of George Washing
ton. highly resolve that we will do our
duty as he did his, ever be found on
! the firing line. battling for equality of
opportunity for every citizen of the
republic. '-
I'VE are not only fortunate in our
! splendid citizenship, but we have ever
had a great leader for every crisis.
Washington for the revolution, Jeffer-
son to pen the immortal declaration of
independence. Hamilton to plead for
the constitution. Jackson to destroy
notification, Lincoln to save the union
and free the slave. Mckinley to lead
in the war for humanity. and now Theo-
dore Roosevelt to deliver us from IN
dustrial oppression"
Wants Monroe Doctrine AbrOgated.
Henry VOllmer, formerly mayor If
Davenport, responded to the toast.
The Monroe Doctrine" 1t was a
learned discussion of a line of thought
looking to the pacificatiOn and civiliz-
ing of the turbulent republics of South
America that for so years. the speaker
said, had been escaping fulfiliment of
their just obligations through the in
tercession of the United States adher-
ing to the principles of the doctrine
enunciated by President Monroe. Mr..
VOllmer did not dispute that the law
was necessary at the time it was an
nounced. but he maintained that 1t had
oulived it's usefulness. 1t should be
relegated to the shelf 1t was a STUN
bling block to progress. Himself a
vioiator of the doctrine, how could
Uncle Sam expect a continuation of
its recognition and obeyance by other
lands? When the United States went
across the Pacific and seized posses
sion of the Philippine islands. M.
VOllmer said. the principles of the
Monroe doctrine were thrown to the
four winds. and our country could not
consistently. without mourning the rid
icule of the old world powers, much
longer enforce the law on this side
of the water. Holding of a protector
ate over the South American repub-
lies Mr.. VolImer was convinced was
doing more than anything else to stifie
progress there. There had been no
Roadway commercially or intellectually
in the so years since the United States
had grown from a group of colonies 20
a nation of SO,0OO,O0O of people. He
advocated letting down the bars, fore
| ing each republic to stand responsible
for itself Turning to the orient Mr..
Vollmer said Japan was fighting I'm
Gle Sans battle, commercially speak
| ing, for the war would result in a
development of the countries of the
east that would make demands on the
resources of the United States that
would mean much to this country.
Original Poem by Mr.. ReXdRIe.
! Robert Rexdale. author of Rhymes
of Robert Rexdale." and who has been
lchristened Rock Islands poet by reason
of his delightful contributions on num-
erous occasions in the past few years.
gave original verses. inspired by the
leadership of Father Gopon of the
army OF workmeh in their demand for
a bearing from the Russian car in
search Of relief from the oppressive
laws under which they were forced
to abide The poem follows:
At the Gate of the Neyn.
Copon, thy name Is shining like star
1 In this dark hour OF Russia's deepest
And midst the awful carnage OF a car.
Thy voice is heard above the cannon
Mine eyes aghast look on the Neva's
Dyed in the blood Of those with simple
God send thee peace in mart and coun-
Though throne and sceptre crumble into
No more the wild ride Of the Cossack
horde.
o'er scholar. priest. and humble artisan,
No more the knout. the shackle and the
No NOR the VOLTS fang at the throat
OF man
1 Men Sc hee Father,-crucihx in hand.
In the stiII beauty OF Sabbath morn.
Leading the toilinE masses OF the land.
Strong IN the faith Of Christ. the low
No create he who wins the battles
whose fame receives the plaudits Of
Than ne who. fearless. scorns a tyrsnt-s
And ,resds the path that leadeth 10 the
For ~ the pride and pageantry Of
The ruthiess killing Of our human kind.
Must md their level with earth's baser
o,erskadowed by thea;nssrz,l Mind
lGopon' they gave thee answer from the
gunE,