Iron County register., 1899-03-02
AMERICAS MISSION.
The Patriotic Theme of Mr.. BRYAN
at Washington.
The Famous Nebraskan Makes q Wig
orous Attack ON ImperiaIism-A
Very Full Synopsis of His
Address.

i Virginia association, Washington. d. C.,
| Wednesday evening, February %. His
| subject was Americas Mission" He
/ said, in part:
When the advocates of imperialism find
IT impossible 70 reconcile q colonial policy
with the principles of our government or
with the canons Of morality. when they are
unable to defend il upon the ground of re-
Ig1ous duty or pecuniary profit, they fall
+ back in helpless despair upon the assertion
/ that IL is destiny. Suppose II does violate
the constitution they say; suppose IL does
break all the Commandments; suppose II
does entail upon the nation an incalculable
expenditure of blood and money; it is deS-
tiny and we must submit
The peopse have not voted for imperial
ism; no national convention has declared
for it; no congress has passed upon 1t TO
whom, then, has the future been revealed? :?
Whence this voice of authority? We can all
prophesy, but our prophesies are merely
guesses, colored by our hopes and our sur
roundings- Mans opinion of what is to be
is half wish and half environment. Avarice
paints destiny with a dollar mark before
il, militarism equips it with a sword.
He is the best prophet who, recogniz-
ing the omnipotence Of truth, comprehends
most clearly the great forces which are
working out the progress, not of one party.
not of one nation, but of the human race.
History is replete with predictions
which once wore the hue Of destiny. but
who uttered them saw too small an arc OF
the circle of events. When Pharaoh pur-
sued the fleeing Israelites to the edge of the
Red sea he was confident that their bond
age would be renewed and that they would
again make bricks without straw, but des-
tiny was not revealed until Moses and his
followers reached the further shore dry
shod and the waves rolled over the horses
and chariots of the Egyptians. When Bel
shazzar, on the last night of his reign, led
his thousand lords into the Babylonian
banquet han and sat down to a table gilt
tering with vessels of silver and gold, he
felt sure of his kingdom for many years to
come, but destiny was not revealed until
the hand wrote upon the wall those awe
inspiring words: Meme, Meme, Tekel
Upharsin.' When Abdertahman swept
northward with his conquering hosts his
Imagination saw the crescent triumph
throughout the world, but destiny was not
revealed until Charles Martel raised the
cross above the battlefield of Tours and
saved Europe from the sword of Moham-
mechanism. When Napoleon emerged vic
torious from Marengo, from Tim and from
Austerlitz he thought himself the child of
destiny, but destiny was not revealed until
Blucher's forces Joined the army Of Well
ington and the vanquished Corsciau began
his melancholy march to St. Helena. When
the red coats of George III, routed the
New Englanders at Lexington and Bunker
Hill. there rose before the British sovereign
visions of colonies taxed without represen-
eign-made laws, but destiny was not
veaIed until the surrender of Cornwallis
completed the work begun at independence
hall and ushereG into existence govern
ment deriving its just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed
I'VE have reached another crisis. The
ancient doctrine of imperialism, banished
from our land more than a century ago,
has recrossed the Atlantic and challenged
democracy to mortal combat upon Ameri-
can soil. Whether the Spanish war shall
be known in history as war for liberty or
as a war of conquest; whether the pTinci-
pies of elf-government shall be strength
ened or abandoned; whether this nation
shall remain q Homogeneous republic or
become q heterogeneous empire-these
questions must be answered by the Ameri-
can people-when they speak, and not until
then, will destiny be revealed.
Destiny is not matter of chance, it is
q matter of choice; it is not thing to be
waited for. it is a thing to be achieved
NO one can see the end from the be-
ginning, but everyone can make his course
an honorable one from beginning to end,
by adhering TO the right under all
circumstances. Whether a man steals
much or little may depend upon his op-
portunities, but whether he steals at all
depends upon his own volition.
SO with our nation. If we embark upon
a career of conquest, no one can tell how
many islands we may be able to seize or
how many races We may be able to subju-
immediate and remote, to the nations
purse and TO the nations character, but
whether we shall enter upon such a career
is a question which the people have right
to- decide for themselves
Unexpected events may retard or ad-
vance the nations growth, but the nations
purpose determines its destiny.
What is the nations purpose? That
purpose is set forth clearly and unmistaka-
bly, in the first sentence of the constitution:
We, the people of the United States. in
order to form a more perfect union, estab-
hsh justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the bless
ings of liberty to ourselves and to our pos
terity, do ordain and establish this consti-
tuition for the United States of America
1T will be seen that one of the main pEr-
poses of the founders of our government
was to secure for themselves and for pos
terity the blessings of liberty. That pur-
pose has been faithfully followed up to this
time. Our statesmen have opposed each
other upon economic questions, but they
have agreed in defending self government
as the controlling national idea. They have
quarreled among themselves over tariff
and finance, but they have been united in
their opposition to an entangling alliance
with any European power.
Under this policy our nation has grown
in numbers and in strength. Under this
policy its benefcent influence has encir-
cled the globe Under this policy the tax
the menace of q large military establish
ment and the young men have been taught
the arts of peace rather than the science
of war. On each returning Fourth of July
our people have met to celebrate the sign
ing of the Declaration of Independence;
their hearts have renewed their vows to |
free institutions and their voices have
praised the forefa thers whose wisdom and |
and patriotism make it possible |
for each succeeding generation to repeat |
the words: NV country, it's of thee, sweet
land of liberty, of thee sing
This sentiment was well universal until |
a year ago 1t was to this sentiment that |
the Cuban insurgents appealed; il was this |
sentiment that impelled our people to en-
ter into war with Spain. Have the people |
so changed within few short months that |
they are now willing to apologize for the |
war of the revolution and force upon the |
the same system of government |
against which the coloEists protested with |
fire and sword?
The hour of temptation has come, but |
temptations do not destroy, they merely /
test the strength of individuals and ma
tions: they are stumbling blocks or step
ping stones; they lead to infanfy or fame, |
according to the use made of them.
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allan served 1
together in the continental army and both /
were offered British gold. Arnold yielded /
to the temptation and made his name a /
synonym for treason; Allan resisted and /
lives in the affection OF his countrymen.
'tOu- naticn is tempted to depart from its /
standard Of morality and adopt a policy /
% criminal aggression But viii Il yield /
II I mistake net the sentiment OF the |
American people they will spi1rn the bribe /
Of Imperialism, and. by resisting tempta- ]
ton. win such victory as has not been
won since the battle Of Yorktown Let 1t /
. republic that took up arms to aid q neigh /
boring peoniR STRUGGLING TO be free. re- Il