The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-08-01
BRYAN DEFINES THE ISSUES
OF 1900.

Respecting the recent meeting Of the
Democratic General Committee in
Chicago and the mass meeting which
accompanied it, it must suffice here to
say that their chief National signif-
cameo lay in the demonstration that
Mr.. Bryan is not only in control of the
machine, but is apparently also the most
popular leader with the rank and file
Of his party, and that all present indi
cations point to the conclusion that he
will be the regular nominee Of the
party in 1900, and will dictate it's plat
form. His speech in the Auditorium,
which consisted, not of rhetorical
g~eneralities, but Of certain very def
mite and specific propositions, may
therefore be presumed to Indicate what
that platform will be. Omitting the
propositions which are in the nature
of arguments, and combining ourselves
to those which are of the nature of
conclusions, this prophetic platform
may be summed up in three PROPOSE
tions: % The endeavor to secure in
ternational bimetallism is q confession
that the gold standard is unsatisfac
tory, and the failure to secure inter
national bimetalism demonstrates the
necessity of independent action which
in America will make silver as well as
gold available for coinage, by estab-
fishing a parity between the two. ~
The trust is a menace to the welfare of
the people; the Attorney General
should enforce the laws against trusts,
and recommend new laws it necessary,
or even an amendment to the Consti-
tuition, il that is required to make
Federal action possible. 81 The Fill
pinos should not only be given indie
pendence, but protected from outside
interference while they work out their
own destiny. MI. Bryan is silent re
specting the tariff; is it because he
thinks that issue insignificant, or that
it is past, or is his silence simply tao
tical9
Mr.. Bryan has clearly seen and clear,
" stated three of the four principal
issues which will come before the
American people in 1900: ID AS nearly
all our obligations are payable in coin,
and as coin is defined by law to be
either gold or silver at the option Of
the Government, Mr.. Bryan, if elected,
would not have to wait for Congress
ional action, but could by execu i've
order direct all coin obligations of the
government, or such Of them as he saw
fit, to be paid in silver. The first ques,
tion, therefore, for the electors will be,
Do they wish the government to con
tinue to pay its obligations in gold, or
to commence the payment of them, in
whole or in part, in silver9 % He is
right in saying that the Attorney. Gen
eral can institute proceedings for the
enforcement of anti trust laws. Hither.
to the question under what conditions
capital may be organized in the several
States has depended upon State legis-
lation. The second question for the
electors to decide will be whether they
wish to leave that question with the
State or to invoke the Federal power
to determine those conditions, and per
haps, by constitutional amendment, to
increase it. 81 tits competent for the
President to stop by executive order
the present proceedings for the enforce,
ment of the sovereignty Of the United
States over the Filipinos, and the main
tenance of law and order in the Philip
pines, though it is not competent for
him to declare their independence.
That can only be done by act Of Con-
gress over a territory which, by a
treaty which is the law of the land, is
legally United States territory. The
third question for the electors to de-
termine will be whether they wish to
assume the responsibility for the pro
lection of the Filipinos from outside
interference-that is, to assume re.
sponsibility for the international rela
tions of the Fllipinos-without any
power to enforce National authority
over them. We are glad that Mr..
Bryan has raised these issues in so
clear a manner, and we hope that the
Republican leaders will show equal
clearness and courage in the definition
of their convictions. It remains to be
seen whether the nomination of Mr..
Bryan on this platform will cause an
independent Democratic nomination.
The Outlook Qndep.)