The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-31

the Democratic party as represented
in the legislature, Mr. GoeDel' OF
Miami.
republic and monarchy is that in a
monarchy the officials are masters
and the people are the servants. In a
republic the conditions are reversed.
1t is the republican government which
most nearly approaches perfection.
He Is the best public officer who most
fully appreciates the fact that he is a
servant of the people.
t'The Republican party has been
the party which has done things for
the people. I have heard it said of
some politicians, in a spirit of deri-
sion, that they keep their ears close to
the grass roots. To my mind that IS
a compliment. The great Lincoln
was not ashamed to keep his ear close
to the throbbing hearts of the people.
The great Mckinley was not ashamed
to keep his hand on the pulse of the
peope. And young man, listen to
me; if you find yourself very long at
variance with the people. you had bet
ter examine your opinion pretty close
~ I do not advise you to sacritlce
voI1r individual opinions, but when
your individual opinion is at variance
verv long the chances are that your
opinion is wrong, and the people are
es@rhe eloquent words of this man
with the black skin and the white
heart prompts me to say some things
which I had no intention or saying
when came here. A few days ago
saw an inspiring scene here in the
state house At a joint session of the
house and senate, a man VINO dld not
know when or where he was porn ap-
reared on the platform and made
speech. saw tears in the eyes of
the people when he told the story OF
his toyhood. 1t was my fortune, or
misfortune, to be born across the
Mason and Dixon line. My father
was one of three men in his town VINO
voted for Abraham Lincoln He al
ways thought that slavery was crime
! against God and humanity. SO far as
I am concerned. I do not have to 'sus-
pend Judgment tonight 1 have seen
! the black man and the white man
offer their lives together to sustain
the Union. If extending help1ul
hand to a struggling race, If contribut-
ing all can to their welfare, if treat
ing them as gentlemen, II TINS pc
treason, let these gentlemen with
microscopic brains and tnfinitesimal
hearts make the most of it.
But I want to speak of Kansas
matters. I have been more or less IN
timately acquainted with every Kan
sas legislature for a quarter of a cen
fury. I have never seen a legislature
come together with greater deten1-
nation to fulfil party promises as the
legislature now in session. Only a
little part of the session is over.
tell you, gentlemen of the legislature,
you have a tremendous responsibility
on you during the next 81 days L
want the legislature to remember that
a party promise is as sacred as a per-
sonal promise; that a party plank is
as sacred as a business contract If
this legislature will save thirty or
forty thousand dollars in legislative
expense, it will in two years save the
price of a good state printing plant;
if you will give us a good primary
election law; if you will save twenty
or twenty-five thousand dollars on
depository law; if you will take that
monster the Standard Oil company by
the throat and compel it to be decent;
if you do these things-I know you
can, I believe you will-the Repub-
lican party will need no platform in
the next campaign; its record will be
platform enough.
81 didn't intend to say any of these
things when I started in; If I have
said anything I shouldn't, I'm glad
Il believe that this is the best ban
quet the club ever had with one ex-
ception. That exception is the BAN
quet held this afternoon by the wo-
mems Kansas Day club. Gentlemen,
I believe this is the beginning of the
end. I believe that before many years,
there will be a marriage of the ladies'
Kansas Day club and the gentlemen's
Kansas Day club. Some of you may
have to give UP your cigars, but who
would not be willing to give up the
cigars for the pleasure of a few hours
society with some of the noble Kan
sas women? Why don't you applaud
that Sentiment?'