The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-14
LEASE LEAVES POPULISTS.
SHE is NOW A REPUBLICAN, WITH
RESERV ATOMS.


Repudiates Quay's Plum Tree
Method of Getting Things-ThinI1s
Col. Bryan's Political Star Is Set
Talks of Politics and other Things
From an Interview in the Philadelphia
Press.
Mrs. Lease is not a native of Kansas
She is proud that she grew to womanhood
in Mexican county, Pennsylvania, and she
Is proud that she was born in the Emerald
Isle. Il have the distinction of being the
only Irish woman on the American ros-
trum," she declared. "Youd know I'm
Irish from my intensity and my blue eyes. -
Mrs. Lease acknowledged that she Is
pretty well known IN America
Il have been nearly ten years before the
public" she said. I'm comparatively new
though, when you think of Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and -her-name?-I ought
TO know-yes-Susan b. Anthony.
Politics? Yes, I've been in politics and
1 suppose I'm in yet. for Pm interested in
political questions. But I've been trying
TO get out of politics for two years l pre-
fer the lecture platform to the stump.
Expansion? OF course, I believe In
expansion. am an Imperialist of the deep
est dye. 1 believe in extending the benih-
cence of our great Republic to the islands
of the sea. (Gesture.)
Danger to our own institutions? No.
We heard the same protest when we pur-
chased Louisiana and Alaska. 1t is the pro-
flG hot hos
advancement of people and of individ-
uals.'
Mrs. Lease had arisen from her chair and
was growing intense She gestured vigor-
ously as she continued.
Il don't believe in it," presumably the
protest.
DO you reflect the sentiment in the
West?"
No; the West is opposed to expansion
simply because they are opposed to Nc
Kinleyism. But the West is wrong They
say we can't take care of these new and
strange people They forget our strong
power of assimilation. They talk of over
crowding. Less than one-twentieth of our
soil is under cultivation. There's room in
the imperial state of Texas (gesture) for
every one of our population. For humanl-
tartan, for ethical, for educational REASONS,
from every vantage ground 1t Is for the
benefit of these people who will come I'M
der republican rule, and a good thing for
ourselves. / am an imperialist!
You supported Mr.. Bryan in the last
presidential campaign. DO you stn
think"
Il am not a hero worshiper. Mr.. Bryan's
star mas set. l do believe in the restora-
ton of silver; the money of payment
should be exactly the same as the money
obligation. vigorous gesture). But Mr.
Bryans star is set Other questions are
coming up fully as important as the money
question. One question of grave signifi-
canoe is, Shall the corporations rule or
shall the peopie rule?' ANY one who will
advocate the one issue of the restoration
of silver cannot be a great leader and the
people require great leader, and in no
sense a follower"
For instance?"
Yes. Mr.. Bryan Mr. BRYAN Is NOT q
leader, but follower"
DO you think that the Populist par
ty-"
There is no Populist party There was
such a party once, but it was led by cor
rupt leaders into the Democratic lines end
destroyed"
"Then where does Mrs. Lease stand?"
(Excitedly). CAS- between the bourbon
Democracy and the Republican party. no
one who has lost fathers and brothers for
the flag can have any hesitancy in choos-
ing between the two"
Then, you are now a Republican,"
Mrs. Lease hesitated before replying:
Between now and 1900 ] am an earnest
advocate and supporter Of the policy of i'm
perialism, the extending of the glorious
privileges of the great republic to the PEG.
pie of this earth wherever found I see
no danger in that, but l do see danger in
Matthew Stanley Quays influence.
And so you see l am not entirely i'm ac-
cord with the Republican party"
Mrs Lease was pacing up and down the
room, gesturing vigorously.
Il am dreadfully intense" she exclaimed
lawfully in earnest; and YET suppose il
is my success on the platform.
Il admire immensely John Wanamalxer
He is brave, brainy and fearless.
'Woman's rights? l never have iden-
tilted myself with the woman's rights
movement, though | have delivered lee
lures under its auspices. While | recog-
nize it as right, l don't advocate it II
is human rights rather than wornan's
rights"
Should women be permitted to vota?"
ut is her right. / am a lawyer. There
is no argument that can possibly be pro-
duced against suffrage for women that
cannot De prOuuceO against suffrage for
men. Therefore, from legal and logical
standpoint, the ballot is woman's right
eternally."
But the political scientists say the
franchise is not a right, but privilege
granted by government" the reporter
made bold TO interpose.
They are wrong. The ballot is not
privilege 1t is a right, and to DENY
citizen Of the United States that right IS
wrong were it to be perpetrated bv one
man or by 800 men,"
do you admire Tennyson?" asked the
Devoted to him" was the impetuous re-
Spouse.
Woman IS the lesser man and all tby
passions matched with mine
Are as moonlight unto sunlight. and as
water unto wine'
quoted the reporter.
Mrs. Lease repudialed the poet instan-
ter.
Il don't believe H. Woman Is in all re
spects the equal Of man and IN some his
superior The greatest difference Consist
In the fact thai we have been moving IN
rut. Submit man to tho "a me RESTRICT ION.