The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1900-09-27
THOSE TWO SPEECHES.
Bryan and M'Kinley to the Mo-
LITIGATION Committees.
THE, PATRIOT vs. THE PARTISAN.

Mr.. Bryan's speech, Magnificent
Plea For the Consultation, the Par
amount Political Event of the Cana
paixn-Mr. McKinley's Laudation Of
"Our" Party an Appeal to Partisan
Prejudices and selhsh Interests.
Especial Chicago letter.
Mr.. Bryan's speech of acceptance at
indianapolis will without doubt con-
tinue to be the political event of para
mount Importance In the present cam
paign. Mr.. Bryan received at the
hands of the Democratic party the
nomination for the presidency. A par
tisan utterance upon this occasion
would have been pardoned-nay more,
was even expected by the country at
large. Tradition and precedent exist
to justify a candidate in such a course.
He of Canton-Mark Hanna's man
who was recently notified OF a nomina
ton, took occasion to plead for the
principles of a party and in the cause
OF an administration. In multifarious
terms he told what I'VE" had done, and
fairly feveled In the deeds Of "us"
The Republican party was defended
even apologized for. And William Nc
Kinley accepted at the hands of those
who bore the stamp Of the Republican
party the nomination for the presi-
dency Of the United States. Mr.. Nc
Kinley's speech Of acceptance viii 60
down in history as the statement of a
party chief to his party followers. But
how different the tone and tenor of
Mr.. Bryan's Indianapolis address.
Mckinley spoke to a party-Bryanit to
nation. Mckinley pleaded the cause of
an administration-Brya the cause Of
people, Mckinley defended the
principles of party Bryan spoke In
defense of the principles that are at
the foundation of free government.
Mckinley spoke as a candidate, but
Mr.. Bryan spoke as an American citi-
zen. sf" 1etse- rni fDSi ut'Nes
In the face of existing circumstances
1t Is fact Of peculiar Significance
that Mr.. Bryan could reply to the noti-
flcation committee in a speech bearing
as little trace Of partisan politics as
! the constitution of the United States or
the Declaration Of Independence. This
does not indicate that Mr.. Bryan is
not good Democrat, but rather that
the Democratic party is contending
not so much for certain theories of ad-
ministration in free government as
for free government itself. Hence 1t
Is that. fighting for the very existence
of the republic, the position Of the
patriotic citizen who stands for free
government and the position Of the
Democratic party become Identical. Mr.
Bryan was great enough to recognize
this. Mr.. Bryan's speech was remark
able on account of the things he said
Mr.. McKinley's Canton speech wa,
chiefly remarkable on account Of tn,
things he did not say. The Cantor
speech abounds in vague intimation
and promises. 1t does not hold out t.
the Filipinos the faintest hope either o
independence on the one hand or o
the freedom and rights Of American
citizenship on the other
|, The voter has only to read so mucl
Of Mr.. McKinley's speech as relates t
this subject in order to ind this state
ment to be correct. He will find some
thing about giving to the Filipinos d
, much self government as they are e
for-as though the right Of people 10
900 miles away to self government wa
not God given right, but right to b
? granted by some authority In Wash
, ington But he will find not the faint
+ est whisper Of such thing as inde
pendence for a people over whom W
: ! have no authority except such as spai