The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-10
ARE UNITED
IN TEXAS.
Democrats Listen to Two Ex-
cellent Arguments.
BRYAN PRODUCES ARGUMENT
That Cannot Be Met by Speakers on the
other Side--A Reference to the
standing Army That Is
Important.

The great two days Democratic
Carnival. at Dallas, Texas came off on
the second aIu third inst tn conJuncti IN
with the Texas state tatr, e&c 1t Wds
the greatest political gathering in
the history of the state.
After remarks by Judge Tarvin, OF
Kentucy, loud cries came for Bryan,
who stepped forward.
He disclaimed being present as a
presidential candidate, and spoke for
an hour on the issues of the day. He
said:
1T want to speak of new issues. The
Republican party today stands for
large army In 1896 we had 25,OOO
Z soldiers in the regular army, and in
December, 1898, a Republican presi-
dent asked for 100000 soldiers in the
standing army, making an army four
times as great as that of 1896, and IL
any Republican tells you that the presi-
dent wanted these soldiers to beat down
an uprising in the Philippines you
tell him that Republican asked for
1000 soldiers two months before there
was any uprising in the Philippine
islands. At the time the president
sent his message to congress, In the
early part of December there was no
evidence of any necessity of large
army, except as permanent policy of
this government so that when Mr.. Nc
Kinley asked for the army it was not
for an emergency but 1t was for the
permanent continued policy of the
United States. In other words we are
to choose between an army Of $4,000
and an army of 100000.
"I will venture the assertion that in
90
militarism you cannot find an instance
where such a large increase was de-
manded. Considered moment. Grant
an increase of 300 per cent at the very
first step. How easy it will be to give
them 100 per cent and double it, and
then 100 more and double it and make
it 400 per cent. When you start on the
road from dependence upon the people
to dependence upon professional
soldiers there is no place to stop until
you reach the endurance of the people.
people.
FRANCE IS AN EXAMPLE.
Someone has referred tonight to the
case of France. When you find great
army demanding the conviction Of an
innocent man, and my friends, the
French president had to Immediately
pardon the convicted man out of res
pect for the protests of the civilized
world against militarism (cheers)-
and, when in this Union we have
great standing army we will have
a horde of life-holding officers. When
we have horde of soldiers we will
have not only the burden that is
borne in other nations. but a grave
menace to the very principles of the
life Of our government itself, and also,
my friends If we have an imperial
policy we will have large standing
army.
you never can reduce the army be-
low 100000. 1t will be constantly aug
mented If this nation enters upon an
imperial policy, and let me say word
here, about that word imperialism.
Our opponents do not like to be called
imperialists. / am not surprised.
have known them before to object to
words that described them. I remem-
ber that in 1895 they did not want to
be called gold bugs; they wanted to
be called advocates Of sound money
and of an honest dollar; but they did
not want to be called gold bugs. It
was not until after the election that
they blosomed out as gold bugs and
pointed to the victory for the gold
standard. And now they do not want
to be called imperialists. They say
they are expansionists. Well, they
do not seem to be expansionists The
word does not fit If we were going up
in the wilds of Canada and take a
stretch of country to be settled by
American citizens, 1t would be expan-
sion. 1t would be extending the limits
of a republic; but. when we cross the
ocean it is no expansion. 1t Is i'm
periaism.
"It is imperialism and no other
term describes it. What defense do they
give for an imperial policy? Not one
in ten will give any defense at ALL The
first man you meet tells you that 1t is
too late TO discuss the question because
the ratification of the treaty settled
that. The next man tells you that 1t
is not time to discuss 1t yet, because
the Filipinos have not laid down their
arms. And the third one says that
while he does not know what Is going
to be done, he has implicit confidence
in the president (Laughter)
"It is hard to get a man to defend
Imperialism, but when you get q man
who has the audacity 70 defend an
imperial policy you will find that he
will make one of three defenses. I
have never heard but three defenses
Of Imperialism. The first is the financial
argument that there is monev in it.
The second is the religious argument
that God is in it. The third is the poll
tical argument that we are in it and
can't get out of it. Qaughter) These
are the only three reasons that have
ever heard given.
my friends. I do not like to discuss
great question upon the low plane
of dollars and cents. If I were to ask
you what you thought of the command
ment Thou shalt not STEAL would you
get lead pencil and paper and try to
figure up the amount to be stolen and
the chances of being caught before
you would give me an answer on the
subject? To me 1t seems to be absurd
for man to begin to calculate in dollars