Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-05
BANQUET TO BRYAN.
Nebraska Travelling Mems Club
Honor the Lincoln Statesman.
PHILIPPINE QUESTION DISCUSSED.
j. q. johnson, the Democrat c COMMITTEES
man from kAnsa., Responded to "NO
Trusts'-COngrsssm.n B,iley
Unable to BE Present.

Lincoln, Neb., Dec @l.-A compli.
mcntary reception and banquet to
Col. W. J. Bryan was rendered last
night by the Nebraska Travelling
Mems Bryan club at the Lincoln no.
tel. Invitations were sent to $50 ad-
mirers of Mr.. Bryan. The only nota.
bic absentee was Congressman Bailey,
of Texas, VINO WAS to have responded
to the toast Democracy" but who
telegraphed from Washington his in
ability to be present Mr. Bryan re.
sponded to the sentiment: Americas
Mission: Let Not the Crime of the East
Fer Crimson Thy Name; be Freedom
and Science and Virtue Thy Fame
After commencing the members OF
the club for their fidelity to the Chi
cago platform, Mr. Bryan proceeded
to discuss the Philippine question.
He insisted that colonial policy was
wrong in principle and unwise, and
he predicted that it would prove un.
profitable in practice He said in part:
You have labored diligently to prevent for
eign financiers from disregarding the rights OF
the American people, now you are called upon
to use your influence to prevent the American
people IRON disregarding the rights OF others
II has been the boast OF our nation that right
makes might Shall we abandon the motto of
the republic and 90 back a century to the mon
archical motto which asserts that might makes
right:
Imperialism finds the inspiration in dollars
not IN duty. 1t is not our duty to burden our
people with increased taxes in order to give Il
few spectators an opportunity for eXploita-
tion II Is mol our duty to sacrifice the best
blood OF our nation in tropical jungles in an at
tempt to stiff, The yery sentiments which have
given vitality to American Institutions; 1t is
not our duty to deny the people of the Philip
pines the rights for which our forefathers
fought from Bunker Hill to YORKTOWN.
Our nation has mission but 1t is to llberate
those who are IN bondage not to place shackles
UPON those who are struggling to be free. We
rejoice in the marvellous victory won by Dewey
in Manila bay. we would give to him sacred
place in history and crown his memory with
blessings. To us he is a hero to the FiliDinos
he can BE- savior Let him be known to pos
terty not as the subugator of an alien race,
llt as the redeemer OF m oppressed people
not as Lord Give. but as a Lafayette The
gratitude of u people is better than a jeweled
sword.
The second most notable address was
that Of j. G. johnson, democratic ma
tional committeeman from Kansas,
who spoke to the sentiment mo
Trusts" He took the position that
the trust system of the country is the
direct outgrowth OF the protective
tariff system, without which, to pre-
vent foreign competition, there could
be no successful ''cornering" of any OF
the ordinary anu(actured products OF
the country. He claimed that there
was no present financial activity ex-
cept in trust.protected industries,
and insisted that the system had all
OF the worst elements of state social
ism, without any of its advantages to
the public. He closed by exhorting
his hearers "to assist in the overthrow
of the republican party and thereby
eliminate both the protective tariff
and the trusts He thought there
was no Heaven-sent call to carry free
dom 1000 miles across the sea when
there is such crying need for finan-
cial, commercial and industrial eman-
cipation at home.
The other speakers were Gov. Hol,
comb, Gov. elect W. A. Poynter, James
IIanahan, G. NJ. Hitchcock editor OF
the Omaha World-Herald; Deputy At
tornev General W. D. Oldham and Gen.
J. b. Weaver, of Iowa.