The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-08

v
sons expansion was a measure to avoid
war in the future; McKinley's policy. If
it be successful, viii lead to countless
wars. JefferSonS policy admitted to the
union all the new territory acquired;
McKinley's policy Of imperialism means
government outside Of the constitu-
ton
ION what moral right does McKinIey's
government in the Philippines depend2
On absolutely none; it depends on force
1t is conspiracy against the lives,
rights and property Of an innocent peo-
pie It is not Imperialism Imperialism
falls to describe it. Imperialism falls
short of its enormity. Imperialism has
authority by law. Mr.. McKinley's gov
form Of right There is no sanction for
these infamieS.
IF the Philippine Islands are profit
able" was said, further on, where is
there any territory on earth that we
ought not to take
Mr.. Cockran argued that If Mr.. Nc
Kinley is right in bringing down the flag
in China, how can he be right in his
other stand. AS tits said Keep thePhil-
ipp1nes because they are near to China
and to trade But they are not so near
to China as China IS to China. He said
divine right applied to a government
made it theocratic in nature. Mr.. Nc
K1nley'S drift was that way, although
Mr.. Cochran didn't knew what sort Of
theocratic suggestion he had picked out
for himself They might make him
son OF Heaven in China, but he had
made himself a sultan already
I have been asked why am support
ing Mr.. Bryan now, when I was sup
porting Mr.. Mckinley four years ago. I
am supporting him now for the things
that have occurred within four years,
because perverted hands have unfurled
that flag over slave-pens and harems in
the east. I want unstained hands to pull
it down and wash its folds free of stain.
There is no such thing as profit in
government honestly administered
There is one way only to get revenue
by taxation. But taxes must be return
ed to the people by some form of service
or it is tribute. The nation can never
recover from IeVy1ng tribute upon a
helpless people No nation ever imposed
tribute on a weak country that did not
ultimately fall into an abyss Of degrade
ton and ruin
AS to our being hermit nation, Mr..
Cochran said erninence is always isola-
ton, which can be terminated in but one
of two ways-by going to meet others,
or others coming to meet US. Let the
nations ascend to us, not we descend to
them. On her eminence the United
States has led the world; for what shall
that position be abandoned? All the
money to be made out of the Philippines
wouldn't be a cent dividend to each
American citizen.
Mr.. Cochran said he knew it had been
the fashion to deny that there was any
alliance with Aguinaldo, but argued that
Aguinaldo was brought to the islands
on an American ship and was given
he had a right to believe that we would
help him to independence after he had
helped US whip the Spaniards-
'Aguinaldo," he said, lis either a sol
der or a bandit If a bandit we armed
him. If a soldier, in whose service was
he when the trouble broke out in the
Philippines? Surely he was not in the
service of Spain. Mckinley says he
was not in the service of the United
States. Then he must have been in the
service of the Philippine government,
and we were in an alliance with him.
Aguinaldo says he was deceived by
words; only a trick. That's the diff
ference between their explanations. But
acts speak louder than treaties and I
believe a majority of the people are
confident that there was an understand
ing between Aguinaldo and the United
States government and mat the former
was deceived.
THE Republican idea of prosperity is
to trust Mckinley. The Democratic idea
is an abundance of commodities fairly
distributed among those who produce
on trusts Mr. Cochran said any hnan-
cier would acknowledge that a statute
of publicity will save American fnan-
ciering. Trusts are a product of Re
publican legislation Their origin is in
the tariff to take advantage of tariff
privileges"
Mr.. Cochran concluded: IT want the
badge of Americanism to be the dinner
pail and not the knapSack- don't want
to see anything taken out of the pail
for idle soldiers. Therefore, believe it
to be the duty of the people to elect
Mr.. Bryan. With Bryan as president
that would be a statute of publicity in
every state in the union. Such a stat
ute is absolutely necessary, for, my
friends, finance and piracy have been
closely identified lately. This statute
would settle the trust question and I
believe nothing else will I believe the
American people will this year vote to
sustain the constitution, and the result
will be the triumph of justice"
Mr.. Cochran was given close attention
to the end. He spoke two hours and
five minutes by the watch The exodus
of people during the progress Of his
speech was more from the gallery than
the body Of the had. The percentage of
these early retirers was not above the
average Of most political meetings The
bulk of the crowd, by a large majority,
stayed to the end. Many rushed to the
platform to shake the speakers hand,
and it was IL o'clock before the hall