The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-03-02
THE DESTINY FAKE.
William Jennings Bryan Lays
Bare Imperialism.
>usTERFuse AND INNUENDo
Employed by the Administration to Fool
the People Into Thinking Itisa
Good Thing to XIII or Lot
of HaIf-Clad savages.

the People Into Thinking hb
Good Thing to XIII or a Lot
of Half-Clad savages.
While these who see but the superficial
ard rs-ty sides of the expansion ques.
tior and make the theory Of trade expan-
ZION an excuse for colonial expansion, are
putting up their trief notions about 1t as
oil there is to be said on the question, 1t
i, we'll to read what someone who knows
what he is talking about says concerr Ing
the question. William J. Bryan, at
Washington Wednesday night, delivered
the following address:
Is 1T DESTINY
when the advocates Of imperialism find
it impossible to reconcile colonial policy
with the principles Of our government or
nth the oauons Of morality. when they
are unable to defend 1t upon the ground
of religious duty or peouniary profit, they
fall blck In helpless despair upor the as
sertion that It Is dastiuy.
The people have not voted for imperial-
ism; no national convention has de-
clared for 1t; no congress has passed upon
1t. To whom, then has the future been
revesleip wheroe this voice OF author-
ityf Mans opinion of what is to be Is
half wish and half environment. AVar-
ioe points destiny With dollar mark be-
fore 1t; n nilitsrism equips 1t with
sword. History Is replete with predio-
tions shioh once wore the hue OF destiny,
but which failed Of ful6llment because
those who uttered them saw too small an
arc Of the circle OF events.
We have reached another crisis. The
ancient doctrines Of Imperialism, BAN
isbed from our land more than century
ago, has reorossed the Atlantic aud ohal-
lpngei democracy to mortal o1mbat upon
| A Amerioan soil whether the Spanish war
shall be known In history as a war Tor
liberty or as war of conquest, whether
the principles Of self-government shall be
siren gthenei or Abandoned. whether this
nation shall remain a homogeneous re-
public or a Heterogeneous enpire-these
questions must be answered by the Amer
loan peopls when they sresk and not un'
til then will destiny be revealed.
Destipyis not q matter Of chance 1t ID
a matter of choice 1t is not thing to be
waited for IL Is thing to be achieved.
DEPENDS ON voLIrIoN.
Whether man steals much or littlt
may depend upon It's opportunities but
whether he steols at all depends upon hi'
own yolition. So with our nation. i
we embark upon career OF conquest NJ
one can tell how many islands we maj
be ahle OF seize or how many races WI
may be able to subjugate; neither cal
any one esti mate the cost, immediate ant
remote, tn the nations purse and to th'
nations character; but whether we shal
enter upon such a career Is q question
which the people have right to decid
for themselves.
Unexpected events may retard or ad
vance the nations growth, but the ma
tion's p1rpose determines It's destiny
What is the nations puIposeS That pur
nose Is set forth clearly and unmistaka
. hly I'm the first sentence Of the oonstitu
ti n:
"we, the people of the United States
in order TO form q more perfect uDto
establish justice, 1 sure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense
pro mote the general welfare and secur
the blessi pgs Of liberty to ourselves an
to our posterity, do ordain and establis
this constitution for the United State
of America"
1t will be seen that one Of the mai
purposes Of the founders of our govern
ment was to secure for themselves an
for posteritv the blessings OF liberty
That purpose has been faithfully followe
T. mp to this tune.
RAPID CHANGE IMpRoBABLE.
This sentiment was universal until
year ago. It. was this sentiment that tn
Cuban insurgents appealed; 1t was thi
T ssnti ment that impelled our people to en-
\ ter into war Nth Spain. Have the pee
Z ple 40 changed within few short month
4 that they are now willing to apologize TO
i the war If the revolution and force upo
5 the Filininos the same system Of govern
meut aqainst which the colonists protest
ed with fire and swordP
The hour Of temptation has come, bu
4 temptations do not destroy; they merel
test the strength Of individuals and M
tions; they ara stumbling blocks or steI
sing stones; they lead to iufamy or famt
according 4, the use made o. them.
Our nation Is tempted to depart fror
n It's standard Of morality and adopt no
y ICY of criminal aggression. But will
= yieldf
If mistake not the sentiment of tn
American people, they will spurn tn
: bribe of mpeislism, and by resistin
J, temptation win such victory as has nc
4 neen won sincs the battle Of yorktown
y Let 1t be written Of the United States
!, Behold republic that took up arms
aid neighboring people strugs ling to
free; a republic that In the progress {
war helped distant races, whose wronR
were not in contempl,tion when hostil
ties begun; republic that, when peac
was restored, turDed deaf ear to tn
), clamorOus voice of greed, and to- thos
i borne down by the weight OF foreig
? yoke spoke the welcome words, Stand NJ
be free"