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Vol. XVI.
LINCOLN, NEB., SEPTEMBER 22, 1904.
Nci. 18
THE JEDFFEDR.SOBJ OF' 1904
Speech of Thomas E. Watson
xt Louisiana Monument, World's.
Fair, September 6, 1904.
9
N.
To a vast throng that gathered to
hear him at the Louisiana Monument,
World's Fair grounds, St. Louis, Sep
tember 6, 1904, Thomas E. Watson,
the people's matchless candidate for
president, spoke as follows:
Fellow Citizens f I desire to bear
testimony and render thanks now to
the broad mind and generous heart of
the ex-governor of this grand old state
of Missouri, who can so lift himself
above party affiliations as to extend
the courtesies to me as he has done
on this occasion.
If I were to consult my own feel
ings, I would not make a speech this
afternoon. v You see how .unfavorable
the conditions are here for an address
based solely on political ideas. When
H people come to a great exposition such
as this they do not come for the pur
pose of hearing a political sermon,
but to see and learn from the. magnifi
cent educational exhibition which has
been, provided for them.
" For myself, I am exceedingly tired.
A partisan speech makes me tired
enough; but yesterday, on Labor day,
I made a non-partisan speech, and a
non-partisan speech just wears me
out. Owing to what was thought to
be the proper thing, and not wishing
to , violate the ; canons of good taste,
I confined myself to what is called a
non-partisan speech, and I feel t as
though I had been splitting rails.
, When I make a speech, I love to say
something: and when I go up against
my adversary, -A love to strike him
so mat tne way-ianng Samaritan,
though a fool,' would know wnerato
pour nis ointment, or suck nis piaster.
Today I hardly know whether I
should make a political speech, (Cries
of . "Yes, go ahead.") May I make a
partisan speech on such lines as' I
may desire? ("Yes.") May I take the
crime orr ana let myseir gor ( -yes ).
All right, I will tell you exactly where
I stand and , what I stand for,' and
stand up for it as long as I know how
and hit the blows with all the power
there is in me. - - v
Does anybody here intend, to vote
. for Mr. Roosevelt? (Cries of "Yes,
N sure.") Why? because you are re
publicans and believe in the princi
ples ana policy or xne republican
party? (Cries of 'Yes, that's the rea
son.") Right, that is the way to speak
right out. If you are fair and square
. out, republicans ana oeiieve in re
publican nrinciDles and reoublican
policies, you do exactly right when you
proclaim to tne. world your intention
- to vote for Mr. Roosevelt. And if I
were a reoublican and believed in re-
publican principles and policy, I would
vote ror Roosevelt, too. But is there
any man here who will vote for a
candidate who claims a right to demo
cratic votes, and yet does not venture
to say wherein he differs from Mr
Roosevelt? The Question in this cam
paign is: Do we need two republican
parties? Isn't one of them quite
enough! (Cries of "Yes, too many.")
To those who believe In republican
policies and principles, Is there any
reason why Teddy isn't enough in one
year? Should not the men who rant
something different from Roosevelt de
mand a candidate who is brave enough
and honest enough to tell us wherein
he differs from Roosevelt? Don't let
us try to fool, the American ieoi!e'
Let us write our principles upon our
Toreheaas where they may be scon, and
, let us stand up for principle as against
pretense,
I lay down this proposition: That Jn
hli speech of acceptance, Judge Par
fcer ha not told the American people.
In plain word, wherein he differs from
Theodore Joosevelt on any queftllon
- of principle or policy. There la the
great question of Imperialism. Mr.
Hoosevelt diactissea It; Judge Parker
discusses It. Tell us what in the dif
ference bet wren the two men. It re
late to the Philippine llan.l. The
republican position Is that they will
rive. them home nil and If-Roiern
moat ai soon aa they are prepared for
it; Judge Parker's position Is that
we will give them self-government
when they are ready for it; and there
you are. What is the difference V
They don't set the time, neither of
them. They don't tell us whether it
will be next year, next generation cr
next century. Now, I will give you
my, opinion, and that is that the peo
ple or the Philippine islands will get
their independence when the piuto
crats of America, who are now en
gaged in the commercial exploitation
of the islands, are ready for them to
have it, and not before, no matter
which party is in control, and I will
take you Into my confidence far
enough to tell . you further that 1
don't think- it will materially anti
cipate the time when Gabriel blows
nis trumpet.
On the ouestion of national hanks
how does Mr. Roosevelt stand? He is
in favor of them. How does Judge
Parker stand? He is In favor of them
Where is the difference?
On the Question of. trusts Mr
Roosevelt says he will break up the
illegal trusts: Parker savs ' he will
break up the illegal trusts. Roosflelt
does not enumerate the Illegal trusts,
Ann Pnrlror Hnea int enoHfw thorM
Where is the difference? . .
'On the question of; money where, is
tne ainerence? The remibiicans are
ior tne goia standard ana a telegram
was received here In St. ' Louis in
dicating: that somebody else was in
favor of the gold standard, too."
On the negro Question what is the
difference' between Mr. Roosevelt and
Parker? Tell us in plain words so
that we will know what you mean.
