The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-03-04
BRYAN's ARMY TALK.
Any Old Topic II Good
Enough.

-
William J.. Bryan has delivered sew
eral addresses during the last tendays
and he Is billed TO deliver several more
during the next fortnight, He cannot
keep quiet. lie feels that he must nd
~yertise himself daily or the public will
forget him and next years democratic
convention will ignore him. Hence this
~unwearied activity Of his tongue. No
body else is blowing Bryan's horn lust
lily just now. so he is blowingit himself
with great yigor.
A year ago this time all his speeches
were about free silver. This year he is
working up n fresh issue which may APP
peal forcibly TO persons for whom six
teen to one has no special attractions
The theme on which Bryan is charging
now Is the danger Of increasing the reg
ular army. By harping on that theme
he believes he will retain the support
Of anarchists. foreign socialists and
Debsites. All these individuals are OPP
posed 10 the maintenance OF n regular
army by the general government or or
militia organizations by the states.
They prefer TO nave 10 deal with weak.
defenseless governments. 1t is so much
easier to ~terrorize such governments
and trample on their laws.
No law-abiding citizen has any more
occasion TO fear the regular army than
Re has the local police force. IL is not
made up OF m~ercenaries, subject TO the
exclusive control Of military chiefs.
IT is composed Of American citizens
who are better acquainted with and
have more respect for the laws and in
situations OF their country than the
brawling alien socialists who affect 20
see i'm a regular army menace 10 their
liberties. The regular army is under
the control OF the president. IL Is de-
pendent for It's support on biennial con-
gressional appropriations. Thus that
army Is not a menace 10 liberty or TO
~law-abiding citizens. Those who have
cause 10 fear itare the violent opposers
of the enforcement OF national laws.
"Organized labor" has nothing to
fear from the proposed increase OF the
regular army. though Bryan is endeay-
oring TO make il believe SO. More sol
diers are needed in order that peace
may be established, notin this country.
but in the new acquisitions Of the
United States, especially in the Philip
pine islands. II has been decided that
the United States shall take those is
lands and establish a stable govern
ment there. Bryan deplores that de-
termination. but il Is the settled. ire
versible policy OF the people. There
fore n sufficient number OF soldiers
must be sent to the Philippines to put
down the military chieftains who are
disturbing the peace there. When that
has been done. and IL will not take long.
only a few soldiers will be needed TO
keep the peace.
So when Mr.. Bryan asks "my friends
whether at ought 10 take twice as
many soldiers to bring the blessings OF
boncfcent assimilation TO the l~C,00o.OOo
aliens in the Philippines as Is required
10 do the work among 70,000,o coo peo-
pie" he misstates the question with the
ease OF a veteran demagogue. The reg
ulnrs who are TO be sent 10 the Philip
pines are 20 do what the Nebraska vol
unteers now there have been doing.
They are 20 put down armed disturb
/ us VI lH0 H'Atis WV ~ NHV 49,
expressing the quiet, peaceablc Fill
pinos. No "beneficent assimilation" OF
the Filipinos into American citizens IS
proposed. The American people have
willed that they be given a just. good
government. and ii Is to be given them.
The anarchist rabble will applaud
Bryan's opposition 10 the increase OF
the regular army. They would applaud
him more loudly IL be urged the entire
disarmament OF the army. The senti~
mental simpletons who think the
United States should abandon the Phil
ippines at once and forever will APP
plaud Bryan's opposition TO an increase
Of the regular army so the Philippines
may be pacifed, The bulk OF the voters
will see through Bryan's shrieks and
sneers. and will give the bafiied dema-
gogue 10 understand that this his latest
bid for popularity viii not be a success.
Chicago Tribune.