The Van Buren press., 1900-01-27

land ever attacks nation OF her size and
gets into real war
"When We join ourselves to the gold
standard, when we make gold alone the
legal tender for the payment OF debts
we connect ourselves with every dis
turbance in Europe and make ourselves
dependent upon their conditions for our
prosperity.
"You tell me it is a sound system? 1t
Is false; that system is not sound. Iell
me it is an American system? 1t is a
lie there is no such American system ;
there is no American System that makes
us tremble every time there ia trouble
among the gold standard countries OF
the old world. -
Continuing upon the currency ques.
ton. Mr.. Bryan asserted that in 1895
all OF the leading political parties de-
manded double standard, differing only
In the method of obtaining it, Now, the
Republican party insists upon a single
standard and bill is pending in Con
gress which not only seeks that end but
also endeavors to perpetually force upon
this country the present national bank
ing system. II the Republicans had ad-
vocated such measure in 1896 he de-
clared Mr.. Mckinley would never have
been President.
After fully discussing the currency
question Mr. Bryan took up the trusts,
which he discussed at great length, in
sistng that the Republican party had no
intention whatever of interfering with
such corporations upon any circum
stances. From the trusts he passed to
discussion Of the standing army. and
declared that the presence of 100 600
soldiers in this country and the Philip
pines was but step toward militarism.
He then discussed Imperialism, arguing
that there was a great difference be-
tween that and expansion. The present
policy Of the Administration, he assert
ed tended toward Imperialism, although
its frieuds and supporters endeavored to
show that It was expansion
II want trade, he said, II want to
expand our trade by peaceful means, but
| would not put an American boy on
the auction block and sell him for all
the trade Of the universe, (Applause.
The man who says it will pay must be
prepared to figure with pencil how much
the boy is worth
Mr.. Bryan discussed the problem Of
the Philippines from the point of com.
merce, civilization and religion, and
cited the results of English government
in India to show that none of the desired
advancement would be accomplished in
the Philippines.
You cannot find an argument, he
said, "for the permanent holding of the
Philippines that would not apply to
Cuba. When we went into the war we
said that the people of Cuba are and of
right onght to be free, and | challenge
you to draw q line between the rights Of
the Cubans and the rights Of the Fill
pinos. Did God say that the Cubans
were entitled to their freedom but not
the Filipinosf
mo, my friends there Is only one
difference between Cuba and the Philip
pine Islands. We promised independ
ence to Cuba; we did not promise il to
the Philippine Islands. But my friends,
our promise WAS but the recognition Of
right that would have existed without
the promise. We said that Cuba should
be free, and Of right ought to be free
and if that WAS right. then my friends
it exists in the Philippine Islands with
out tbs necessity for the express
promise,
II want, said Mr. Bryan, in con.
clusion "if can to help restore gov
ernment founded upon the Declaration
Of Independence aud administered &C.
cording to the doctrine Of Jefferson, a
government that will stand as it did in
jackson s days--between bank aris
tocracy and the people. But my friends,
| cannot tell you what fate has decreed,
cannot tell you whether it is to be our
lot to triumph and in our triumph lay
the foundation again In the old places
and raise again the ancient landmarks
which the fathers had set up, II 1t is
fate that this nation il to cease to be n
Republic and become an empire, II 1t is
destiny TINT this, the greatest Republic
of history, is to extingnish its light and
follow in the light OF the monarchies Of
the old world, If In the providence Of
Gud the time has come when the pend
ulum should swing back toward the
dark ages Of the triumph Of brute force,
pi0y w buu 'uht Nuc btuIo' "'l' p"iN
may 20 down to the eternal deatRwith
the Republic rather than to live when
It's principles are gone.
The attendance was large and the
heariiness Of the greeting to Bryan was
marked. But four years ago Senator
German and many of the Federal and
State officials were on the platform then
joining In the applause for the Demo
cratic Presidential candidate and in
dorsing his sentiments,
1t was different tonight, Senator
German was not there He WAS no ex
pected Gov Smith and Mayor Hayes
had declined invitations and such Demo.
Gratis as are at all prominent in councils
of their party were either Absent al
together or hidden In IN obscure place,