The Irish standard., 1898-12-17
COL. BRYAN ON IMPERIALISM,
The gallant William J. Bryan, co

of the Third Nebraska regiment, has re-
signed his command and is again in the
ranks of civil life. which he left in be-
half of Cuban liberty, and the cause of
humanity. Nov that the treaty of
peace has been concluded" he says, II
believe that I ain more useful to my
country as a civilian than soldier" and
he is perfectly right. The Mckinley adj
ministration took good care that he
could gain no military glory out of the
war, and kept him far away from for
eign battlefields to fight mosquitoes and
malaria in the swamps of Georgia.
The unprincipled organs of the Hanna
Mckinley gang misrepresented his mo-
tives in responding to the call of the
president for troops and continuously
held him up to the scorn and contempt Of
his countrymen for discharging his duty
as a patriotic American citizen Now
that he has left the army the ghoulish
press Of the plutocracy will not let him
alone, but stigmatizes him as dema-
gogue for opposing the expansion policy
of the Anglomaniacs.
Mr.. Bryan is opposed to Imperialism
and considers the country'f In grave dan
ger. While in the army he refrained from
speaking politics lest his utterances may
embarass the government, but now that
he is once more civilian after peace
is proclaimed he deems it his duty to
give expression to his views and point
out the perils that menace the republic
Of Washington and his compatriots. In
an interview with him in Savannah. Ca,
last Monday. he said in part:
Il may be in error but in my judg
ment our nation is in greater danger
just now than Cuba. Our people defend
ed Cuba against foreign arms: now
they must defend themselves and their
country against foreign idea--the COL
onial idea of European nations. Here
tofore greed has perverted the govern
ment and used it's instrumental in
fluences for private gain; but now the
very foundation principles of our gov
eminent are assaulted
1.-THE imperialist idea is directly an
tagonistic to the idea and ideals which
have been cherished by the American
people since the signing of the declar-
alton of independence. Our nation must
give up any intention of entering upon
a colonial policy (such as is now pur-
sued by European countries) or it must
abandon the doctrine that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed
eve may believe that governments
come up from the people, or we may be-
lieve that our governments come down
to the people who possess the heaviest
cannons and best ships, but we cannot
advocate both doctrines.
ITO borrow Bible quotation. "A
house divided against itself cannot
stand paraphrasing Lincoln's declara-
ton. may add that this nation cannot
endure half republic and half colony
half free and half vassal. Our form of
government. our traditions our present
interests and our future welfare, all for
bid entering upon career Of con-
quest"
Col. Bryan thought it would be easier
to end the war by first ratifying the
Paris treaty and then dealing with the
subjects of expansion and imperialism
in our own way. We differ from the gal
liant Ncbraskan In that view. Better OPP
pose the ratification of the treaty and
the whole scheme of the imperialists. If
they carry one point they will carry
them all, including coalition with for
eign powers. Then goodby to republican
institutions. In our opinion Mr. Bryan
should take the platform and. Rienzi-
like. attack the foreign policy of the ad-
ministration with all the eloquence
with which God has endowed him. If he
does not. there will be different issues
presented to the American people two
years hence, and the question of bimetal-
lism will be as dead as Julius Caesar.
The man on horseback, the Napoleon Of
Canton. is driving the country to per-
dition. and it is the duty of William J.
Bryan and all loyal Americans to check