The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-07

To those American voters who are old
enough to recall the civil war, the pres
ent anti-imperialistic cry has a familiar
Democrats in 1864 to wrest control of
the administration from the hands Of
Lincoln. that secession might triumph
and the Union be dismembered, the cry
of Imperialism was made, as now, the
paramount issue. The political ances-
tors of the men who are now garbllng
quotations from Lincoln to use as ar
guments against what they are pleased
70 term Imperialism engaged in the
widest invective against Lincoln him
self for his imperialistic tendencies. and
In the most mournful foreboding OF dire
evils which would befall the country IL
he was again elected to Office Every
step which the administration took in
its endeavor to restore the Union was
denounced as making for Imperialism
and rnilitarism; as every step which the
present administration is taking today
to restore order in our new territories,
or to protect the lives OF American citi-
zens in Asia. Ii subject to the like de-
nunciation. Mr.. Bryan Is not credited
with having been a deep student OF po-
litical history, but a glance at a few
quotations from Democratic speeches
and Democratic newspapers of the war
era will show where he received the In
spiration for his present paramount
issue"
From files OF Democratic newspapers
published in 1863 and 1854 he.following
gems are culled:
Speech Of Hon. Gaylor J. Clark. at
Lockport. N. Y. October Is. 1885,
I'm short. Abraham Lincoln wraps the
imperial purple around hts gaunt. mis-
| shapen form. and exercises the powers
| of the autocrat OF Russia with the
| tyranny and malignity Of the late king O.
| Naples"
| Speech OF the same man. before the
Democratic club OF Lockport, March
| IS, 1868:
III our union has ceased 10 rest on
| affection and good will, and has no ce-
| menting tie save that OF bayonets. then
| indeed are the days of the republic num-
| bered and those OF the empire begun.
The Republicans seem to assume
| that the administration is the govern
mont. Democrats will continue to de-
| nounce such Infamous heresy. They are
! loyal In the highest degree to the govern
| ment. but they do not hesitate to de-
nounce the gross usurpations and blum
dering Incompetence Of the vulgar joker
| who disgraces the chair once occupied
by the immortal Washington"
with very slight changes OF phrase
ology, the same sentiments are doing
| duty in the present campaign in the
mouths OF Mr.. Bryan and many Of his
followers.
There are many more beauties IN the
came collection. for example the fol-
lowing from speech delivered by
Judge comstock. at the Mcclellan ratl-
fcation meeting held In Brooklyn. ". r..
September. 1864;
and now Abraham lincoln. chosen as
constitutional magistrate. clothed with
the highest % all human trusts, that OF
protecting and defending the constitution,
with his solemn oath Of office trampied
IN the dust. with the constitution bleed.
ting under his feet-Ahraham Lincoln. the
very architect of ruin. now reaches forth
his hands for the imperial pprpio.
| And n this people shall nov aoauiesce n
his vast and stupendons assumption ri
power. II In the madness ~ the hour. q
I struck with worse than judicial blindness
( they phai encs more entrust power 10 his
hands. II will be deliberate abandon
naent Of the constitution. Il viii he ma
| tie,nAl suicide and the throne % Abraham
i will be more despotic than those % thu
princes and potentates ~ The Old world. :
II va. utterances such as this which
fsvsred the brain and neryed the arm
OF ]. wilkes Booth. and yet. echoes
from the past they are today in the
mouths OF the men who are UNFOLDING
the cause OF Bryan.
Gen. Leslie COMBS. Of Kentucky, e
former WING and loyal Union man. was
50 affected by these gloomy foTebodings
OF the Democrats that. in letter q
u. II. Ptnney. OF Joliet, IN, under date
OF September ~, 1854. he said
"fn nay deliberate Judgment. II Mr. Lin
( coin Is reelected We shall have mil
tary despousfn fastened upon ourselve
and our children, with a stasding arm,
OF negro 5anissaries-
Even the most conservative % tbs
/ Democrats used substantially identiea
I language, as the following from Z
i speech delivered by senator salisbury
Of Delaware. IL the senate, on Marci
rs. 1854. shows:
} u appeal from Caesar to tho senAt,