The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-11-03
A THEME FOR WOMEN TO
REFLECT UPON.

From the Baltimore Sun.
So far most Of the arguments that have
been made for or against the reelection of
President Mckinley or for or against the
election of Mr. Bryan have been addressed
directly to men. Comparatively little has
been said to that better half of the Repub-
lie who, though without votes at the polls,
are justly credited with exercising potent
and wholesome influence with those who
cast the ballots. In an election involving
such consequences as that which we are
fast approaching the women of the country
are as deeply interested as the men, Their
lives and hopes are centered in the home,
and political or governmental policies which
threaten that all important spot in woman
ly existence must necessarily excite their
alarm and hostility. II behooves the wo-
men of the country to consider the dangers
with which the home is threatened by the
| Republican policy of imperialism and con
quest. If they fully realized what those
dangers are-how formidable, how immi-
nent-every woman in the United States
would be found arrayed against the enemies
of their peace and happiness. Imperialism
has always made the same brilliant prom
ises and borne the same bloody and mel
ancholy fruit. This was emphasized most
forcibly by President David Starr Jordan,
of Leland Stanford University, in the ad
dress delivered by him in All Souls
Church, Chicago, on March 4 of the pres
ent year. Mothers who have not read
this address should procure it from the
Democratic National Committee and read
it thoughtfully. 1t contains a warning in
which they are vitality interested. Mr..
Bryan made a strong appeal to the women
of the country in his speech at Music Hall
Tuesday night, when, speaking of the
blighting effects of monopolies and trusts
upon the business future of young men,
he said:
eff | were choosing an emblem which
would represent our fight against the trusts
| would take the picture of the mother
and her child | need not tell you that
the mother loves her child from the time
when her life trembles in the balance at
the baby birth uutil death separates the
mother and the son. There is never
waking hour when the boy is out of the
mother thought and plans. What does
that mother hope for her son? Is it mere
ly that he shall be perpetual clerk under
some monopoly? Is it he shall forever
serve under some corporation? No, that
mother has brighter hopes for her boy
than that. She sees the time when his
genius, when his industry and his integrity
will make him independent in the business
world Her imagination pictures him as
prosperous man, enjoying the fruits of
his own genius and skill And then later
she sees a home-his home-which shall
be her asylum in her declining years.
Republicans, how dare you take the hope
out of that mothers heart? How dare
you plant despair there and tell her that
her son is to toll, but another shall reap
the fruits thereof?'
But imperialism and ''syndicated govern
ment, with their necessary consequence,
militarism, mean not only that the young
man of the future shall be deprived Of the
equality of business opportunity, but that
he must be torn from his mother arms to
make way, not for liberty, but for the
schemes and projects of selfish commercial
ism. If trade is to follow the flag it
must follow il over the dead bodies of
thousands of American boys If imperial
ism and commercialism are to triumph
th. ,r,r candidates. onj fr,SfS which nra
pose this sort oflrade expansion can reckon
among their assets for future military use
the baby boys who are today the sunshine
Of countless homes. American mothers
imagine that these little ones belong TO
them. If imperialism and all that it in
wolves is established, they will find that
their sons belong To the empire and that
they have brought them forth to be food
for powder, for the benefit of grasping
trade syndicales Said Mr.. Bryan, in his
address Tuesday:
If You want to test this theory that you
can buy trade with blood do not 90 into
the counting room of some syndicate Go
into some house where death has entered
Go to some mother whose son has given
up his life in the Philippine Islands, and,
standing beside the dead body of that boy,
you tell that mother that while she has
lost her son you think some company will
make enough developing the Philippine
Islands to purchase the right to trade there.
This is what imperialism and CONNER
cialism are virtually saying to the mothers
of the country, though they seek to hide
their meaning under glittering generalities
about glory and greatness, duty and des-
tiny. The question is, What answer will
the mothers make to this suggestion, to
the policy that proposes to make of their
sons dependents at home and military vic
tins abroad? Is the so-called honest dol
lar of greater importance than their own
flesh and blood? Must their hearts and
their lives be filed with mourning that
trade may follow the flag and favored
few may add to their wealth and luxury?
1t is not only the American nation-its
highest ideals, its best traditions, its char
acter and its mission that are at stake.
The American home is threatened by
this Republican program-menaced in all
that makes for its happiness, its prosper
ity, its strength and purity-and Ameri-
can women should see to it, for their own
sakes and for the sake of their children
children, that the American home is saved
from the desolation and wretchedness
which military imperialism and trade tyran-
ny will surely bring upon it.
NJ