The rough and rocky points are softened under the magic and seem to lean
lovingly toward the stream. Ah, to keep all of this loveliness stored
from human eye--I mean to lock and dam this stream for all humanity who
wish to journey thence and revel amid these splendors. 'Sic passem;
semper idem.' Not one measly lock and dam, but a system of locks by
which navigation could be advanced from the mountains to the Ohio,
developing the great resources of that wonderous possibility, wherein
the bema procliamus of nature we might find another Arch of Hadrian, or
the Tower of the Winds; where mountain peaks may rise like unto the
temple of Olympian Zeus, or the far away monument of Philopappos. Yes,
gentlemen, I stand for locking and damming the Kentucky river! 'Civis
Romanus Sum' was the proud utterance of the noble Roman, and the
proudest of that proud and conquering race never proclaimed himself such
with greater delight than I, that I am an American and a Democrat. With
my feeling of patriotism runs my devotion to the democratic party. But,
gentlemen, in saying that I am a Democrat, brings forward the great
existing issues between the two leading parties of the country. I might
go into a long discussion of the principles of those two parties, but in
a nutshell I can define the differences of such vital import to the
voters of this land. The principles of the Democratic party
represent--er, well, they represent the principles which that great
party stands for, and the principles of the Republican party, ahem! Yes,
sir, gentlemen, the principles of the Republican party represent the
principles for which the Democratic party won't stand! So there you have
it, and I defy any man to dispute this argument. I will not go into
discussion of its principles here. I have sought public preferment at
the hands of my party, but 'Ego, spembat pretio nionemonio,' sometimes
that preferment was accorded, at least, upon one occasion. No man has a
right to complain when, under any form of government, the people
withhold their indorsement, but every citizen has a right to complain if
the downfall of an aspirant is accomplished by foul and unfair means,"
(this last statement was made while looking toward Freeman). "I have
passed practically all of my life in your midst. A man should be honest,
with a courage to face the great truths opening to him."
Freeman interrupted him at this point, "A man should be courageous
enough to own his own children!"
"You sneaking hypocrite!" shouted Doctor Hissong, "You let one of your
own sisters die in poverty and distress!"
"You are a damned liar!" said Freeman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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