The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-01-05
4 DEMOCRATIC oppoRTUNITY.

pressed the opinion in these col
umns that the results of the con-
fiict would prove disastrous to the
country generally, but especially
SO to the South and the Demo-
cratic party. We made this
statement upon the assumption
that Spain was to be robbed of
her ancient possessions, and that
they were to be forcibly annexed
to the United States, consum-
nation to which all present indi-
cations clearly point. We also
suggested that Mr.. Bryan be re-
tired and an original anti-war
man be nominated by the Demo-
cratic party in 1900 upon the
platform of "The War was a
Failure, subordinating the tariff,
finance, state banks, ETC., to the
one great consideration of the I'M
business of the war and the dan
gers of territorial expansion.
While still holding to our opin-
ion iii the main we wish to modify
our position SO far as it applies to
Mr.. Bryan. In view of his noble
and irresistible opposition to the
policy of Imperialism, we now be-
lieve that our party has in him it's
ablest opponent Of these new here
sizes of the Republican party, and
we think that if the administra-
tion carries out it's pet scheme of
annexation, which now seems
very probable, our former stand
ard bearer will again appear in
that capacity, but this time, if
Democrats are wise, lead us to
victory at the next presidential
election.
We regard the proposition to
take possession by the United
States of the conquered Spanish
territories and to hold them per-
petually as colonies, against. the
will of their inhabitants, as sub
versive of the very foundations
upon which our government rests;
it would violate the declaration of
independence, taxing these peo-
pie without allowing them repre-
sentation, and governing them
without their consent, acts which
we believe the American people
will never countenance. While
there is any sense of fairness, hon
esty and consistency in this coun-
try the idea of our liberating the
struggling, weak and oppressed
only to become ourselves the OPP
pressors, will never be tolerated.
We therefore trust that every
Democratic senator, when this
treaty is brought forward for con-
sideration will promptly vote for
its ratification, including the an
nexation provision, thus throwing
upon the administration the re-
sponsibility both for the war and
its results. AS we said before, we
think two years trial of our colo
MES will prove to us that they are
an Old Man of the Sea upon our
shoulders from whom we shall as
gladly part as did Sinbad the
Sailor from his burden. Our wars
with our dependencies, and our
war taxes, pensions and other ex-
penses at home, with five cent cot
ton and fifty cent wheat to bear
the brunt, will cause rebellion
with the average American.
If we ignore imperialism and
wage the battle upon the old issue
of free silver the probabilities are
that we shall. be defeated. The
Republicans could point to sue
cessful war as their achievement,
which circumstance has hereto
fore, never failed to give new
lease of power to the party CON
summating it. But if we insist
that the war and it's results were
not success, we think the people,
after two years trial, will agree
with us. In our opinion this is
the only plan by which the Re-
publicans can be defeated in 1900.
When such Republicans as Sena-
tors Hoar and Hale, Speaker
Reed, Andrew Carnegie and 9TH
ers, are 50 outspoken in their OPP
position to their party's policy it
is time for Democrats to take the
hint.
President Mckinley in his At
lanta speech grandiloquently en-
quired: "Who will haul down
the American flag where it has
been placed?" We reply that our
emblem is not responsible for the
mistakes committed in it's name.
1t is the part of wisdom to correct