The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-29

line, and thence northwest to the Ore
gon shores of the Pacific sea. Under a
Democratic president, the Floridas
were brought into the union. I'm
der another democratic president
Texas entered the union, and, by war
from Mexico we acquired all the terri
tory between the Rio Grande river and
the Rocky mountains and the Pacific
ocean, which Jefferson had not before
obtained. The genius of acquisition
has been a Democratic genius. The
United States are large because the
Democrats have made them so. Every
Democratic enlargement was resisted
by the party opposed to the Democracy
when it occurred. Mr.. Bryan and his
supporters in the House would reverse
the Democratic tradition and plant con-
temporary Democracy against historic
Democracy at this time.
Neither the resolution nor Mr.. Bryan
says what we should do with what we
get. Shall the Philippines be returned
to Spain? Shall Cuba be RENTED to
anarchy Shall Porto Rico be taken
by us only to be again put under the
Spanish yoke which Spanish hands
have failed to keep round the neck of
the people there? Shall any of these
possessions, some of which are now our
own and all of which soon will be, be
coded or sold by us 10 some European
power other than Spain? These ques-
tons are on us. Neither our inclina-
tons o. u ap~prehensions should
give answer to them. Duty alone
should give answer to them. The duty
is that due to morality, to humanity, to
justice and to decency. If we intend
to give back to the tyrant power what
we have wrested from it, our war is a
mockery, our armies are committing
suicide, preceded by murder, our navy
is engaged in a work of violence and
deceit and the entire change which we
have wrought in the history of the
world, in a hundred days has been q
crime among the nations. On the
other hand, if not intending to return
to Spain the provinces we take from
her and if not intending to insure to
them either the blessings of our govern.
ment or the protection of our flag, we
cede or sell them to some other nation,
we convert our war into an auction
and the goods which we hold up fol
sale will, under the circumstances Of
national competition for them, destroy
the peace of the world.
Democrats and Republicans around
US have the same feeling and hold tc
the same reason. The country through.
citizens who share these views number
millions on millions. Their views are
entitled to respect, to refutation, if can
be, to decent answer at least, by any
party of any anne. And their views
are entitled to adoption, if those hold
ing them comprise a majority of the
American people, as we believe they
do. Neither notice nor answer mol
r%efutation, nor even the respect OF
recognition is given to these views by
the resolution of the House Democrats
or in the speech of Mr.. Bryan.
1t cannot be that the great Demo
cratic party can follow that speech Of
that resolution, in the present circum
stances of the United States in the
world, or in the present age which il
vivid and vital with love for liberty ant
for humanity, and expect to retain it,
name or fame among the parties of thu
earth. Party OF no party, Democra
or Republican, Republican or Democrat
the Eagle insists that the United Statel
shall hold or control, in the name o
civilization, what they acquire in th'
cause of humanity, and that no antago
nists of this obligation of duty and of de
cency, to say nothing of destiny shall b.
allowed to come into court, withou
showing what their programme is con
corning the settlements of a war, thu
hottest in its motives and in the appea
which it carries to the conscience Of
mankind of any wal upon which an up
right and an enlightened people evel
misunderstanding Eagle, Demo
cratic.