Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-28
CAMPAIGN Is OPENED.
BRYAN'S INDIANAPOLIS SPEECH
THE KEYNOTE.
Wave of Democratic Enthusiasm Felt
All Over the Country -Presidential
Candidates Plain and Forcefu1 Dec
Iaration of His Intentions.

All over the Country-PreSide
Candidates Plain and Forcefu1 Dec
Iaration of His Intentions.
Washington correspondence:
Bryan's speech of acceptance at In
dianapolis starts the Democratic cam
paign with a wave of enthusiasm which
can be felt all over the country. His
denunciation of Imperialism will rank
as an effort of oratory worthy to be
placed beside the utterances of Jeffer-
son and Lincoln, when those great lead
ers discussed the principles upon which
human liberty and independent govern
ment is founded. Bryan's analysis of
the whole situation is clean and con-
vincing, He has a remedy and he
gives Il so that no man may mistake its
meaning. He says thrt, II elected, he
would at once convene Congress in ex-
ira session and recommend an imme-
date declaration of the nations pur-
pose, first to establish a stable form of
government in the Philippines and
second to give independence to the
tilipinos; third, to protect them from
outside interference while they work
out their destiny just as we have pro-
tected the republics of Central and
South America under the Monroe doc
trine and as we are pledged to protect
Cuba.
What contrast is this plain declara-
ton of intention to the "scuttle policy
in McKinley's speech of acceptance!
Every voter knows that if the F:lipinos
are guaranteed independence and pro-
lection the war will be over. Our army
can practically be withdrawn. The
only obstacle to be overcome will be
the fear of treachery which the cruel
military policy of this administration
has planted in the breasts of the Fill
pinos.
Bryan did the courageous and sensi-
BILE thing in making Imperialism the
chief topic of his address. Circum-
stances have made it the burning issue.
No patriot could regard anything else
as of Importance compared to it. The
Republicans are already bowling be-
cause 16 to was not pushed to the
front. When thar question was the
leading issue in 90 the Republicans
wanted to talk tariff, now that it has
become an academic question they
want to use it as a scarcecrow and di-
vert attention from the shameful rec
ord of the administration on imperial
ism.
Republicans Are Divided.
One straw indicates how greatly di-
vided the Republican party is on the
leading issues. The Democrats are
sending out tons of campaign literature
composed of speeches delivered by Re
publicans in Congress against imperial
ism, against the Porto Rican bill and
| in favor of effective trust legislation.
This is supplemented by letters to
newspapers and extracts from public
addresses of men who have been Re
publicans, but who are unable to fol-
low Mckinley when he turns his back
on the fundamental principles of gov
eminent.
The Democrats have not given the
Republicans any such material Their
course has been consistent from the
| first. Instead of losing members, their
ranks are constantly strengthened by
the accessions from the Republican
ranks. The Republican abuse of such
men as Webster Davis, for instance,
only shows how keenly they are hurt
| by these defeetions. Not even Tom
Reed can be cajoled into making
| speeches in his home State He has
never loved Mckinley and he seems to
be taking a quiet satisfaction in view
| ing the middle into which the admins
| tration has gotten its affairs
Bryan made point worthy % con-
sideration when he pointed out that
nearly all the large cities of the country
are under Democratic rule. That means
that the Democratic machinery is avail
able for the national campaign. And it
also means that Republican coercion
and repeating tactics cannot be so sue
cessfully used on the wage workers in
these large cities in this campaign as in
go, because the Democrats will be in a
position to check such arbitrary and
dishonest methods.
The Standard Oil Company has paid
thirty eight millions in dividends this
year, and by the end Of the year will
have paid As per cent on its capital
stock. which means about go per cent
on its actual investment. This com
bine not only controls the oil output of
| the country but has a controlling voice
in half dozen other important indus
| tries. and through its banking interests
gets right into the United States Treas
ury. Its National City Bank had infu-
| ence enough TO get the Secretary of the
| Treasury TO turn over to it the use of
millions Of dollars for which ii gave
/ no security and paid no interest Is il
any wonder that Hanna goes to New
York to collect a fat contribution from
| interests Of this sort? They own about
everything in sight and are willing to
/ put up a few hundreds Of thousands to
re-eIect the administration ring which
has proved 80 subservient TO their inter-
ests in the last four years.
The Labor Department, which is a
government department conducted by
Carroll D. Wright. comes TO the front
with the latest Republican campaign
bulletin. It Is based on testimony taken
before the Industrial Commission and
tries to show that trusts have raised
wages. The facts really are that high
| IL skilled labor. through its organiza-
tons. has forced an increase of wages
In number Of departments. The trusts