The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-22

and in all the days since, I have found
him faithfully battling for democratic
doctrine.
Tom Hefin.
But, my friends, 1t is pleasant to make
new friends, as well as to meet old ones.
and while 1t grathes me much to mingle
again in Fellowship with those who l
have known, l have within the last few
years made another acquaintance in this
state. 1t Is only a short time ago since
met the young congressman who has
embarrassed me by his Introduction this
/, afternoon. (Applause). For he has held
up so high an ideal that l cannot reach
it myself, and he has lead you to ex-
pect more of me than l fear l shall ever
be able to realize for you, but / know
of the warmth of his heart and 1 know
that the words that he has said of me
have not been said of me so much as
an individual as of me as the represen-
satiVe of certain IDEAS and the fact that
he speaks in warm praise Of these ideas,
shows that he is as devoted to them as
| am, (applause) and | want to con-
graduate the democracy of Alabama for
placing a man like him in the Congress
of the United States (Applause). L trust
that with experience his ardour will be
none the less, and that as he adds that
experience to his great ability and to his
perfect loyalty and high ideals, he will
be more and more able to champion your
interests in the House of Congress Gap
plause) for my friends, when he cham
pions the interest of the common people
of Alabama, he is the friend of my
friends in Nebraska, as well as the friend
of his own people. (Applause). Demo-
cracy is so broad that one champion any
where is its champion everywhere, and
| am praying that as the years go by
there shall srow up in all these states
men like this brave young man, to bear
upon their shoulders the work that is to
be done and to solve the problems we
have to meet. (Applause).
Words of Encouragement.
In the time that have to speak to you
1t is not possible to discuss all that L
would like to discuss. So many things
crowd for utterance on such an occasion
| need not argue questions with you for
you are already convinced. Let me bring
you rather words of encouragement. In
this state you feel satisfied that democ-
raey can triumph, and you feel satisfied
also with the quality of the democracy
that triumphs here.
l am proud of Alabama, proud of the
type of democracy that she presents, but
possibly it may encourage you to know
that the democracy for which you fight
is not confined to Alabama. The great un-
derlying principles for which you contend
are not confined even TO the United
States. The democracy idea is world
wide idea and there is not nation in
the world where that doctrine is not at
work (Applause).
In all the countries which we have Wis
tied we have found the democratic idea.
we have found 1t not only planted but
growing, and in every land through which
we have passed we have found the re-
former and the reformer is the same
wherever you find him The man who is
studying public questions from the
standpoint OF the people, the man who is
not only interested In the people, but has
confidence in them and desires to bring
the government nearer to them that they
may absolutely control 1t.
Go where you will and you will find
these men and they all work everywhere
under the same inspiration; they know
that the forces behind truth-political and
moral-are Irresistible forces and believ-
ing in the triumph of that which is right,
they make their fight boldly and without
fear. In some places 1t requires more
courage, great courage, physical as well
as moral for 1t is not everywhere that
the reformer is dealt with as In the Uni
ted States In the United States II
man is in advance of his time. they sim
ply refuse to listen to him, but they will
let him live; in some countries when he
becomes little too far advanced they cut
his head off and let his body lie until
the people reach the place where he died.
and then they build monument to testify
to their gratitude to him. (ApplauseO But
my friends, gratifying as 1t was to find
evidences of democratic growth abroad. [
was still more glad to find evidences of
democratic growth when I came back
here (Applause)
European Observation.
In Europe met number of Americans
and every one whom / met, republican
and democrat, admitted that a great
change was going on In this country, and
no one can travel about among the peo-
pie without recognizing the change. Dem
ocratic ideas have grown, they have be-
come popular within the last few years.
Things that were denounced as very rad
ical and revolutionary a few years ago
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