The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-16

DANGER the only place for the 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-im-
perialists unanimously approve Mr.. Bryan's
position on Imperialism, many of them
hesitate 10 vote for his election 10 the pres
idency because they regard his views upon
other questions with distrust and appre-
hension. We cannot hope to deal intelli-
gently with the issues of this campaign un-
TAI we liberatc ourselves from the domina-
ton of the questions and passions of the
last campaign. Within four years political
conditions have changed decisiveiy, and as
conditions change Issues change with them.
The question which the people must decide
Tow is radically different from that sub
mitted TO them in 1896. Then the election
of Mr.. Bryan would have placed the Demo-
cratic party in complete control of the
legislative as we'll as the executive branch
of the government, with full power to enact
all its beliefs into law, while now his cleo
ton will result not in placing the control
of the government in the hands of the
Democratic party, but in dividing its con-
troll between the two parties. Whatever
may be the result of this election, the Sem
ate will remain Republican for two years
certainly and probably for four. Even il
the people raised Mr.. Bryan to the presi-
dency in November, the Democratic party
cannot possibly achieve any power of legfs-
latiOn during the existence of the next
Congress, and without legislative sanction
no change in the standard of value, no re-
organization of the Supreme Court. no
modification whatever of our financial. in
dustrial or political systems could be ac-
complished.
ISSUE OF IMPERIALISM.
There is one issue which the popular
verdict will settle irrevocably and that is
the issue of Imperialism. If the Repub-
lican party is successful its control of the
judicial, as well as of the executive and
legislative departments OF the government
will be absolute. and its disposition to ex-
ercise all its power for the enforcement
Of an imperialistic policy cannot be
doubted. AT the end of four years imper-
iaIism will be so firmly imbedded in our
political life that il can never be expelled.
MIR. Bryan's election of itself would
put a quietus ON the imperialistic adven-
ture. No policy specifically condemned by
the people has ever been adopted in our
system, and Imperialism will prove no ex-
ception to the rule.
THE country having pronounced for JUS
tice, politicians of every shape and de-
scription will be eager to do justice and
when the desire for justice is sincere. the
way TO justice is soon discovered. Since
the election of Mr.. Bryan is certain to
deliver the country from the imminent
peril of Imperialism, can the liberty con-
vention hesitate to support him because
Of impalpable danger arising from his
opinions on subjects with which, as Pres
ident. he cannot possibly deal? / confess
II is hard to understand the attitude OF
those gentlemen who would have supported
him if the convention had been silent or
evasive on the free coinage of silver but
who hesitate TO uppor him on a platform
which excludes that question from the
serious discussions of the contest by rele-
eating 1t to a subordinate position. The
Democratic platform declares that imper-
ialism is the paramount issue of the cam
paign, and Mr.. Bryan's speech at Indian
apoiis accepts this conception of the issue,
emphasizes ii and vindicates it.
But a declaration that imperialism is a
paramount issue is equivalent to a declar-
atom that 1t is the sole Issue. for no pres
idential election ever decided more than
one question"
PECULIAR KIND OF CREDIT.
Mr.. Cochran then comments at some
length on Mr.. Bryan's position on the sill
YER question. p~raising him for his sin
certify on that issue.
ut is certain that this country is in
debted to him for the gold standard law"
Mr.. Cochran continued. which. though it
has the defect of its party origin, is the best
contribution to our national stability since
the resumption of specie payments. Mr..
Bryan's frank, sincere and unequivocal
advocacy of the free coinage of silver
forced the Republican party reluctantly TO
declare in favor of the gold standard. The
result was not that which Mr.. Bryan
90 AOAG htS AN6e ~ @ PAC00ONo ~
him.. Because he was sincerely wrong he
forced the Republican politicians to become
insincerely right. To this sincerity of Mr..
Bryan the country is indebted for the OPP
portunity to pass ~squarely and decisively
upon the issue of Imperialism. If the Re
public is to be overthrown the assault
must now be made in the open light of day.
1t is no longer possible to strange it under
cover of misleading and hypocritical
phrases.
I'm this open fight for liberty. surely
axrnrx N MI fn, ~ tcf chnr1H ha rna6p 70
bear his part. Hesitation to avail ourselves
of the leadership under which alone oppo-
sition to Imperialism can be made effective
through distrust of the leaders views on
economic questions not now an issue, would
be as senseless as hesitation to employ a
surgeon on whose skill depended the sole
prospect of life, through dislike OF his re-
ligious beliefs.
at can hardly be necessary to say that
we who four years ago sacrificed our po-
litical prospects and personal associations
silence to declarations which we believe
10 be subversive of order, will pursue the
same course again IL these questions should
ever recur.
deal with the issues of 1902 or 1904, what
ever they may be. Is to deal intelligently
now with the issues of 1900. On that issue
Mr.. Bryan stands for justice, liberty and
the Constitution, and since all these would
be imperiled by his defeat, 1t is to be hoped
that the liberty convention will not be
swerved from supporting him by prejudices
springing from past antagonisms or by
groundless apprehensions of the future"
SIGMUND ZEISLER'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Cockran's sentiments were. of course.
ap%plauded. Following the reading of the
Cochran letter Sigmund Zeisler, of Chicago,
delivered an address. He said in part:
Even If the Filipinos should lay down
their arms and accept American sover-
eighty, who doubts that in order to main
tain our authority over an unwilling people,
We shall have to perpetually maintain
there a large army and fleet to deter them
from renewed resistance. A handful of
our citizens will reap the small benefits of
our export trade with the Philippines, a
small syndicate of special pets of the adj
ministration will secure fat extracts from
army supplies and for carrying soldiers
Is this experiment in trade expansion to
pay the masses of American taxpayers?
How is IL to pay you and me?
1.-THE possibilities of our trade with the
Philippines are like a drop in the bucket
compared with possibilities of trade in
China. Then. according to the doctrine of
the expansionist we ought 10 try for a
good slice of China. Still the administra-
ton emphatically rejects that idea. 1t
of her territory. 1t wants free competi-
ton with all the nations of the earth.
How inconsistent with this position, how
utterly dishonest is the claim that we
must own the Philippines in order to win
their trade. Possibly this attitude of Nc
Kinley towards China is intended for home
during the campaign. to show
that no new imperialistic ventures need
be feared. But should he be reelected.
- .-z-gI - ,-,t.o 20 c.I H., 800