The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-23

/ at is well to celebrate all good
events in the history of America. and
the progress of the cause of human
| liberty, but it is not enough; there is
more to be done. For the crucial
! hours in our national life are rapidly
approaching, in which the strength,
purity, and integrity of it's people will
be put to a test. And while 1 am not
one of those who believe that they
will be tried and found wanting do
believe in the inspired words of Pat
rick Henry when he exclaimed,
| Eternal vigilance is the price of lib
erty,' and that we should remember
this ourselves and teach our children
never to forget.
'It would be presumptuous, indeed,
for me at this hour to even, to a
moderate degree, explain and set forth
the evils extant in our land today
which make it so necessary that we
be vigilant, active and cooI-headed as
well as brave and patriotic. So great
is the evil of the trust felt in our state
that the present Republican legislature
is today enacting into law the most
radical principles when the Peoples
party ever advocated In the hope
that they may find relief I really be-
lieve that the Republicans of Kansas
have awakened to the truth of the
situation and found that they have
been idly listening to the voice of
Mammon pretending to sing the songs
of patriotism while that selfsame
rights and liberties under the name
of prosperity; and they must answer
to the people for this crime, for had
they conceded the truth of these prin-
ciples which they are now enacting
into law, not all the wrongs we now
suffer would have been committed in
liberty's name. The time has come
when the great common people of our
land must throw off their apathy. obey
the dictates of patriotism, and thus
save the glories of our republic from |
the impending shock of selfish COM |
mercialism and imperialism This |
work is now at hand for US to do and |
after we have done it posterfty will |
bless US for rescuing the cause of lib |
ertv from one of the darkest dangers /
that ever lowered over it since the I
davs of Washing ton and Valley Forge |
where the bIood-Stained footprints of /
the heroic defenders of liberty's cause /
were left in the snow Liberty will /
not sleep but it is our duty, and the /
d11tv of Dosterity in America to avert 1
the impending dangers and make it [
unnecessary to ever fight new war
for liberty. So it is well to celebrate
all sl4ch great events, but at this time
there is more to be done. There are
evils extant in our land today that
need the attention OF Just such pa
trfots and statesmen as Washington.
For let me tell you, when the main
effort of a man is made to be an ex-
Deriment to see upon how little he can
live patriotism with him is at low ebb-
He honestly thinks it mockery to
talk patriotism to him Gas Repub-
licans have done) while he is forced
10 organize or join a labor union in
order to get enough to pay to COM
promise with want. Can poverty re-
main Ioyal when oppressed by an idle
class? What of the destitute homes !
of enforced idIeness2 What of the
small hut where the small income !
brings hut little more than perjury and {
want? What of the crowded tenements
81 the citv2 What of the toiling men II
who see the trusts fattening upon the Y
fruits of their toll, while their strong t
limbs and brawny arms are bent un- q
der the burdens OF nara necessary
Are thew not driven to look upon cap c
ifaI as an enemy because they have 4
felt its injustice? c
seWiII not an answer to those questions
account for the late upheaval of social d
ism in our land? The trusts by their t
arrogant and inSOlvent interference with a
or7IIfc affairs. controlling politics, buy s
Ing legislatures and gathering in all the c
profits of all industries have disguised t
business men. discourag ed many and b
forced labor to secret ennity. And IN /;
order that the cause of liberty may not &
suffer at this time we need the pest t
udenoent of the wise, and the grandest I,
1eroisun of the brave, and the most il
orompt and vfgflaut action of the paU1- a
1tic From these conditions where IS n
our hope and safety? Aye. We're the
father of our country here tonight to
advise us-rnethinks I can see him there
1t the head Of the table, his gray hair IN ]
oils down his back a calm benevolent A
ight beaming from his eyes, flashing at e
lines, with valorous purpose ana stern
combined with varying
light of an unsubdued temperament,
md he self possessed. earnest ana