The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-06-25
BRYAN GIVES WARNING.
Democratic Leaders, First Declaration
on War Issues-Strongly Opposed
TO the Policy Of Territorial
Expansion.

OMAHA, Neb., June 14.-The Ne
braska building at the exposition was
dedicated today, with appropriate cere-
mony, amid the plaudits of thousands
of the state s citizens. Gov. Holcomb
and his staff took part in the exercises
along with many of the state S most
distinguished residents. The speakers
of the day were Hon. Constantine j
Smith, Hon. William F. Grrley, and
| William j. Bryan. Mr.. 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 the 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 prin
cipals of democracy to the end that
equality among the citizens may be
secured. Mr.. Bryan said:
"'War is harsh; it is attended by
hardship and suffering it means vast
expenditure of men and money. We
may we'll pray for the coming of the
time promised in Holy Writ, when the
spears shall be beaten into pruning
hooks and the swords into plowshares
but universal peace cannot come until
Justice is enthroned throughout the
world. Jehovah deals with nations as
He deals with men, and for both de-
crees that the wages of sin is death.
Until the right has triumphed in every
land and love reigns in every heart,
governments must, as a last resort
appeal to force. AS long as the OPP
pressor is deaf to the voice of reason, sc
long must the citizen accustom his
shoulder to the musket and his hand to
the saber.
FORCED TO TAKE UP ARMS.
"Our nation exhausted diplomacy in
its efforts to secure peaceable solution
of the Cuban question and only took W
arms when it was compelled to choose
between war and servile acquiescence
in cruelties which would have been 9
disgrace to barbarism.
History will vindicate the position
taken by the United States in the wal
with Spain. In saying this l assume
that the principles which were invoked
in the Inauguration of the war will be
observed in its prosecution and conclu
sion, If contest undertaken for the
sake of humanity degenerates into wal
of conquest we shall find it difficult tC
meet the charge of having added
hypocrisy to greed. Is our national
character so weak that we cannot with
stand the temptation to appropriate the
first piece of land that comes within
our reach2
ITO infiict upon the enemy al
possible harm is legitimate warfare,
but shall we contemplate scheme fol
the colonization of the Orient merely
because our feet won remarkable
victory in the harbor Of Manilaf
''Our guns destroyed Spanish fleet
but can they destroy that self evident
truth. that governments derive theil
lust powers not from superior force,
but from the consent of the governed
'Shall we abandon just resistance
to European encroachment upon the
. western hemisphere in order to minglt
in the controversies of Europe anC
Asiaf
POSITION OF NEBRASKA.
Nebraska, standing midway be
tween the oceans, will contribute hel
full share toward the protection of oul
seacoast her sons will support the flag
at home and abroad; wherever tht
honor and the interests of the natior
may require. Nebraska will hold up the
hands of the government while tn,
battle RACES, and when the war cloud:
, roll away her voice will be heard plead
ing for the maintenance of those ideai
, which inspired the founders Of oui
!. government and gave the nation it
proud eminence among the nations Of
the earth.
If others turn to thoughts o.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and yield allegiance I,
I those who clothe land covetousness il
5 the attractive garb Of national destiny.
the people of Nebraska will if l mistak,
MT their sentiments, plant themselves
nnon he disclaimer entered by congress
and e,pect that good faith shall char