The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-08-05
EMISSIONS BY BRYAN.
The Main Issues Are Covered Up
with Meaningless GEM
eraitties.


War democrats and silver republic
ans who expected to find satisfactory
reference TO the Philippines In Mr..
Bryan's speech at the Auditorium were
sorely disappointed. Mr.. Bryan, know
ing that some of his most enthusiastic
followers in 1896 expected him 10 say
whether he would withdraw the Amer
lean army from the Philippines, wheth-
er he would haul down the flag before
good order was established. and sur
render all that the American navy and
American army had fought for, said
nothing.
Afraid to commit the party to the poll
icy Of surrender, he eyaded the main
issue in meaningless generahties. Had
he been "A man of courage, like Henry
Watterson or Senator Morgan, and hum
dreds Of other prominent democrats, he
would have said, however men may diff
fer as to the final disposition of the Phil
ippine islands, the government must be
supported in its efforts TO put down re-
bellion. But he did not say II. Instead
he declared that the FiliIsnos should be
indept ndcnt. He repeated the argu-
ments OF Hoar, Atkinson and other anti
imperialists. He said that IL the doc
trine set forth in the declaration of in
dependence is sound we cannot hold the
Philippines; that IL the doctrine of the
declaration of independence is sound
we cannot rightfully purchase 100000
people at two dollars apiece from an alien
monarch and he represented that the
main argument OF those in favor of an
nexation was that il we were TO give
these people their independence other
nations OF Europe would laugh at us.
IL these utterances represent the spir-
! IL and conviction of the democratic par
! ~, then il never can make another ma
tional campaign. They are so paltry,
so evasiye, so cowardly, that no demo-
/ crat or silver republican who sympa-
thized with the purpose OF the govern
ment in the war with Spain can train
with the party. If Mr.. Bryan cares 10
put the acquisition of the Philippines
! in the light OF a bargain in which the
government paid two dollars a head for
/ 100000 people, what will he say of
| Thomas Jefferson, who, as president.
| paid more than two dollars a head for
]
\ jefferson purchased outright these ter
! ritories from an alien monarch, and
they are now standing illustration OF
the logic OF the expansion policy.
James *. Polk, another democrat, au-
thorizcd the purchase o. Mexican terri
/ tory that came 10 MS through conquest,
and on Mr.. Bryan's theory OF annexa-
ton paid more than two dollars head
/ for the Inhabitants thereof. But Mr..
Bryans utterances on this question
must be SO irritating 10 patriotic Amer
leans as TO carry the antidote for their
own poison.
The questions that Mr.. Bryan must
answer are: Would you haul down the
flag in the Philippines? Would you sur
render the islands to the Tagals now in
rebellion, representing not one-twen-
tieth OF the population? Would you
withdraw the army and navy from the
islands and waters OF the archipelago?
Would you surrender the islands 90 an
archy or TO some European govern
ment? Would YOU sacrifice American
interests to forward the interests of
some European power? DO you APP
!
/ by the president to the Filipinos
through the peace commissioners? Do
you regard that proposition as u resort
10 European methods or the inaugurn-
ton of American methods, 10 De dis
oussed ON its merits? Are YOU in favor
Of general policy OF surrender of the
territory conquered from Spain Would
/ you retire from Porto Rico? Would you
annul the Hawaiian annexation act7
/ Would YOU maintain military govern
ment In Cuba, or would you leave the
island to the war OF the factions?
The people are asking these questions
OF Mr.. Bryan, and il he is to be the nom
inee OF the democratic party he must
answer them. Democrats are asking
these questions, and II Mr.. Bryan docs
not answer them he will not be the nunl-
inee Of the party. IL has been demon-
strated time and time again that the
| American people have no use for a cow
ard. Certainly the silver republicans OF
the west who favor the administration
policy in the Philippines and who did
| their full part in sustaining the govern
mcnt in the war with Spain, cannot
/ 'N"bN' ""l'Po4 - Aiah Nho JuSSiSS Win
words TO conceal his sympathy with the
coppcrheads OF the day.
This is not a time for spectacular dust
throwing. The people are asking men
those who aspire TO leadership. as
well as those in the ranks--to show
their colors. Mr. Bryan, II would seem,
has no colors TO show. lie would have
| the democratic party repeat In 1000 the
great blunders Of 1s04.-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
Il
Il nnD~@