The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-23
An Address Before the Virginia DEM
acratfc Association of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
HE PLEADS FOR FILIPlNoS
AND WARNS THE PEOPLE TO BE-
WARE OF A COLONIAL POLICY.
The Hour OF Temptation ut Hand
AngIo-SaxOn Civilization Versus
American Civilization.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-The Virginia
| Democratic Association of the District Of
Columbia celebrated Washingtons birth
| day by a largely attended banquet at the
| National Rifles armory. William j. Bryan
was the guest of honor and among those
| present were Senators Daniel and Martin, of
| Virginia. Stewart, of Nevada; Representa-
| tives Bailey, De Almond and Cooper, Of
| Texas; Lentz and Greene, of Wisconsin;
Bartlett, of Georgia; Sulzer and Swanson
and H. P. Belmont, of New York. In the
| center of the stage, to the rear of the hall,
| was an immense floral design presented to
Mr.. Bryan by his admirers. Mr.. Bryan was
| given an enthusiastic reception and every
reference to him by the speakers was re-
ceived with tremendous applause.
Senator Daniel, of Virginia, was the first
speaker, responding to the toast George
Washington, we celebrate his birthday
anniversary for his worth as warrior,
statesman and patriot" "Democracys 8
Mission was responded to by Representa-
! tive Bailey, of Texas. Hon. Elliot Danforth,
! of New York, responded to the toast The
State of New York" Hon. d. A. De Almond
responded to the toast '"The Democratic
party; it cannot die while the Republic
| lives"
Hon. William ]. Bryan responded to the
| toast Americas Mission" He said in part:
when the advocates Of imperialism find
| 1t impossible to reconcile a colonial policy
| with the principles of our government or
with the canons of morality: when they are
| unable to defend it upon the ground of re-
| ligious duty or pecuniary profit they fall
back in helpless despair upon the assertion
| that 1t Is destiny. Suppose it does violate
| the Constitution they say; suppose it does
break all the Commandments; suppose it
| does entail upon the Nation an incalculabe
| expenditure of blood and money; 1t is
destiny and we must submit
1.-The people have not voted for imperial
| ism: no national convention has declared
for it; no Congress has passed upon 1t. To
whom, then, has the future been revealed?
| Whence this voice of authority? We can all
| prophesy, but our prophecies are merely
| guesseS, colored by our hopes and our sur
roundings. Mans opinion of what is to be
is half wish and half environment Avarlce
It: militarism equips it with sword.
He is the best prophet who, recognizing
| the omnipetence of truth comprehends most
| clearly the great forces which are working
out the progress not of one party, not Oh
one nation, but of the human race.
FALSE PROPHETS OF OLD.
"Histroy is replete with predictions which
once wore the hue of destiny, but which
failed of fulfllment because those who ut
| tered them saw too small an arc Of the
| circle of events. When Pharaoh pursued
| the fleeing Israelites to the edge Of the
Red sea he was confident that their bond
age would be renewed and that they would
| again make bricks without straw, but
destiny was not revealed until Moses and
his followers reached the further shore dry
shod and the waves rolled over the horses
and chariots of the Egyptians. When
led his thousand lords into the Babylonian
banquet hall and sat down to a table gilt
tering with vessels of silver and gold he
felt sure of his kingdom for many years 20
comef but destiny was not revealed until
the hand wrote upon the wall those awe
inspiring words, Meme, Meme, Tekel Uphar-
sin When Abdurrahman swept northward
with his conquering hosts his imagina ton
saw the crescent triumphant throughout
the world, but destiny was not revealed un-
til Charles Martel raised the cross above
the battlefield of Tours and saved Europe
from the sword of Mohammedanism; When
| Napoleon emerged victorious from Marengo,
from Ulm and from Austerlitz he thought
himself the child of destiny, but destiny
was not revealed until Butchers forces
joined the army of Wellington and the
vanquished Corsican began his melancholy
march to St. Helena. When the red-coats
of George the Third routed the New Eng
landers at Lexington and Bunker Hill there
rose before the British sovereign visions Of
colonies taxed without representation and
drained of their wealth by forelgn-made
laws, but destiny was not revealed until
the surrender of CORVALLIS completed the
work begun at independence Han ana
ushered into existence a government de-
irving it's just powers from the consent OF
the governed
cent doctrine of imperialism. banished from
our land more than century ago, has re-
crossed the Atlantic and challenged Democ-
racy to mortal combat upon American SOIL.
Whether the Spanish war shall be known
In history as a war for liberty or a war
of conquest; whether the principles or SELL
government shan be strengthened or aban-
doned; whether this Nation shall remain a
| homogeneous republic or become hetero-
geneous empire-these questions must be an
swered by the American people-when they
speak and not until then, will destiny be
/ revealed.
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a
matter of choice; it is not a thing TO be
waited for, it is thing. to be achieved. NO
one can see the end from the beginning,
but every one can make his course an honor
able one from beginning to end by adher-
ing to the right under all circumstances.
Whether a man steals much or little may de-
pend on his opportunities. but whether he
steals at all depends on his own volition.
| so with our Nation If we embark on q
| career of conquest no one can tell how many
islands we may be able to seize or how
many races we may be able to subjugate;
neither can any one estimate the cost inn
mediate and remote, to the Nations purse
and to the Nations character, but whether
we shall enter on such a career is a ques-
tion which the people have right to decide
for themselves. Unexpected events may re-
tard or advance the Nations growth but the
Nations purpose determines its destiny.
THE NATIONS PURPOSE.
what is the Nations purpose? That pur-
pose is set forth clearly and Enthusiastically
| III ln6 IISI SSHlSHCS VI lIo OOAIStllulIOLls
We, the people of the United States in or
der 10 form more perfect Union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote the gen.
eral welfare and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and to our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for
| the United States of America.
1T will be seen that one of the main
| purposes of the founders of our government
| was to secure for themselves and for pos
terity the blessings of liberty. That pur-
| pose has been faithfully followed up to this
time. Our statesmen have opposed each
| other on economic questions, but they have
| agreed in defending self-government as the
| controlling national idea. They have quar-
finance, but they have been united in their
| opposition to an entangling alliance with
| any European power. Under this policy our
| Nation has grown in numbers and in
| strength. Under this policy its benefcent
! influence has encIrcled the globe. Under this
policy the taxpayers have been spared the
| burden and the menace of a large military
! taught the arts Of peace rather than the
science of war.
| ION each returning Fourth of July our
people have met to celebrate the signing of
| the Declaration of Independence; their
| hearts have renewed their vows to free in
| forefathers whose wisdom and courage and
| patriotism made 1t possible for each sue
! ceeding generation to repeat the words, My
| country, It's OF thee sweet land of liberty, OF
| thee / sing This sentiment was well uni
versal until year ago. IT was to this sem
| timent that the Cuban insurgents appealed;
| il was this sentiment that imRelled our
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