You say that Mr. Roosevelt lunched
with Booker Washington. Will 'judge
Parker say that he wouldn't do it?
Will he come out and say it? He Is a
northern man ' and a distinguished
company of northern men lunched
Booker Washington .only last night.
Will Judge Parker cut "loose from
them, or will he appoint negroes to
pmce m , the south? is he - In favor
of mixed schools ' in ' New York, as
Grover Cleveland was? If not, let
him say so. In other' words, let him
get votes on his own platform and
not .by pretending to be "lust as good"
as Mr. Roosevelt is; If you want the
real, genuine- republican principle,
vote for Roosevelt; if you want to
vote for- an article that - is '; branded
just as- good," vote for Judge Parker.
If you are a Jeffersonian democrat,
there is one ' of two things von have
got to do you have got to abandon
your lifelong convictions, or you have
to follow the lead of a new party. We
say that our party is the only one that
stands for the old faith the faith of
our fathers the faith we were taught
to believe was identified with the tnm
weirare or the south. Jefferson was
m tavor of an income tax, not only
because it would put the burden nf
government on those who get the
most benefits out of it arid are best
aoie to near the burdens, but for the
reason that a graduated i nrnmo fair
gradually increasing as the income'
grows larger, would pour back into
iue common rund whatever one man
got beyond his legiti
Where does Mr. Roosevelt stand ori
me income tax? He is against it.
Where dbes Judge Parker etand? til
is against it. Where Is the dtfTerence
mhu iu iwo men. on the ticome
tax? Or between the two "jrHCa?
The people's nartv fa l
taKing the taxes-off the nr.ei.i
... ... . ' "vvs-OOOIIUO
u. ,u wnicn tne people must have,
we are in favor of outline th
of government upon the rich. It was
up sons arram that the poor man
should pay no taxes. How does Roose
velt stand on It? He is in fnvnr rf
protective tariff with Incidental revl-
...II, how an men. How does Parker
stand? He also would like to revise
he tariff, tut if he Is elected he says
years and in that time he wouldn t be
t(l do wht ho would like to do
l" ,nir. Therefore, th demo-
liuic nominee ntandi whxr t...i.
doea on the tariff.
We are against national t.ont,.
'inuuu wrji. Ul r tkK 1 1 Inn ln.Uu
on the money Question and national
Jn..TW8f1??' l Precisely what the
h.uh o toe uryao cleraocratJ haa
been for the last eight years. You
have been preaching it all over the
country; your editors wrote for it;
your ministers prayed for it. You
went to Chicago in 189G and appro
priated our platform. For eight ears
you worked for it. You got six and a
half million votes for it. Bryan demo
crats, where do vou stand todav? Did
you think you were right?,Do you think
you were right? If you did and it vou
do, as I believe you did and do now,
wnere are you going to go to iind the
representative of your prlncinles? If
you were right then, we are right now
We want every honest Bryan demo
crat of the country to help us light
this battle against plutocracy. We sav
that these vast railroad corporations
which oppress the people and exercise
a power of taxation through exces
sive charges that the government
itself can not do? ought to betmued by
the government and run in the inter
est of the people. We say that the
labor conditions need . refm.-n. l
freely declare Jhat I am in favor of
the eight-hour day. I f reelv declare
against the slavery m which our 'Chil
dren are made to work at tender age,
connnea in mills, factories and mines
1 neneve that we are degrading our
own youth and degenerating our race
wnen we grind up our children at
too tender an age In order that more
dividends shall come to th nap. whn
have already more than their share.
.iv uuuuu uugui uj uevour ito own
young. v .i v , ,
The people's party Is also onnoKeH to
government Dy injunction. We want
to stop the usurpations and enmnnrh
ments of the federal judges. And thfi
renaeay we propose Is to give the peo
ple the imperative mandate as well as
the right to elect all Officers 'ilirtirial
or otherwise, by a direct vote of the
people. When we do that tho fun.
tions of the government will be In
fact" in the hands of th
are Jn favor of the initiative and" ref-
erenaum. u the law-making power
refuses to enact laws which th nCi
pie need, let: the people themselves
compel such laws by petition. If the
law-makers pass laws which the peo
ple do not aDDrove. let theoo in k
referred back to -the people and voted
down. That is the initiative and-refer-endum.
' ..: ,
Why, isn't that good democracy? nh
VAll ooir w n . . . i
oaj, tb ouuruve or mar . mf it'
get the reform inside j the democratic
pany. ine aemocratic nnrtv k
y.uuseu io certain reforms since 1892
, , AOJ0 ana they, were
pledged against national
in 1902 they rechartored the national
vmciiij- years, in they
. , "cucu lo a revision of the tar
iff in favor of the neonle
us a tariff that was against the people
"...w iu ivui ul me monopolists. '.
