The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1908-07-16

me the thought Is repulsive OF paintins
myseI as shining light as a colossal
Ego. the center of a system. with multi.
tudes OF men and things revolving like
satellites around me. have done the
state some service, but I remain con-
scious of the fact that that service Is
not SO exceptionally conspicuous as to
warrant me in lifting myself by my own
oootstraps to the admiring gaze of man.
KIND. nor yet so Industrious as tn oh
seure the achievements Of other. men. 7
am content to be a plain, blunt Inan-an
average citizen-neither better nor worse
ehah any other man who loves his coun-
Ivy and strives to do his duty. I am not
endowed with special omniscience virtues
OF powers. and I khew-f am afY1icfed
win the toioies OF my kind. All I can
90 is to do my duty as I see Il. and
contribute whatever can to the progress
OF my country and the betterment M
mankind. / am not a pessimist ha-
iieve that most men are honest. con-
scientious and courageous beliava
through the passing centuries the world
mas oeen moving and still moves along
mounting way. I believe that the aver |
age OF intelligence. morality and citizen. |
snip rises from one generation to another
Ihat the world grows better from vaar
" year l nave no doubt. But to say that
we are upon the verge Of the millennium.
IS 1 think. wholly visionary. I do not
oeneVe that We have just emerged from
iresh edition OF the dark ages into the
light OF new dawn which is ushering
IN an age OF endless perfection. We are
snnipiy moving as did our fathers in past
ages with measured step forward and
upward, Men. right-thinking men. are
surviving now, as In the past. to SUPPRESS
eva and promote the good. In this ever. I
forward movement the individual man.
iee 10 ACT on his own initiative, is the
'i'est rehance. The greatest liberty OF |
hought and action consistent with good !
'rder Is the best. Now and then, and !
'efe ana there, there will be intrigue. I
awiessness, turbulence and crime Q
'sainst all these the relentless hand of !
'uo"c authority must be raised. Rut c
'h"e is exceptional, not the rule. The q
uie is progress. So 1t is now. has al n
rays been. and will be to the end To n
hS were not SO the tremendous strides !.
ne world mas made would have been u
impossible. In the work men do for Ell
iosress nave striven in my day to per- ~
'ria my part as l shall strive to do in OF
i'ure But l shall not hang any BAN &C
ELS upon the outer wall nor blow any v, VI
unpe's from the parapet. My work. d,
"a.eVer II may be, great or small. l in
la'i let stand to speak for itself pr
turn now, my fellow citizens from 20
csc reflections. which to soma extan, ac
III oi necessity have been semi-personal n ~,
character, to other things. I have OF
III practically all 1 have to say of a its
rsohai nature I come to you as a s spp
'n'ocrat TO talk democracy. I am not un
TO 70 speak for myself, but for the thu
party; not to arraign Demo- ~ ~
aus ana SOW the seeds of dssension sp
10 attack the Republican party and Pr
pose Its unworthiness; not TO pro- &c
uhce biographical eulogy on MYSELF his
TO discuss great questions of marty I'll
ference IN which the people of the 80, so.
TIC and Nation must inevitably be pro- for
hdiy interested. We are entering upon ter
campaign of Unreasonable import ia aor
american people. The two great nor
lticai parties have promulgated their An
ional platforms and no,,. the
sideptia, o.ra,a. '"a'eo their Tn,
S.'oiua'es ana now once que
lih these two old combatants tho mis-
and Ran,h,,o.u e stal
DIV for Tho e., parties stri
'o ray CONFRONT each other pat
giadlatoTs in the arena of the Ma Incl
!. TodayI shall talk chiefly Of ma res fba,
ai capdidates and national questions, dig g1
er after the SteAeAlnsts. .hans- -QI
anu INC state platform ASST
pteq, Will devote more attention to mig
te questions and discus. thar, a. you
,ter ,aro,T the
wa i"e"' '"o" Oh this occasion. priv