The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-28
OF Again.

TIC the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The Journal is off again-this time off
badly. 1t twits Mr.. Bryan for compli-
menting the Republican party in assuming
that it contemplates the annexation of all
creation, and thus constituting a tremendous
empire. The blunder of the Journal consists
IN parading a whole lot OF difficulties that
confront the party in such an enterprise, as
If it would be deferred by the magnitude Of
the work if it once determined to do 1T.
1t has already done several greater things
in spite of the persistent opposition of the
Democratic party.
When the vote in Congress was being
taken on the annexation of Texas. in 1915.
Lord P~ackenham, the British representa-
tive, a distant relative of the Packenham
who, just thirty years before, had sought
an interview with General Jackson at New
Orleans, managed to be in the diplomatic
gallery to see how the vote would result.
When the speaker announced, Ayes 132,
nays 1.-THE resolution is adopted" Lord
Packenham turned to al American who
sat near and said: You Americans are a
great people; better annex Great Britain
and be done with it" The American, with
a grave face and serious tone, answered.:
MY friend. / would advise you never to
mention hat where the people can hear IL,
for If they once get Ii inub their heads they
will be sure TO do it." The minister saw the
point. and was never known to mention
annexation and empire again. He was wise.
By the way, there is a historic fact con-
nected with that vote that has great Sig
n~ificance just now. Nearly all that af-
firmative vote was from the Democratic
party, and nearly all the negatives were
from the moribund Wing party. In those
days the Democratic party was the party of
expansion and of positive purposes. while
the NNhiU narrN'S fate woC ~ nnnnco .xr.rxv
thing the Democratic party proposed. 1t
died of sheer contrarism only a few years
later. Indeed, its hostility 10 progress and
expansion and empire was already so far
developed that at the next following presi-
Genital election the Wings could find no
historic Wing for a presidential candidate,
but had to take a man whose political or
thodoxy had TO be certified TO, and the best
certificate of character he could get was:
"A Wing, but not an ultra Whig." Mr..
Bryan's political orthodoxy is so much
like General Taylor's that / am really
afraid 1T forebodes an early dissolution of
the Democratic party. which would be a
national calamity. for II serves as a kind of
general receptacle for the odds and ends
of all political vagaries. But IL such men as
Captain English keep dropping out there
will hardly be salt enough left TO save IL.
and IL might as well die outright as not. for
If Ii should happe TO get into power with
out brains enough 10 run things, and every
ism should contend against every other
paramount issue there might be trouble.
But l digress. / merely wanted 20 say
that the most dreadful feature of Mr..
Bryan's eternal harping on expansion and
the like Is the fear that IL will get the
people so aroused that they will not be con-
tent until the whole boundless world is
ours. for IL We have any national weak
ness IL is for expansion. AS TO the difficult
ties the Journal suggests there is absolutely
nothing in them. II we once get II into our
heads 10 make an empire, some coming
Grant can easily be mustered in and the
work Is done. The only thing remarkab bic
is that In their desperation the Democratic
characteristic policy OF the successive adj
ministrations from the year one. the para
mount issue. u. /. SEE.
Indianapolis. Aug. g.