In 1S92. thev nlerifeH ii,0m..,i'..' j
favor of states' rights and homo rule-
..i io, urover uevelana 'sent
tae United States armv inir. ..-i-
of Illinois, against .th. n,u.,
2?? the- pe0J,Ie f that, demo-
vxayi; nlaie. over the written and re
peated protests of the rf
Zl violation"
- wsuls oi tne laborer to get
inuiseu. mo record of the
fera.t,04 Part.y -13 that ot a pledge
"uo"'. i anieage krennr run.
"'uuc Bway irom reform than we
were in 1892. Isn't ttma .J"
fn i, . . are
trying something else? You have cot
lT.iy wuu Iioovelt as
no U'HUaiP. IT VOIl U-nnf 4 K
npies to succeed, voir, fn t.',:
?! te.ff Park"' ani no matter" who
- rePul,ucan ' Principles win
In 1S92 Wall Street spnt t ir i
son and demanded thnt h
ftln pledgea. The demand was made
through Senator iia. JL". e
President Harrison rf.,-i
i niuireu pieuges. Grover ntc.
land was elected nrii.Un ....
snw he rottenest adrolnltraUon the
.uiu, pnpiA ever hada4mlnla
iraiion or WAI tireet i -
Cleveland. Van Allen wanted to m to
.r?JlU!n ",irtK,n: contributed
w.w ui me rampaiKn fund. tnr
Kan. loimont and tho HothahUdj
nammi uonu anu wanted to r.fu.
ter the national banka, CUrelaad cavo
them the bonds in a midnight deal, a
secret scheme, without competition, be-,'
low, the market value, robbing the peo-'
pie of 110.000,000 on what the bonds
were actually worth. Where is the
sense of honor of the southern people?
Can they endorse things like that?
When Senator Gorman got through
with the Wilson bill, we had a meas
ure which put a burden of $45,000,0C3
on the backs of the Deoble alone, and
the sugar trust - the Havemevers'
which had contributed . $250,000 to the
democratic campaign fund In New
York alone., got a differential tariff
which Was worth., millions to them
every year, and at your expeu&e and
mine. The same men thai ot
around- Grover Cleveland then
around Judge Parker now. Morgan is
there, and he is Belmont's, partner; The
one controls the L. & N, and the iher
the Southern. One is driving Boot velt
and the other Parker. No matter ho
is elected, the Dartnershin will tmt
hurt. There is Olnev. whh kent th
United States troons into liinnia
There is Gorman, the senatorial agent
of all the democratic trusts Thor
is Belmont the Rothschilds' agent;
mere is iamont. the railroad monopol
ist, and there is Carlisle, the whisky
trust agent. We know what Grover
Cleveland promised them In 4i2v h. "
cause we saw the goods delivered. The
same crowd being around FarUer
ought we not to ask, what has Parker
promised to do? Is Parker too good
to do what Grover Cleveland Hiri? i
say nothing against his personal char
acter, i throw no mud. I try to con-i
duct my campaign on tho highest
plane. But when I come to his noun.
cal character, I will quote against him
tne words of Hon. Wil iam .1 . itrvn
the man, who for eight years has
been your leader and prophet. What
did he say about him on April 23, 1904'
uui year, dui last spring when
those leaves were turning to
theirj. charms to the southern sun.
Bryan said: "We now have evid
enough; to. convict him .-,6f : total unfit
ness for the democratic nomination."
Mr. Parker then stood upon the Now
York platform, which crooked Tiriv
Hill had put together. Bryan said
that "nobody but an artful do
could stand on the New York demo
cratic platform." Don't take my word
for Parker's political character. You
may remind me that Brvan is now aim-
porting him. He is after a fashion.
But if any explanation Is needed that
explanation is not due from fiie, but
due from Mr. Bryan. '
What else? Not onlv was the Nnrr
York- platform upon which lhe was
made to stand made for an artfni
dodger, but the telegram he sent .to
at. louis bears strong evidence nt
being all pre-arranged by looked
Dave Hill before he came, ready to be
sprung on the convention affcr tho
dangers of the two-thirds rale had
been passed; and no matter how much
they gagged at the pill, they had it
to swallow. That address of accent-
ance, if anything, was a little more
uougery than the New York plat
form. You all know Dave Hill's r ronu.
edness. Parker has been sitting
Hill's political knee, and been ahrh.
lag his political gospel from David B.
lull for the last twenty years.
The time will come when the soi;th-
ern people will understand the vorlc
I am tryrac to do for them. Wa win
not win this time, but In the name of
the Jeffersonian democracy, we will
make this fight and we will atinr.nl to
all these who are Jeffersonian in nrin.
clple to come with us.
hvery vote given to me In this cam.
patgn will be an encouragement n
inspiration to reformers ever wttere.
To the extent that you give me your
help,.yo-4 Hrecgthen tho arms of thoHa
who must lend th rrand arn7 iif trim
democracy In 1908.
Let every citizen have the ennrn
to vote his convictions. If you thlsSt
I am wrone in principle Vote votir rnn.
vletion. If you think I am rl2ht. vnt
your conviction. iu a man not a
party slave.
t nleJi each cltkcn will be l.rav
enough to aupport leaJeni who are
believed to be right, U will be lmtr..
ble to aetomplinh theae refortnt whi-
are o much needed.
J)
