The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-09-28

rOI Splcuulu characterization Oh
the decrcpit Democratic party, with
its wantOn and indiScriminatc at
taCks upon public men, with its ten
dcncy to promote paramount issues
and forget the same in the succeeding
campaign, with its fOMGneSS for the
vagarics OF Populism, the speech Of
Congressman RodCnbcrg Of Illinois,
delivered in the National House Of
Representatives in 1905, l.; peculiarly
applicable. This address Of Congress-
man Rodenberg was delivered prior
to the Republican National ConvCn-
ton. when President Taft was NOM
mated. His discussion Of the cam
paign Of 1892, when the Democrats
party assailcd the Republican policy
Of protection and made it the para
mount issue Of the campaign Of that
year is particularly wholesome at
this time when the Democratic lead
ers, discarding the silver doctrine,
Imperialism, and the other issues OF
former campaigns, have returned to
their attack upon the Republican
party and the protection policy. Con
gresham Rodenbcrg said in part:
Mr.. Chairman, the average Demo-
cratic statesman has always been a
disciple Of the doctrine of despair. H:
is the philosophy Of pc>simism. TO
him the Lamentations of Jeremiah arc
an inspiration, an exhilaratiOn. His
face is ever turned toward the SCttin"
and not the rising men. He is ncvc"
SO much at peace with himself as when
he is Quarreling with some one else.
Ihstinctively, he prefers a funeral
dirge to a wedding march, and be-
lievcs that the song of the dying
swan would make most glorious ma
tiOnal anthem. When camping out,
purely rs matter Of choice, he al
ways pitches his tents amid the SOM
Der surroundings Of cemetery, in
the cheerless shade Of weeping will
low. Ec is happy only when his fell
bowman is sad Night after night
he sends up fervcnt petition to the
Great White Throne, asking the good
Lord above to visit his children with
some great disaster, such as fire or
fever, flood or famine, drouth or
death, earthquake shock or ocean
storm, for in a visitation OF that kind
his morbid and melancholy mind
thinks it sees some promising political
possibilities.
1t does not take much to encourage
him, however. When he picks up his
morning paper and reads Of default
ing bank cashier, he at once grows
hopeful; when he scans the market
reports and finds that the price Of
wheat has dropped / cent, he actually
becomes cheerful; and when he learns
that cholera, or some other contagiOn,
has broken out in one Of our inSular
possessions, he simply grows delirious
with joy, and forthwith proceeds to
gather together all manner Of in
dorsemcnts for a political job under
Democratic administration.
The Republican party deserves sue
cess and will succeed because it has
been right on all OF the great qucs-
tons that have confronted the Amer
lean people since the foundation Of
the Republic. 1t was right when, as
the old Federal party, in the days Of
Alexander Hamilton, is advocated the
formation Of Government big
enough and strong enough and grand
enough TO protect the humblcst citizen
Of the land. 1t was right when, as
the Wing party, in the days Of Danici
Webster and Henry Clay, it made the
protection Of American industries the
cornerstone Of American greatness. It
was right when, in the days Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, it said that this Re
public could not endure half slave
half free. 1t was right when, in tho
days Of Ulysses S. Grant, it dealt {
death blow to the Democratic doc
trine Of population and said tina
every bond Of this Government SHOULD
be held as sacred as a soldiers grave
1t was right when, in the days 0
William Mckinley, it said that tn
laborer was worthy Of his hire, ant
that the man who performed homes
work was entitled to honest none.
for that work. IT is right today whcl
It says with Theodore Roosevelt tina