Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-20
BRYAN SPEAKS
TO HOME PEOPLE
Continued from Page 4.

nope OIL international plmetall1Sm,
when the leaders neither expected nor
desired the restoration of the double
standard, either by independent action
or by International agreement. He
said that the Republicans We're opposed
to the free coinage of silver at any
ratio or under any conditions, and
pointed to the fact that the Secretary
of the Treasury and the leading Re-
publican papers were talking in favor
of the gold standard at the very time
that the commission was in Europe
trying to get rid of it. He said that
the ratio of 1G to 1 was the only ratio
that was discussed and the only ratio
for which any considerable number Of
people were working. He denounced
the currency feature of the financial
bill and said that the Republican party
had never in campaign advocated
the retirement OF the greenbacks. and
that 1t would not be able to defend that
bill before the country. He said that
national bank currency, secured by
Government bonds, could not be q per-
manent settlement of the currency
question unless we had a permanent
and increasing national debt.
THE TRUST QUESTION.
On the trust question he reiterated
his condemnation of the Republican
party. saying the President felt it nee
essary to denounce trusts in his mes
SuSc IiSl lJcCtlIlDGT, DuC ulu IlOC TcCOUl-
mend u remedy.
"A Republican Congress-" said Mr..
Bryan, listened to the reading of the
message and then proceeded to estab-
lish paper money trust, which gives to
the people Il larger chance OF injury
and to the banks a larger opportunity
for profits than any other trust in exis-
tence.
POWERLESS TO INTERFERD.
10 coid tho DoD,,h1;ooo
was powerless to interfere with the
trusts because the leading Republicans
were connected with the trusts, and the
party had to rely upon trust contribu-
lions to carry on the coming campaign.
He presented and defended his remedy
suggested at the ANTITRUST meeting in
Chicago last fall.
Mr.. Bryan continuing. said: 1.-THE
desire to impose import duties on goods
coming from Porto Rico compelled the
Republican marty to disclose it's i'm
periallstic tendencies.
REPUBLICAN PROTESTS.
This bill has aroused a storm of pro-
test from Republicans in public and
in private life. But why should any
Republican be surprised? Imperialism
means that the people brought under
the flag are not to share in the guar
antces of the constitution. 1t is amaz-
ing that the Republicans have contem-
plated the permanent acquisition of the
Philippine Islands without stopping to
consider the future status of the Fill
plnos. Are the Filipinos to be citi-
Zens? Are they to be allowed to come
to the United States with their ORR
entail methods of living and compete
with American labor? What good does
1t do to exclude a few Chinese and then
bring in by force eight millions of Fill
pinos? Are the Filipinos to expect to
participate in our elections? Is n
Presidential contest to be determined
by the returns from the Philippine ISL
ands? Are the questions which con-
Germ our own people to be decided some
day by the Senator'S and Representa-
tlves In Congress from the Philippine
islands? And IL the Filpinos are not to
be citizens, are we going to change
our constitution so rs to hold them in
q perpetual state OF vassalagc? Can
we expect anything but their hatred so
long MS we rule them through carpet
bag government?
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
The Republicans have studiously
avoided n discussion of the Philippine
question. They have opposed consider
alton OF. that question by the cry that
nothing could be done until the insur-
rection was put down. The Porto Rico
Tariff bill, however. gives us some idea
OF the treatment which the Filipnos
may expect, and President Schurman,
one of the Presidents commissioners
says that this bin will arouse susp-
cion in the mind OF the Filipino as to
his future condition."
WHAT is NEEDED.
Mr.. Bryan proposed as the only con-
sistant settlement Of the Philippine
question n declaration of the nations
purpose to give the Filipinos independ-
ence as soon as a stable government is
established.
when that declaration is made" he
said, "hostilities will cease, and it will
be easy to establish n stable govern
mcnt. To independence should be add
cd protection from outside interference
Not Il protcctoratc such as European
countries exercise for the spoliation oil
the protected. but protection such as
this nation has exercised over the Re-
publics of Central and South America
1T will be sufficient for the United
States TO announce that any molesta-
ton of the Philippines will be consid-
cred an unfricndly act. If our nation
will stand erect and exert its great in
nucncc in behalf OF peace and justice
and liberty. no nation will dare to
touch the Philippine islands, just as nc
nation has dared to disturb the Repub-
lies which lie TO the south of us"
FRANKLIN AND LINCOLN.
Imperialism, Mr.. Bryan said, had Its
inspiration in the desire of the syndi-
Gates to extend their commerce by con-
quest and he said that he was willing
to indorse the language of Benjamin
Franklin and say that Cool and dis
passionate postcrity will condemn to
infamy those who advised it."
lie also read letter written by
Abraham Lincoln November 81. 1864. tC
10 n,
had lost five sons in the civil war. and
cnntrnstcd it With the sordid aSsur-