The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-01-20

Says Expansion Is Wrong and the
10 to Is Right
The Free silver Leader Defends JEFF
fersonian Principles and De-
nounces Anything Like
imperialism.


The w j. Bryan league Of Chicago
paid tribute 10 the memory OF Andrew
Jackson at a banquet held AT the IRE
mont house. Chicago. Saturday night
January 7. 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 stili de-
Tending Jefersonian principles with Jack
sonian courage and has no thought OF de-
parting from the principles enunciated az
Chicago in 1856 That platform will live
In history and the hour of its adoption
will be RENE mbered the hour when the
money changers were driven from the
f democratic temple There Will be no turn
ing back The platform will be added TO
as new conditions force new issues into
the arena OF politics. but nothing viii be
subtracted from it, Events have vfndi-
Gated every position taken by the plat
form. Arbitration was advocated in that
platform. and arbitration is stronger to-
day than Il was in 1886
That platform denounced government
\ by Injunction and the sentiment against
government by Injunction is increa sing.
That platform denounced the trusts and
declared them 10 be a menace. that men
ace is greater to-day than ever before.
That platform warned the people that
conspiracy was on foot to give 10 the ma
tional banks a monopoly OF the issue and
supply Of paper money; that conspiracy
Is now known 10 everyone.
That platform denounced international
bimetallism as a delusion and snaYe. and
its condemnation has been justified. That
platform pointed 10 independent free coin
age as the only means OF restoring the
double standard Who doubts it now?
That platform named sixteen TO one as the
proper ratio. and that ratio stands to-day
as the only ratio at which bimeiallism Is
possible.
"Other platforms have been forgotten
but that platform is fresh in the memory
OF friend and foe because IL was clear and
positive upon every public question. To
those who believe In equality before the
law the Chicago platform is still an in
SEPARATION. II IS a terror only 10 those who
seek to use the government for personal
and private ends
Does Not Fear Attacks.
/ 1T has been attacked at two points. but
the attacks will not harm IL. Some who
opposed the platform in 1896 have prom
f9ed TO return TO the party on condition
that the party will drop the money ques-
tion and confine the fight to the trusts.
The offer will not be accepted. What
confidence would the people have in our
sincerity IL should declare against
trusts Il. general but enter into a treaty
OF peace with the greatest of all trusts -
the money trust? IL we should attempt
TO center the fight upon the trusts the re-
pubicans would adopt as strong an anti
trust plank as we. because no party woLii
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 nal ming
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
precipitated the putocracy which the par
~ had held in solution for several years
The gold democrats had a chance 10
crush out the trusts during Mr. Cleve-
lands adminisira lion. but they did not do
III. The gold republicans are having their
opportunity now. but they are not i'm
proving II. The trusts VIII fall when
the gold standard Is overthrown. and not
until then The gold standard means fall
Ing prices. and falling prices will create
trusts more rapidly than any goid-siancard
party can destroy them
Defends the Ratio.
THE second point OF attack is the ratio
Why insist upon sixteen TO one. they ask?
j reply. first. because IL is the best ra tio
and. second. because its opponents have
no other ratio TO offer No free-coinage
law can be enacted until a ratio Is agreed
law Suppose we had a majority in con-
kress favorable 10 bimetallism. but diff
iering as TO the ratio. Some would favor
sixteen 10 one. some twenty-four TO one
some thirty-two TO one. and some even
higher ratios. how could we make prog
ress under such conditions? Affirmat tive
relief is necessary. and those who favor
remedial legislation must secure a ma
Jority in both house and senate for some
definite proposition. The gold bugs I'M
q IN nj 40 E.HN~ - rFra.
biguous platform is equivalent 10 a gold
standard platform Mr. Cleveland was
elected In 1892 upon platform which de-
ciared for he use of gold and silver as
the standard money Cf the country. and
for the coinage Of both gold and silver
without discrimination against either
metal. or charge for mintage. and yet Mr.. 1
Cleveland found no difficulty in supporting
the single-gold standard. The democratic
party will not return TO the days OF IN
certainty and evasion. When the oppo-
nents of sixteen TO one agree upon another
ratio IL Will be time enough 10 compare
the merits OF the new ratio with the merits !
OF the old ratio. But they will not be per-
United TO suspend the party in midair. out
OF the reach OF sixteen 10 one. and out |
OF sight OF anything else. To sure nder
the ratio is TO accept the gold standard as
final.
The Chicago platform was good when It |
was adopted. Il grows better with age. Ii
Takes Up the New Issues.
But enough OF old issues. what OF the l
new questions? Our party cannot ignore Il
the issues raised by the war. II must \
speak out against militarsm now or for
ever hold its peace. large standing army /
Is no; only an expense 10 the people. but
IL Is a menace TO the nation. and the dem
ocratic party will be unit In opposing H. /
"A word in regard 10 imperialism. Those |
who advocate the annexation OF the Phil \
ippines call themselves expansionists. but
they are really imperialists. The word
expansion would describe the acquisition
of territory TO be populated by homogene-
Gus people and 10 be carved into states
like those now in existence. An empire
suggests variety in race and diversity In
government. The imperialists do not de-
sire 10 clothe the Fiiplnos with all the
rights and privileges OF American citizen
ship they want to exercise Sovereignty
over an alien race. and they expect 10 rule
the new subjects upon a theory entirely at
variance with constitutional goverrsn Mt
Victoria Is queen OF Great Britain and en-
press OF India: shall we change the title
Of our executive and call him the president
o. the United States and emperor OF the
Philippines?
'The democratic party stood for the