The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-18
FORBIDDEN To US
Is the Fruit of the Tree of Ter
ritOrial Conquest
Declares William j. Bryan at
Denver.
EXPANSION HIS THEME
The Great Coliseum Hall Pack
ed to Hear Him.
Thousands Unable to Enter De-
part Disappointed.

Denver. Col, Jan. 1S.-CoI William J..
Bryan made two public speeches an
Denver yesterday, both of which were
listened to by audiences only limited by
the capacity of the auditorium. The
first was at o'clock in the hall of the
house of representatives to which only
the fortunate ones who held tickets
were admitted. The other was at
o'clock at Coliseum hall. the largest
room in the city, where thousands strug-
gled for standing room, while other
thousands turned away disappointed in
even getting a glimpse of the great sill
yer champion. In his address before the
legislature, Mr.. Bryan devoted most Of
MS time to discussion of the duties
of legislators and other public officers
whom he designated servants, not mas
tiers of the people.
After this address Mr.. and Mrs. Bry-
an repaired to the residence of Cover
nor Thomas, where they were enter
tanned at dinner, to which half a dozen
of the leading Democrats of the state,
including ex-GOVernOrS Grant and
Adams, and a number of ladies were
guests.
The crowd which greeted Mr.. Bryan
at Coliseum hall began gathering at
O'Clock, four hours before the time set
for the meeting. At o'clock when Mil
ton Smith, chairman of the state CEN
trail committee, called for order there
were 5000 persons in the hall and as
many more on the outside pushing for
admission Governor Charles S. Thomas
was presented as chairman of the meet
ing and in an eulogistic speech he in
troduced Col. Bryan who was received
with prolonged applause.
Mr.. Bryan spoke in part as follows:
1.-THE Bible tells US that Ahab, the
king, wanted the vineyard of Naboth
and was Sorely grieVed because the
owner thereof refused to part with the
inheritance of his fathers. Then fol-
lowed a plea and false charges were
preferred against Naboth to furnish
excuse for getting rid of him.
Thou shalt not covet. Thou shalt
not bear false Witness, Thou shalt not
kill,'-three commandments broken, and
still a fourth Thou shalt not steal to
be broken, in order to get a little piece
of ground and what was the result?
When the king went forth to take pos
session Elijah, that brave old prophet
of the early days, met him and pro-
nounced against him the sentence of the
Almighty: In the place where the dogs
licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs
lick thy blood, even thine
Neither his own exalted position nor
the lowly station of his victim could
save him from the avenging hand of
outraged justice. His case was tried
in a court where neither wealth, nor
rank nor power can shield the trans
gressor.
WARS of conquest have their origin
in covetousness, and the history of the
human race has been written in char
acters of blood because rulers have
looked with longing eyes upon the lands
of others.
"Covetousness is prone to seek the aid
of false pretense to carry out its plan,
but what it cannot secure by persuasion
it takes by the sword.
Senator Teller'S amendment to the
intervention saved the Cubans from the
covetousness of those who are so anx-
ious to secure possession of the island
that they are willing to deny the truth
of the declaration of our own congress
hot hn nj
right ought to be free.
Mr.. Bryan then proceeded to apply the
ton, and argued that war of conquest
would be wrong in principle as Wen as
Of the United states as to the Filipinos
He spoke at considerable length, and con-
Imperialism might expand the nations
territory, but it would contract the ma
backward toward the narrow views Of
DIR. Taylor has aptly expressed it in
his Greed of the Flag, when he asks:
Shall we turn to the old world again.
With the penitent prodigaPs cry?
a Maynard son; it has not spent its sub
T Teady to IN retrace its steps with shamed
face and trembling voice solicit an hum
1t has not sinned against heaven, and God
e1er f hav OCCASION to xiii the fat
ted calf to commemorate it's return from
reliance upon the will of the people to de-
pendence upon the authority which flows
from regal birth or superior force.
I'VE cannot afford to enter upon colo
NAL policy. The theory upon which
government is built is matter of vital
Importance. The national idea has a con-
trolling influence upon the thought and
character of the people Our national
idea is self-government and unless we are
ready to abandon that idea forever, we
cannot ignore it in dealing with the Fill
pinos.
THAT idea is entwined with our tradi-
lions; it permeates our history; it is part
''That idea has given eloquence to the
orator and Inspiration to the poet. Take
from our national hymns three words
free, freedom and hberty-and they would
be as meaningless as would our flag if
robbed of it's red, white and blue.
"Other nations may dream of wars of
conquest and of distant dependencies. gov
erned by exterior force; not so with the
United States.
s'The fruits of imperialism, be they Bit
ter or sweet, must be left to the subjects
of monarchy. This is one tree of which
take. 1t is the voice of the serpent, not
the voice of God, that bids US eat
WRONG MAN IN PRISON.