The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1906-08-30

4
and ready for the fight.
This occasion is one more--they canno
be too great 10 mum ber--for recalling and
reoounting the deeds Of our sons Of
national duty done In the past and fol
turning our faces toward the future of the
Republic they died to saye. Today we
turn our minds to the past, paying to the
memory Of our beloved dead the tlibute
Of our veneration and our love. We feel
in the present . new sense Of honor and
a high responsibility as citizens exercis-
ing the duties OF free citizenship and the
full ballot. And we must plan wisely for
the future. The history of our country In
Its battles, from the birth Of the nation
until now, but adds to the responsibility
Of our citizenship, each and all. The
greater our history in the past the greater
our responsi billy in the present.
The original theories Of government
upon which the nation was founded are
secure beyond the reach of harm. The
application OF those original theories to
the commercial and industrial conditions
of the present Is our specific duty. What
shall be done to adjust fairly tho rights
of capital and labor, avoiding thereby the
oppression Of employees and the economic
waste OF strikes and lock.outs as we'll as
fully protecting legitimate operation of
capital. Something must be done and
something will be done. For us In Okla
homa what shall be the final disposition
of our great body Of school lands valued
conseryatiyely at more than twenty
millions Of dollars. Something must be
done and something will be done. FIN
ally, what shall the new constitution Of
Oklahoma say upon these great questions
of interest to every citizen of Oklahoma.
something must be said and something
will be said.
Our constitutional convention will
soon be called. In that convention, which
promises to be the most notable in the
annals Of constitution making, will sit
one hundred and twelve men to make or
mar the fair destiny Of Oklahoma. The
people Of Oklahoma will not forget that
they must live under that constitution.
The security Of q building depends first
Of all upon the character Of Its founda-
tion. so In the building Of new state
must the foundation be well laid. Upon
the men we send 10 that convention will
depend the character Of the constitution.
Upon the constitution will depend pri.
marily the character Of the new state.
This is q strictly business matter. The
people of Oklahoma will mean business
In the selection Of constitutional dele
gates. The demand Is widespread
throughout the state for men Of strong
character, broad men, men with
brains and will, who are not
afraid Of any thing orany man in politics
or outside, men, particularly, who are
acquainted with the conditions and In
terests Of the people through the state,
the farmer, the miner, the day laborer.
the small merchant, and the man Of small
means, for the man Of much means will
always take care Of his own interests,
men who will stand upon The knowledge
of those interests and act accordingly.
For our guidance in making our consti.u-
tion we have the constitution of the
great state Of Kansas and the constitutions
OF other illustrlous commonwealths
throughout the Union.
We must not forget, my friends, that
the people Of every state will have ex-
actly what they want in the long run.
And happily they are prepared by the
splendid popular education of the present
day, through magizinc, newspaper and
Free Rural Delivery, to exercise their
sovereign will with judgement and
success.
The day Of the demagogue has gone
by. The professional politician, who as
such asks only what is policy, not what
10 right, like the meteor Of the night
flashing for the moment and then pass
ing down to unendinP darkness, goes his
weary way DOOMED in this day by the
awakened conscience and awakening in
telllgeuce of the people in every hamlet
and on every hillside. Thank God, the
day Of the people Is at hand and the reins
Of government will rest securly In their
bands. The time has come when the
people will choose none but the best men
and dare to brush aside all but men Of
known and proved public spirit, pride
and intelligence. You here In Kansas
must Insist on doing this. II the
voters Of this great state Of Kansas
and other states adjoining will
rise up and do this In the spirit Of their
majesty and power, the success Of good
government will be assured. This the
people Of my state Intend to do. And we
confidently believe that for so doing the