The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1900-08-15
BRYAN'S PLAIN TALK
Discusses Paramount Questions of
the Democratic Platform.
EVILS OF REPUBLICAN POLICIES.
Rights of the People In United States
and Acquired Territories-Dsa-
Her- OF Imperialism and Mtit.
tsrism--The True Republic,

William j. Bryan said:
Mr. Chairman and Members OF the Noti-
hcation Committee; I shall, at an early
the nomination which you tender. and
shall at that time discuss the various ques-
lions covered by the democratic platform,
II may not be out of place, however, to
submit a few observations at this time
upon the general character OF the contest
before us, and upon the question which
Is declared to be OF paramount importance
When 1 say that the contest of 1900 is
contest between democracy on the one hand
to say that all our opponents have DELHI
erately chosen to give to organized wealth
predominating influence in the affairs of
the Sg sy
lican party is dominated by those influences
which constantly tend to elevate pecuhiary
considerations and ignore human rights.
party believed in the man and the dollar.
but that in case of conflict 1t believed in
the man before the dollar This is the
proper relation which should exist between
the two. Man. the handiwork of God.
comes first; money, the handiwork of man,
is of inferior Importance. Man is the mas
ter, money the servant: but upon all i'm
portant questions to-day, republican legis-
lation tends to make money the master
and man the servant.
The maxim of Jefferson, equal rights to
all and special privileges to none" and the
doctrine of Lincoln that this should be
government ''of the people, by the people
and for the people," are being disregarded
and the instrumentalties of government
are being used to advance the interests Of
those who are in position to secure favors
from the government.
The Desire of Democracy.
The democratic party is not making war
upon the honest acquisition OF wealth; 1t
has no desire to discourage industry, econ
omy and THRIFT. on the contrary, IL gives
to every citizen the greatest possible slim
illus to honest toll, when 1t promises hum
protection in the enjoyment oil the pro-
ceeds OF his labor. property rights are
most secure when human rights are re-
spected Democracy strives tor a civlliza-
ton In which every member Of society
will share according to his merits.
NO one has right to expect from So
ciety more than fair compensation for
the service which he renders to society.
II he secures more, 1t is at the expense
OF some one else. 1t is no injustice to him
to prevent his doing injustice to another.
legislation or in the absence of necessary
legislation, trespass upon the rights of an
other. the democratic party says: Thou
shalt not
Republican Excuses.
Against US are arrayed a comparatively
small, but politically and financially pow
erful, number who really pront by repub-
Hcan policies; but with them are associated
a large number who, because of their at
tachment to their party name, are giving
their support to doctrines antagonistic to
the former teachings of their own party.
Republicans who used to advocate bimet-
that the gold standard is good; republicans
who were formerly attached to the green
back are now seeking an excuse for Civ
Ing national banks control of the nation s
poast that the republican party was pay
ing OH the national debt, are now looking
LOT reasons TO support a perpetual and In
creasing debt; republicans who formerly
apnorred trust. now beguile themselves
with the delusion that there are good trusts
and bad trusts, while. in their minds, the
line between the two is becoming more
and more obscure; republicans who, in
tunes past, congratulated the country upon
the small expense of our standing army,
are now making light of the objections
Which are urged against large increase
In the permanent military establishment;
republicans who gloried in our independ-
ence When the nation was less powerful,
now look with favor upon a foreign al
lance; republicans who three years ago
condemned 'forcible annexation" as i'm
that 1t is both immoral and criminal to
oppose forcible annexation That partisan
snip has already blinded many to present
OF the republican party can be drawn over
10 the new policies remains to be seen.
For time republican leaders were In
cnned to deny to opponents the right to
criticlse the Philippine policy of the ad-
mlnistration but upon investigation they
round that both Lincoln and Clay assert
ed and exercised the right to criticise a
president during the progress of the Mex
lean war.
Instead of meeting the issue boldly and
submitting clear and positive plan for
republican convention adopted platform
the larger part of which was devoted to
Boosting and self-congra tula tion.
4, In attempting to press economic ques-
tons upon the country to the exclusion
OF those which involve the very structure
OF our government the republican lead
ers give new evidence of their abandon
ment OF the earlier ideals of the party and
Of their complete subserviency to pecun-
larry considerations.
No Evasion.
But they shall not be permitted to evade
the stupendous and far-reaching issue
which they have deliberately brought into
the arena of politics. When the president,
supported by a practically unanimous
vote of the house and senate, entered
upon war with Spain for the purpose of
the country, without regard to party, APP
piauded. Although the democrats recog-
nized that the administration would neces-
sarily gain a political advantage from
the conduct OF war which, in the very
nature of the case, must soon end in
complete victory, they We'd with the re-
publicans in the support which they gave
to the president. When the war was
over and the republican leaders began to
suggest the propriety of colonial policy,
at once manifested itself.
When the president finally laid before the
senate treaty which recognized the in
of Cuba, but provided for the
cession of the Philippine islands to the
United States, the menace of imperialism
became SO apparent that many preferred
to reject the treaty and risk the ills that
might follow rather than take the chance
OF correcting the errors of the treaty by
the independent action of this country.
Trust in the People.
was among the number of those who
hall
end the war, release the volunteers, re-
move the excuse for war expenditures, and
then give to the Filipinos the indepen-
dence which might be forced from Spain
by new treaty.
In view of the criticism which my ac-
ton aroused in some quarters l take this
occasion to restate the reasons given at
that time. l thought 1t safer to trust the
American people to give independence to
the Filipinos than to trust the accom-
plishment of that purpose to diplomacy
bodied an argument in the question. when
he asked: Can aliens make treaties
easier than friends can make laws?"
ton te we are noW IN cont better posi-
Imperialism than we would have been
had the treaty been rejected. With the
treaty ratified, clean cut issue is pre-
sented between government by consent
and a government by force, and imperial
lists must bear the responsibility for all
that happens until the question is settled.
ponents of imperialism would have been
held responsible for any international
complications which might have arisen
before the ratification of another treaty.
But whatever differences of opinion may
have existed as to the best method of OPP
posing the colonial policy, there never was
any difference as to the great Importance
of the question and there is no difference
now as to the course to be pursued.
Promises to the Filipinos.
The title of Spain being extinguished,
we were at liberty to deal with the Fill
pinos according to American principles.
The Bacon resolution, introduced a month
before hostilities broke out at Manila,
promised independence to the Filipinos on
the same terms that Ii was promised to
the Cubans. 1 supported this resolution
and believe that its adoption prior to the
breaking out of hostilities would have
prevented bloodshed, and that it's adop-
ton at any subsequent time would have
ended hostilities.
II the treaty had been rejected, consid-
cradle time would have necessarily
elapsed before a new treaty could have
been agreed upon and ratified. and during
that time the question would have been
agttating the public mind. If the Bacon
resolution had been adopted by the senate
and carried out by the president either