The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-06-30
(NeWS and ObSeryer.)


(News and Observer.)
Whatever William Jennings BRYAN
says is well said. He is credited even
by his most bitter enemies with
being the wisest man in speech OF
any living man who speaks often.
The reason why he makes so few
mistakes is that he does not talk
upon any subject unless he has deep
convictions. and he speaks from a
sincere heart, as well as trained
intellect. On Tuesday he was one of
the speakers at the dedication of the
Nebraska building at the great
Omaha Exposition.
MIR. Bryan's Grafton was notable
for being his first public declaration
on the war issue. He took high
ground on the question, urging that
the war is for humanity, and not for
extension of United States territory.
In concluding, he said the manifest
destiny of this nation is not to acquire
new realms to govern, but to carry
out the fundamental principles Of
democracy to the end that equality
among the citizens may be scured.
Mr.. Bryan said:
80 War is harsh; it is attended by
hardship and suffering; it means a
vast expenditure of men and money.
We may well pray for the coming of
the time, promised in Holy Writ,
when the spears shall he beaten into
pruning hooks and the swords into
plowshares; but universal peace can
not come until Justice is enthroned
throughout the world. Jehovah deals
with nations as He deals with men,
and for both DEGREES that the wages
of sin is death. Until the right has
triumphed in every land and love
reigns in every heart, Governments
must, as last resort, appeal to force.
AS long as the oppressor is deaf to
the voice of reason, so long must the
citizen accustom his shoulder to the
musket and his hand to the saber.
'"Our nation exhausted diplomacy
in its efforts to secure peaceful So
luton Of the Cuban question and
onl y took up arms when it was COM
PEELED to choose between war and
scrvile acquiescence in cruelties
which would have been disgrace to
barbarisn.
History will vindicate the posi-
ton taken by the United States in
the war with Spain. In saying this
| assume that the principles which
were invoked in the Inauguration of
the war will be observed in it's prose-
cution and conclusion. If contest |
undertaken for the sake of humanity
degenerates into a war of conquest
we shall find it difficult to meet the
charge of having added hypocrisy to
greed. Is our national character so
weak that we cannot withstand the
temptation to appropriate the first
piece OF land that comes within our
reach?
ITO inf1ict upon the enemy all |
possible harm is Legitimate warfare,
but shall we contemplate a scheme
for the. colonization of the Orient |
merely because our fleet won re-
victory in the harbor of
Manila?
."Our guns destroyed Spanish
fleet. but can destroy that self-evident
truth, that Governments derive their
Just powers not from superior force,
but from the consent OF the GOV
erned?
'"Shall we abandon a just resist
ance to European cncroachment upon
the western hemisphere in order to
in the controversies of Europe !
and Asia?
Nebraska. standing midway be-
tween the oceans, will contribute her |
share toward the protection of our
seacoast: her sons will support the
flag at home and abroad; wherever
the honor and the interests of the !
nation may require, Nebraska will !
hold up the hands Of the Government
while the battle RACES. and when the
war clouds roll away her voice will
be heard pleading for the mainten-
ance of those ideas which inspired
the founders of our Government and
gave the nation its proud eminence
the nations of the earth.
-"lf others turn to thoughts of ag-
grandizement and yield allegiance
w
ness in the attractive garh Of ma
tional destiny the people Of Ne
braska will, if / mistake not their
sentiments, plant themselves upon
the disclaimer entered by Congress
and expect that good faith shall
characterize the making of peace, as
it did the beginning of war. Gold
smith calls upon statesmen:
''To Judge how wide the limits stand
Betwixt splendid and a happy land"
IF some dream of the splendors
of Heterogeneous empire eIoiroling
the globe, We shall be content to aid
IN bringing enduring happiness to
people. consecrated to
the purpose of maintaining "a Govern
ment of the people, for the people.
by the people -"
A Great Book Free.
Over $50 900 copies Of DIR. Pierce's Com
mon Sense Medical Adviser have been
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