Evening journal., 1908-07-10

you may nominate some other candi-
date: for / am not urmindful of the
personal devotion which delegates here
present cherish for other candidates.
But the question we are now to de-
eide is too important 20 our party and
our country to be decided because Of
personal preferences.
The Republican party has been in
power too long. The government has
grown corrupt. cxtravagant and auto
cratic. and the prosperity of the people
has taken unto itself wings and flown
away. Free institutions exist in order
that at such a time as this the country
may peaceably change its rulers and
change its policies.
Entering upon a political campaign
in which victory or defeat means so
much, we are now 10 select the poll
teal chieftan who shall carry our ban
ner and marshal our forces. If the
country were IN a great var in which
a decisive battle was to be fought ana
the duty fell upon me to choose the
general who should command our
country's army in the field, I would
not dare to put in command the gen.
eral whom loved the best nor the one
who was the most eager Neither
would you. The responsibility would
be overwhelming to choose the soldier
whose genius for war. shown by his
record and experience cave the best
prospect OF winning victory. You
would not hesitate to refuse promotion
and opportunity to your own brother
if there We're available another soldier
who gave greater promise Of winning
the figh.
In like spirit ask you TO put aside
all personal preferences and to choose
calmly and prudently the Democrat v.hc
can most SURELY win n Democratic
victory in November. Possibly any ons
of the candidates suggested may be
able to win at the polls. I hope so.
But our plain duty is to nominate nor
a candidate who may win, but the
candidate who can most surely win.
We contend for too great a prize to
take any unnecessary chances of de-
feat.
Our candidate must be one who can
command the support Of our party ana
at the same time attract the support
Of independent citizens who are not
strict party men. We may as well
face the fact that a majority vote in
this country is always made up of tho
party vote reinforced by the votes OF
a large body of Independent citizens.
Hence a successful candidate for Presi-
dent must do more than hold the
loyalty of his partisans. He must in
addition command the confidence and
win the support of the people who care
nothing for party. Party opinion is a
great thing and must be considered.
but public opinion is a greater thing
and must be obeyed. Nominate George
Gray and public opinion will say that
we have proposed a man whose intel
lectual and moral stature towers IN
the standard set by the greatest ard
wisest Presidents in our history
George Gray's life has been one long
! and unselfsh service Of the people in
high places. Attorney-general 'of his
I State, a great Senator of the United
States for many years a treaty-maker
for the nation. the most successful arbl
traitor of disputes between labor ana
capital who ever lived. and now in his
later years a great and learned judge
his merit has won the confidence and
good will of the whole people.
In the Senate he was ever in the FORE
front Of weighty debate championing
with eloquent logic the principles of
Democracy. In making the treaty with
Spain he was the one commissioner
who stood true to the doctrine OF
human liberty and protested against
taking the Philippines and strappins
Imperialism upon the shoulders of the
Republic. In settling the anthracits
coal strike he demonstrated his syni-
pathy with the toiling masses Of his
fellow countrymen. His Just finding
endeared him forever to organized
labor. 1t iustihes me in applying tc
him the ancient description of an up
right judge. He put on righteous.
ness and it clothed him: his judgment
was a robe and diadem; and he brake
the jaws of the wicked and plucIe6
the spoil out of his teeth
Such has been the quality of his life
long service, and he stands in its white
light approved of the people.
George Gray is a moderate, not G
violent man. With him as President