The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-01-22
THE SOVEREIGNTY
OF THE CITIZEN
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE JACKSON BANQUET
OKLAHOMA CITY, JANUARY s, 1906
BY HENRY M. FURMAN, ADA, |. T.

tdbeS Tue ledl WAS TtBdTueu as Well
nigh impossible, but they succeeded
alone through the sovereignty of the
citizen. Want OF time forbide that
should now and here describe the coz
ditions under which jefferson de-
stroyed the odious and Infamous
Alien and Sedition laws and under
which Jackson struck down the grasp.
ing avariclous and tyrranTcal preten-
tlons OF the United States Bank. The
man who thinks that the American
people have lost their intelligence,
their courage or their patriotism Is
decaiving himself. Free born Ameri-
can flesh, blood and soul will not suf
fer always or endure all oulrages. The
people may I've hard to arouse but the
hour Of their awakening Is at hand
Look at the stinging rebuke to and de-
feat Of ring rule in Missouri, in Ohio
and in Pennsylvania. Let us profit by
these examples and make It our bust
ness TO see that similar conditions
among us will never call for the in
dignant reputation of the people.
Our people are informed as to what
Is going on. They are aware of the
fact that powerful combinations have
been organized which are defying the
majesty and power or the law, and
I,I, 30, t.Ad,,aa hn, "a
their children to condition OF sub.
jects, as degrading and debasing as
the vassalage of feudalism, the serf-
dom OF Russia or the peonage of Mex
leo. They know tlfat our country is
honeycombed with the spirit of com.
mercialism which seeks to place the
dollar above the man and which would
have all questions determined by the
standard OF profit rather than inherent
right. Our people know that favored
class has grown up in the United
States which despise the people who
do the hard and honest work and
which makes this world worth living
in and who therefore constitute Gods
aristocracy. Our people know that this
favored class look upon the people
as being SO many dumb animals bri
died and saddled while they stand by
booted and spurred with whip in hand
ready to mount aud ride the people to
their hearts content. Therefore our
people will Dc on their guard and will
not allow themselves to be deceived
by surface appearances or soft prom
ises. They know that if the serpent
had not disguised his purpose and re
sorted to false representations
he never could have induced
Mother Eve to eat the ap
pie. They know that the highway
man never informs his intended vic
tim that at certain place upon the
road he will present his arms and de
mand money or life. They know that
those who seek to destroy this sover'
eighty of the people dare not avow
their purposes ami resort TO open at
tack but thai they depend upon stealth
and stratagem for success. | sound a
note OF warning now. Our people will
never support a ticket nominated by
packed convention obtained by cor.
poration grafters, special trains and
free passes. Any attempt to force a
ticket upon them win be met with in
dignant population regardless OF con
sequences DO not misunderstood me
am not the enemy Of useful corpora
tious honestly and l6gltimately con
Quoted, neither are our people, On
the contrary the people desire to en-
courage and protect an such corpora
/ tious. But they do believe that mer
and not corporations should rule the
future state and that corporations
should keep out of politics and obey
| the law Experience will show tha
corporations will consult their OWE
| interests by pursuing this course ant
depending upon the intelligence, tho
fairness and the sense Of justice o.
the people and by abstaining from
any attempt to dictate to the people
The people believe that corporation
when properly conducted are like
mems passions and fire and water
good servants; but when given unre
stricted sway they are bad masters
II there are those among us who thinl
differently let them beware They will
l1indle fame which they cannot con
troll and which may develop into
consuming FIRE. Upon the heads o
those who attempt such a course will
rest the responsibility for the conse
quonces that will certainly ensue,
This is no time for compromises o
for cowardlce. It might as well b'
understood at the start that the pee
pie are determined that this shall b.