The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-15
HON. WIN. ]. BRYAN.
his First Public Declaration on the
Mar Issue
MADE AT OMAHA EXPOSITION GROUND
Is Against the Mar Degencratin9
Iuto Conquest.
UNDERTAKEN FOR HUMANITY
United States Should Mt Contem-
plate Colonization OF Orient
BECAUSE OF THE MANILA VICTORY.
Asked II the United stnte. WINS So
Weak IL Could Not Withstand the
Land Grnbbing Temptation.

Omaha, Neb, June 1.-THE Nebraska
building at the exposition was dedicated
today with appropriate ceremonies ann
the plaudits of thousands of the States
citizens.
Governor Holcomb and his staff took
part IN the exercises, along with many OF
the States most distinguished residents.
The speakers of the day were Hon. Con-
stantine j. Smith, Hon. William Il. Gurley
ana Hon. W. j. Bryan.
MIR. Bryan's Grafton was notable for one
thing-his first public declaration on the
! war issue. He took high ground on the
question, declaring that the war is for hu
nenty and not Tor the extension OF the
United States territory.
After discussing the resources of Nebras
ka AR. Bryan maze the following refer
ence to the war anu Its results;
War is harsh. II is attended by hard
ships and suffering. 1t meank vast eA-
penditure OF inen ana money. We may
Wen pray Tor TIE coming or the time,
promised In the holy writ when the spears
shail be beaten into pruning hooks and tno
swords into pillow shares, but universal
peace cannot come until justice Is en-
tnrLneo throughout the world.
Jehovah deals with nations as he deals
with men, and for both DEGREES the wages
Of sin is death. Until the right has tri-
umphed in every land and love reigns in
every heart, governments must as last
resort appeal 10 force. AS long as the
| oppr,ssor Is deaf TO the voice Of reason, so
! long must the citizen accustom himself
TO shoulder the musket and put his han1
| to the sabre.
"Our nation exhausted diplomacy in Its
efforts to secure peaceab!e solution OF
| the Cuban question, and only took up arms
when it was compelled TO choose between
| war and servile acQuiescence in cruelties
! winch would have been a disgrace to bar
barism,
History will vindcate the position taken
| by the United States In the war with
Spain. In saying this / assume that the
principles which were invoked in the in
auguiation of the war will be observed in
Its prosecution and conclusion. II con-
test undertaken fer the sake of Humanity
degenerates into a war OF conquest, we
shall find it difficult to meet the charg 5
of having added hypocrisy to greed. Is
our national character so weak that We can
not withstand the temptation to appropri.
ate the land that comes within our reach?
ITO inaict upon the enemy all possible
harm is legitimate warfare, but SHAH we
| contemplate scheme for the colinization
OF the Orient merely because cur feet VIC
a remarkable victory in the harbor OF Ma
Mia?
"Our guns destroyed a Spanish fleet,
but can they destroy sole eveidcnt truth.
that governments derive their just powers
not from superior forces but from the con-
| sent of the governed?
shall We abandon a Just resistance to
European encroachment upon the West
ern hemisphere in order to mingle In the
controversies OF Europe and Asia?
Nebraska standing midway between the
oceans will contribute her fun share to-
ward the protection OF our seacoast; her
sons will support the flag at home ana
abroad. wherever the honor and the inter-
I ests of the Nation may require.
NEBRASKA will hold up the hands Oh the
| government while the battle RACES ana
when the war clouds roll away her voice
will be heard pleading for the mamie
nance of those ideas which inspired IN
founders of our government and gave tne
Nation It's pre- eminence among the ma
tons of the earth.
"If others turn to thoughts OF aggran-
dizement and WELD allegiance to those
who clothe land covetousness in the at
tarctive garb of national destiny, the peo-
ple of Nebraska will II mistake not their
sentiment, plant themselves upon the dis
claimer entered by congress and expect
that good faith shall characterize the max
ing OF peace as 1t did at the beginning OF
the war
Goldsmith calls upon statesmen
To Judge how wide the limits stand
Betwixt splendid and happy land.
'lf some dream OF splendors OF he'e'
rereneous empire encircling the g'o0e we
} shall be content to aid In bringing endur
ing happiness to a homogeneous people
consecrated to the purpose Of maintaining
Government Of the people, by the peop
and for the people