Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-11
The Campaign Has Begun.

with those VINO believe in the Declaration
of Independence here and in South Africa
Also
The Campaign Has Begun.
Il simply want to say now that the
campaign is begun so far as the tickets
and the platforms are concerned" Mr.
Bryan continued, land from now until
election day it will be the duty of every
citizen to take those issues before the
country and weigh them. 1t will be the
duty of every citizen to see where his duty
lies. There is a privilege in being an Amer
ican citizen. and there is respons blity
commensurate with the privilege. If we
lived in a land where a king thought for
US We would feel no responsibility for the
action of that king; but we live In a land
where the people determine the policy. We
llve IN land where the citizen impresses
mis- own opinion upon the government:
where the policy of the government may
be determined by the vote of one citizen
And l want to leave a thought with those
who are to vote this fall. l want every
citizen to so vote as he would vote If he
knew that his vote would determine this
next election. Applause) Remember what
II means You vote in Nebraska, and you.
vote may determine the vote of this state
on the presidential ticket, and your state
MAJ determine the result. CApplause.)
when you get to the polls to vote re-
member that you are an American citizen
tApplause) Remember that your vote may
determine this nations position, and tina [
this nation will in a large measure deter
mine the public opinion of the world on the
doctrine that governments come up from
the people Great applause) For 12i
years this nation has held before the world
the light Of liberty. For more than cen
fury it has been an example to all the
world. You tell me that We can now be
Indifferent to what is going on? You tel!
me that man who lifts his voice against
the doctrine of Imperialism is pleading the
cause of the Filipino? l tell you he is
nj If
citizens; aye, he is championing the rights
Of the struggling masses of the world who
look to America for example Great APP
plause) If every Filipino were to die the
world would go on. but if this nation the
greatest republic Of the worlds history
puts out its light; if this republic turns
back on the doctrine which We loved
century and quarter ago then to what
nation OF the world the people look for
hope and inspiration? So you ought to be
proud that you are an American citizen and
are able to say: If the republic goes down
am not to blame for its downfall
Great applause)
The Meeting in the Evening.
At the evening meeting Mr.. Bryan and
Mr.. Stevenson were given a tremendous
greeting by the crowds. Both were cheered
again and again as they appeared on the
platform. Mr.. Towne delivered the most
extended speech of the evening meeting
outlining the campaign arguments on which
tIIt utIlOCTdiIc party Will nSnt the cam
paign Of 1900. Mr.. TOwne gave his first
attention to the monetary question admit
ting that the issue had changed in import
ance since 1896, but insisting that it was
still a live issue: that the principles of
bimetallism as true now as they were
in 1856. Trusts We're denounced as an in
hcrent part of the republican adminiStra-
ton. Accumulated wealth, he said, had
already inaugurated a period of national
decay. and that to the reform forces of
the country must the people look for re-
lief. Continuing, Mr.. Towne said:
We stand upon the threshold of TIL,
campaign of 1900 wherein the allied reform
forces of the country hope, and intend to
restore the action of the federal govern
ment to the principles of Washington and
Jefferson-tO re-establish by the spirit of
1896 the doctrines Of 1915. no alliances or
entanglements abroad. and at home equal
rights for all. special privileges to none.
The man who sees in the campaign of
1896 only an ordinary political contest has
little insight. That campaign was the be-
ginning of a life and death struggle be-
tween opposing forces of fundamental
character and between which, in the very
nature of things, there can be no truce of
party until victory shall have crowned the
or the other. 1t was the first real
crash of arms between those who would
transform this government from an oil
garchy of wealth and privilege, and those
who would arrest our present progress in
that direction and retrace our steps to the
safety and glory of ancient ways.
the midst OF social questions of gravest
complexion to whose solution are requisite
the best intellect and Hottest patriotism
of this country. the vigilance of the people
Is retaxed by the occurrence of war whose
noble inception has disguised its couse-
quences until. within the little space of two
| years. We have Travelled further from our
| old ideals than would. even short a time
| ago. have seemed to be the possible accom-
| plishment of century IT, indeed, ever pos
| sible at all. Already We are In the very
| shadow of the empire.
In the Shadow of Empire
My friends. II the citizens of this coun-
| try at the forthcoming election shall ratify
| and confirm the presumptious stretches of
! authority that have characterized the con-
duct of this administration. then we shall
not be in danger of establishing an empire;
the empire will have been already estab-
| lished."
| Mr.. Towne criticised the attitude of this
| government toward the people of Porto
Rico and the Philippines. 1--WE walked
| across Porto Rico on a carpet of flowers
| spread by the confident enthusiasm of the
| inhabitants. and We have compelled them