Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-16
/ HON. BOURKE COCHRAN
| COMES OUT FOR BRYAN.
DECLARES THE ANTI IMPERIALISM
ISSUE OvERSHADOWS EVERY
THING ELSE.
THE HONESTY OF MR.. BRYAN.
CANNOT BE QUESTIONED AND has
ELECTION INsURES SAFETY
From the Policy of the Administers
tion-If Imperialism is Defeated
1T Loses All Its Danger-IImeIy
and Convincing Arguments + or
Gold Standard Democrats.

/
ing letter was sent by W. Bourke Cock
ran to Edwin Burritt Smith at Indian
apolis in response to an invitation to
attend the anti-imperialist congress in
that city August Is, 1900:
NEW YORK, Aug. IA, 1900.
My Dear Sir-I regret very much
that owing to business engagements
here, | will be unable to attend the
Liberty Convention at Indianapolis on
the 18th.
The attitude of anti-imperialists to
imperialism cannot be open to doubt,
and therefore aasume the object of the
convention is one to express opposi-
ton. but to devise method of making
that opposition effective.
| The issue of imperialism having
been squarely raised between the two
great parties, it must be plain that the
only way IN which a citizen can exer-
else any direct influence upon the re-
suit is by voting for the Republican
candidate who supports it, or the
democratic candidate who opposes it.
Nothing can be accomplished by the
nomination of third candidate that
cannot be accomplished equally by alb
Sentatlon from the polls, except that
the citizen who remains at home on
election day passes unnoticed, while
ne who votes a third ticket attracts
/ attention. The difference between 81
4 lent raf, r.
the suffrage is not worth discussion.
since absentation from civic duty is
never commendable.
When the Republic Is in Danger
the only place for a patriot is in the
ranks of its active defenders. Absence
from the field of contest or shooting in
the air can never be justified
1t cannot be denied that while anti
lmperialists unanimously approve Mr..
Bryan's position on Imperialism, many
OF them hesitate to vote for his cleo
ton TO the Presidency because they
regard his views upon other questions
with distrust and apprehension
We cannot hope to deal intelligently
with the issues of this campaign until
we liberate ourselves from the dom
ination of the questions, discussions
and passions OF the last campaign.
Within four years political conditions
have changed decisively, and as con-
ditions change, issues change with
them. The question which the peo-
PIE must decide now is radically diff
ferent from that submitted to them
in 1896. Then the election of Mr..
Bryan would have placed the Demo-
cratic party in complete control of the
legislative as well as of the executive
branch of the government, with full
power to enact all its beliefs into law,
while now his election will result not
in placing the control of the govern
ment in the hands of the Democratic
party, but in dividing its control be-
tween two parties. Whatever may be
the result of this election the Senate
will remain Republican for two years
certainly, and probably for four. Even
IL the people raised Mr..
Bryan to the Presidency
in November, the Democratic party
cannot possibly achieve any power OF
legislation during the existence of the
next Congress, and without legsla-
tive sanction no change in the stand
ard of value, no reorganization of the
7 supreme Court, no modification what
ever of our financial, industrial or po-
litical systems could be accomplished.
There is one issue which the popular
verdict will settle irrevocably, and
that is the issue of imperialism. If
the Republican party be successful its
control of the judicial, as well as Of
the executive and legislative depart
mepts Of the government will be alb
solute, and its disposition TO exercise
all its power for the enforcement of
an imperialstic policy cannot be
doubted At the end of four years i'm
perialism will be so firmly imbedded
! in our political life that it can never
be expelled.
Mr.. Bryan's election of itself would
put a quietus on the imperialistic ad-
venture. No policy specifically con-
demned by the people
Has Ever Been Adopted
into our system, and Imperialism
would prove no exception 10 the rule
Mr. Hoar's suggestion that the SEN
ate would refuse to follow Democrat
ic president in policy OF humanity
approved by the people does faint JUS
tice TO his own patriotic capacity when
liberated from the exigencies of a
campaign for re-election-his intellect
and his conscience would be restored
to harmonious and effective co-opera-
ton. Imperialism, rebuked at the
polls and shown to be improbable,
would not have a single supporter in
the country.
Within a month of election. Senator
Hoar could reduce his noble concep-
tons Of freedom and duty to definite
proposals Of pacifcation which both
parties would accept. The country
having pronounced for justice, politi-
cans of every shape and description
viii be eager TO do justice, and when
the desire for justice is sincere the
way TO justice is soon discovered.
i Since the election OF Mr.. Bryan is
certain to deliver the country
From the Imminent Peril
of imperialism. can the Liberty con-
vention hesitate 10 support him be-
cause OF impalpable danger arising
from his opinions on subjects with
which, as President, he cannot posi-
bly, deal? confess 1t Is hard to under
stand the attitude of those gentlemen
who would have supported him II the