The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-04
BRYAN SPEAKS OUT.
He Opposes a Big Standing Army
and Vassal Colonies.
Is STILL FOR FREE SILVER.
But Thinks rthe Time that Issue
is Overshadowed by Issues
Raised by the Span.
ish War.

Col. W. j. Bryan returned to Lin
coin, Neb., his home, one day last week
and was rendered a reception at the
Oliver Theatre by the Wonans Bime-
tallic League. The house was crowded
and COL Bryan received an ovation.
He was introduced by Governor Hol-
comb, who formally welcomed him
home and complimented him for his
patriotism in enlisting in the army.
After thanking his neighbors for
their cordial welcome and compliment
ing the members Of his regiment AID
Col. Fifquain, in whose charge he left
them, he justified his resignation as
follows: Il had five months of peace
in the army and resigned in order to
take part in fight. I am as much in
terested in the people of the United
States as l am in the people Of Cuba,
and unless / am mistaken in judging
we are called upon to meet more i'm
portant problems in the United States
just now than will confront our army
in Cuba.
Some Of these problems we're under
discussion before hostilities began.
Others have been thrust upon US as a
result Of the war. Let me improve
this, my first opportunity, to assure you
that my zeal for the reforms advocated
few months ago has not in the least
abated.
Vital questions cannot be killed or
burned aud we were dealing with vital
questions when the call to arms re-
sounded throughout the land.
The American people have not ac-
cepted the gold standard as final. 1t
has wought more injustice in our coun
try during the last twenty-five years
than Spain has wrought in all her colo
MES, and opposition to it will grow
until the gold and silver coinage Of the
Constitution is fully restored. The
trusts which now flourish in defiance of
laws are more merclless than Weyler
was and the new trust-the paper money
trust-which is seeking to obtain con-
troll Of all the paper money in the ma
ton, is greater menace to the coun-
try's welfare than any foreign foe.
There are, however, two new ques-
tions which demand immediate atten-
teution, because congress is asked to
act upon them at once.
= ''The president recommends that the
regular army be permanently increased
to 100, ZOO men. This question must
be met now or not at all. )"
Taking up the subject Of imperialism
Mr. Bryan said that the president has
misinterpreted the sentiment Of the
people. They are opposed to giving
the Philippine Islands back to Spain,
but they have not as yet declared in
favor of embarking upon colonial poll
cy. So great charge, he said, could
not be undertaken without more inves-
tigation and deliberation than the peo-
pie had yet given to the subject.
The principal part CT Mr.. Bryan's
speech was devoted to the Philippine
question. In this connection he re-
ferred to President McKinleys inquiry:
who will haul down the Aag?'' and
replied: "The flag is a national en-
blem ard is obedient to the national
will. L; gas made for the people, not
the people for the flag. When the Am
ican people want the flag raised they
raise it; when they want it hauled down
they haul it down. The flag was raised
upon Canadian so;, during the war Of
1872. and it was hauled down when
peace was restored. The flag was
planted upon Chapultepec during the
war with Mexico, aud it was hauled
down when the war was over. The
morning papers announce that General
Lee ordered the flag hauled down in
Cuba yesterday because it was raised
too soon. The flag will be raised in
Cuba again on the lst of January, but
the president declares in his message
that it will be hauled down as soon as a
stable government is established. Who
will deny to the people the right to
haul the flag dern in the Philippines,
if they so desire, then a stable govern
ment is atlished there?
'tOur flag stands for an indissolnble
Union of indestructible States. Every
State is represented by star and every
Territory sees in the Constitution star
Of hope that will seme day take its
place in the constellation. What is
there in the flag to awaken the zeal or
reflect the aspirations Of vassal colonies
which are too good to be cast way, but
not good enough to be admitted to the
sisterhood of States?
Shall we keep the Philippines and
amend our flag? Shall we add new
star-the bold star, Mars-to indicate
that We have entered upon career OF
conquest? Or shall We borrow the yell
low, which in 1896 was the badge of
gold and greed, and paint Saturn and
his rings, to suggest a carpet-bag gov
ernment with its schemes of spoliation?
Or shall we adorn our flag with milky
wav, composed of multitude Of minor