Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-19
BRYAN WARNS UP
Says Expansion Is Wrong and the
10 to I Is Right.
The Free Silver Leader Defends Jef-
fersonian Principles and De-
nOunces Anything Like
imperialism.

| Imperialism.
The w. J. Bryan league of Chicago
paid tribute TO the memory of Andrew
Jackson at a banquet held at the Ire
| mont house, Chicago. Saturday night.
January 2. Burning speeches were
made by Mayor Harrison, Congress
man Lentz, of Ohio, and William j.
Bryan on the leading issues before the
people. Mr.. Bryan said:
THE democracy of the nation is still de-
/ tending Jefersonian principles with Jack
| scnian courage and has no thought of de-
! Parting from the principles enunciated at
Chicago in 1896. That platform will live
/ in history and the hour of its adoption
| will be remembered as the hour when the
money changers were driven from the
| democratic temple. There viii be no turn
| ing back The platform viii be added to
! as new conditions force new issues into
| the arena of politics. but nothing will be
| subtracted from it Events have vindi-
Gated every position taken by the plat
| form Arbitration was advocated in that
| platform. and arbitration is stronger to-
day than ii was in 1896
THAT platform denounced government
by injunction and the sentiment against
government by injunction is increasing
That platform denounced the trusts and
declared them TO be a menace: that men
ace is greater to-day than ever before.
HdL pldllOTh "dEAGu the people IuaI q
conspiracy was on foot to give to the ma
tional banks monopoly of the issue and
supply Of paper money; that conspiracy
is now known to everyone
That platform denounced international
bimetallism as deIusion and a snare, and
its condemnation has been justified. That
platform pointed to Independent free coin
age as the only means of restoring the
double standard Who doubts ii now?
That platform named sixteen to one as the
proper ratio. and that ratio stands to-day
as the only ratio at which bime;allism is
possible.
but that platform is fresh in the memory
of friend and foe, because it was clear and
positive upon every public question To
those who believe in equality before the
SEPARATION: it is a terror only to those who
seek to use the government for personal
and private ends.
Does Not Fear Attacks.
at has been attacked at two points but
the attacks will not harm it Some VINO
opposed the platform in 1896 have prom
ised TO return TO the party on condition
that the party will drop the money Ques-
ton and conflne the fight to the trusts.
The offer will not be accepted What
confidence would the people have in our
sincerity if we should declare against
trusts in general but enter into treaty
OF peace with the greatest of all trusts i
the money trust? If we should attempt
to center the fight upon the trusts the re-
pubHcanS would adopt as strong an anti
trust plank we. because no party would
care to defend the trusts. In such fight
the magnates would be found supporting
both parties and contributing literally TO
both campaign funds, provided the trusts
were guaranteed the privilege of naming
the attorney-general and the judges. The
trusts opposed the democratic party in
1896 because the Chicago convention took
the party out of the hands of the Wall
street crowd and adopted platform which
DT6ciDit2teC the DiutOcracy which the r
ty had held in solution for several years
The gold democrats had a chance to
crush out the trusts during Mr. Cleve
lands administration, but they did not do
1t The gold republicans are having their
opportunity now, but they are not i'm
proving it The trusts will fall when
the gold standard is overthrow. and not
until then. The gold standard means fall |
ing prices. and falling prices will create
trusts more IA pidly than any gold-Standard
party can destroy them.
Defends the Ratio.
THE second point of attack is the ratio. |
why insist upon sixteen to one, they ask? |
I reply. first. because it is the best ratio; !
and, second. because its opponents have
no other ratio to offer. No free-coinage
law can be enacted until ratio is agreed /
upon. because the ratio is a part of the |
law. Suppose we had majority in con- |
gress favorable to bimetallism. but diff
fering as to the ratio. Some would favor |
sixteen to one. some twenty-four to one.
higher ratios; how could We make prog
ress under such conditions? Affirmative
relief is necessary, and those who favor
remedial legislation must secure a ma
jcrity in both house and senate for some
definite proposition. The gold bugs I'M
derstand this: they know that am
biguous platform is equivalent 10 gold
standard platform. Mr.. Cleveland was
elected in 1892 upon a platform which de-
clared for the use of gold and silver as
the standard money of the country, and
for the coinage of both gold and silver
without discrimination against either
metal, or charge for miDtage; and yet Mr.. !
Cleveland found no difficulty in supporting |
the singie-go.d standard The democratic
party Will not return TO the days of un-
Certainty and evasion. When the oppo-
Eents of sixteen 10 one agree upon another
ratio it will be time enough TO compare
the merits OF the new ratio with the merits
of the old ratio But they will not be per-
mitted to suspend the party in midair. out
of the reach of sixteen to one. and out
Of sight of anything else. To surrender
the ratio is 10 accept the gold standard as
final
The Chicago platform was good when 1t
was adopted; it grows better with age. 1t
was strong in 1896; 1t is stronger now.
Takes Up the New Issues.
But enough of old issues: what of the
new questions? Our party cannot ignore
the issues raised by the war. 1t must
speak out against militarism now or for
ever hold its peace large standing army
Is not only an expense to the people, but
II is a menace to the nation, and the DEM
,cratic party will be a unit in opposing it.
"A word in regard to Imperialism. Those |
who advocate the annexation of the Phil
ppines call themselves expansionists. but
they really imperialists- The word |
=Xpa nsion would describe the acquisition
IF territory to be populated by homogene-i
Dus people and 10 be carved into states
ike those now IN existence. An empire
suggests variety in race and diversity in
government The imperialiStS do not de-
lire 10 clothe the FiIipinos with all the
rights and privileges of American CITIZEN
hip; they want 10 exercise sovereignty
over an alien race, and they expect TO rule
he new subjects upon theory entirely at !
rariance with constitutional government
Victoria is queen of Great Britain and en-
press OF India: shall we change the title /
If our executive and call him The president {
y the United States and emperor of the (
I
The democratic party stood for the
money of the constitution in 1896; it stands Z
or the government OF the constitution I
low 1t opposed the English financial c
,olicy in 1886: il opposes English colo
iaI policy now Those who in 1896 were /
u favor of turning the American people j
Iver 10 the greco OF foreign fnanciers and {
Domestic trusts may now be willing TO j
urn the Fiiipinos over 10 the tender mer- !
ies OF military governors and carpet-beg I
fhciaIS {
THOSE who in 1886 thought the people of :
he United States TOO weak to attend 10
heir own business may now think them
trong enough TO attend TO the business of :
be remote and alien races: but those who
Z 1856 fought for Independence for the :
American people will not now withhold :
from those who desire il | il
lSEwheTe. /
Says FiIipinos Can Govern