The Cairo bulletin., 1908-07-08
BELLS SPEECH
STRIKES c. D. P.
CHAIRMAN OF DEN
YER CONVENTION ARRAlGNS
OPPOSING PARTY.
DUTIES OF CONVENTION
include Exposure of Republican Poll
cies--Have Mo intention of
Granting Rerorms-Plat-
form a Fake.

Denver, July 7.--Tempcrary Char
! man Theodore A. Eell of the Demo
! cratic convention, in his opening ad
dress delivered scathing arraign
ment Ct the Republican party. Par
Of the speech follows:
We have assembled at a time when
1.-THE public conscience is demandne
honesty Of purpose in the men VIII
undertake to direct the affairs of state
The public eye is keenly sensitive t.
every political movement, and our pro
ceedings here will be approved accord
ing to the degree of sincerely appear
ing in the work of this convention
There is a widespread belief, founded
upon evidence of convincing charac
ter, that the party in power has not
been true to its trust, that it has be
trayed the common interest into the
hands of the enemies of good govern
ment, thereby forfeiting its right and
destroying its ability to rule in the
name of the people
Apparent to every one is the fact
that way down deep in the heart Of
the Republican convention at Chicago
there was a feeling Of anger and re.
sentiment over the popular clamor for
reforms; and it is equally patent that
there is no bona fide intention ON the
part Of the Republican party of grant.
ing any reforms, If the machinery Of
that party can be retained in present
hands. Its paper platform, divided
like ancient Gaul into three parts
barren promises, makeshifts and eyas-
ions, it Is hoped Will make a good
transparency; but no one
seriously believes the Republican
party indorse that neutral manuscript
which held the convention together
until it could ratify the nomination of
a presidential candidate.
Approaching our great task in
manly dignified manner imbued with
he loftiest sentiments of patriotism.
ambitions to throw every safeguard
lround the liberties of our people. de.
ermined to stamp out the abuses that
re consuming the substance of the
IatiOn, let us proceed to our appointed
uty with the sustaining conscious
less that we are responsible alone to |
iod and to our country for the Justice I
# our cause.
There are three things that this |
should do. II ought to PIE. |
ent in a plain and Ineligible man |
er the serious industrial and pres.
Mt conditions that are disturbing the
eace and happiness of our country.
We should then proceed to a courage
us exposure of the Republican poll-
les that are cooperating with private
reed in the general oppression of the
eople. Nest important of all, We
lust exhibit readiness and an abil
y to grasp the problems of the hour
nd to effect their solution in man.
er that will satisfy the sober, com
ION sense of the multitudes whose
Iterests are at stake. p
Among the great evils that afflict
he country at the present time is the
Duse of corporate power At first the [
lvancing agRressions of the corpor. q
ions are not discernible to the COM
on eye, for every move is carefully &
'vered up until sufficient political /
rength is attained TO defy the pro- !
'sts of the people Thus the con t
ant and insidious invasion of the ]
'ople's rights finally results in a spe- +
IS Of arrogance and defiance so for s
liable in its appearance that TIE :
,dy of the people, in fear of even c
orse aggressiOns, hesitate and exer- t
Sc their rightful authority over v
ese colossal enemies of the com. C
And so we behold a sub IL
rsion of our free institutions. a gov. p
nment voluntarily subordinating IL /
If TO selfish. private ends, special q
ivilege of resorting to cunning. brib- c
y and intimidation to maintain its Fl
holy power, while the masses timid- d
has that when avarice has at last p
ached the point of safety it will ii
en- beneyolently permit the people "
resume their rightful share in tae. fC
vernment of themselves. Whenever at
2 mutterings of the people become ei
} threatening the cry of confiscation as
rs up and appeals are franticalIy A
lde to the sacred rights of parts.
is is intended to alright the ears of fo
nest men in the enjoyment of tae III
Its of their industry and thrift and JC
Is by playing upon their preiudices al
i fears to deter them from casting cf
sir influence on the side of whole in
ne reforms. The cry of eonfiscaticn tn
the historic defense of usurpatieon. &C
the people take warning. When bt
sr the wrongs of today become the ue
ster rights of tomorrow the ma er
n is in deadly peril. ee