Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-06-16
BRYAN ON THE WAR.
Declares 1t IL for Humanity, Not for Ex.
tension of Territory.


Omaha, Neb.. June 14.-The Nebras-
ka building mt the exposition was ded-
icated to-day with appropriate cere-
mOny amid the plaudits of thousands
of the states citizens. Governor Hol-
comb and his staff took part in the ex-
ercises. along with many Of the states
most distant residents. The speakers
of the day We're Hon. J. c. Smith. Hon.
w. +. Gurlcy and Hon. William J.
Bryan. Mr.. Bryans Grafton was nota-
bic for one thing. his first public dec
lnration on the war issue. He took Il
high ground on the question, urging
that the war was for humanity and not
for the extension of United States ter
ritory. 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-
ciples of Democracy to the end that
equality among the citizens may be
secured.
After discussing the resources of Ne
braska, Mr.. Bryan made the following
reference TO the war and Its results:
WAR is harsh; 1t is attended by men
and money. We may well pray for the
coming OF the time. promised In Holy
Writ. when the spears shall be beaten
into pruning hooks and the swords
cannot come until Justice Is cnthrOned
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 tri-
umphed In every land and love rcigns
In every heart. governments must. rs n
last resort. appeal to force. As long
as the opprcssor IL deaf to the voice of
reason. so long must the citizen ac-
custom his shoulder to the musket and
his hand to the sabcr.
Our nation exhausted diplomacy In
Its efforts to secure n pcnccablc solu-
tion of the Cuban question. and only
took up arms when II was compelled
to choose between war and servile ac.
quiescence to cruelties which would
have been n disgrace to bnrbnrism.
History will vindicate the position
taken by the United States In the war
with Spain. In saying this assume
that the principles which We're in
voked In the Inauguration OF the war
will be observed In It's prosecution and
conclusion. If n contest undertaken
for the sake of humanity degencrntcs
into n war of conquest. we shall find II
difficult to meet the charge of having
added hypocrisy to greed. Is our ma
tionnl character SO weak that we can
not withstand the temptation to appro-
pirate the first piece of land that
comes within our reach?
ITO inhict upon the enemy all pos
sible harm is legitimate warfare. but
shall we contemplate n scheme for the
colonization Of the Orient merely be-
cause our fleet won n remarkable vic
tory in the harbor of Manila?
Our guns destroyed the Spanish
fleet. but can they destroy that self
evident truth that governments de-
rive their just powers-not from SUI
perior forcc-but from the consent of
the governed!
"Shnll we abandon just resistance
to European cncroachment upon th-
Western hemisphere In order to min
gle in the controversies of Europe and
Asia?
Nebraska. standing midway be-
tween the occnns. will contribute her
full share toward the protection of
our coast: her sons will support the
flag at home and abroad, wherever
the honor and the interests of the ma
tion may require. Nebraska will hold
up the hands of the government while
tho battle RACES. and when the war
clouds roll away her voice will be
heard pleading for the maintenance
of those Ideas which inspired the
founders of our government and gave
the nation Its proud eminencc among
the nations Of the earth.
"If others turn to thoughts of ng-
grandizement and yield allegiance to
those who clothc the lnnd-covctous.
ness in the attractive garb of national
destiny the people of Nebraska, If !
mistake not their sentiments. plant
themselves upon the disclaimer en-
tered by Congress and expect that
good filth shall characterize the max
ing of peace as ii did the beginning of
war.
"If some dream of the splendors of
n Heterogeneous empire cncircling the
globe. we shall be content to aid In
bringing enduring happiness to no.
mogeneous people. consecrated to the
purpose of maintaining n government
of the people. by the people and for
the people,"