Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-31
PERTINENT QUESTIONS.
Arson Phelps Stokes to the
Voters of America.
Notes From Speech Delivered at "a Meet
Ing in Madison Square Garden, Now
York City, Saturday Evening Each In.
qulry Answered.


the speakers, and aroused great en-
thuslasm. He said, in part:
Fellow Citizens-This is the one hun
dRedth anniversary of the first election
Of Jefferson.
In the campaign of 1900 the question
was whether government should be
aristocratic or "of the people, for the
people and by the people,"
This is the question now.
Ihen, as now, the champion of the
peoples rights was bitterly denounced
oy the administration, by the rich and
by the powerful.
1t was charged that jefferson was a
demagogue and an anarchist, that he
would tumble the financial system of
the country into ruin at one stroke
and produce universal bankruptcy
and beggary."
Every social and political weapon
was used against him and against his
followers. Many of these were denied
employment. Not one OF them was to
be found among all the judges of the
United States courts. They were gem
orally excluded from all offices under
the government
An old man once told me that when
q boy he, was at heart in favor OF JEFF
ferson. but kept this secret to avoid
being whipped.
jefferson was barely elected in 1900.
-Four years later he was reelected
with only ii dissenting votes in the
electoral college.
l believe that another EZRA of good
feeling" will follow the election or
William Jennings Bryan.
Where In all the civilized world is
there foe to freedom that does not
long for the defeat of Bryan?
We love him for the enemies he has
made.
But it is said that Mr.. Bryan is an
anarchist.
How absurd this charge against one
whose constant appeal is to the con-
stitution, to the statutes and to the
moral law
What is an anarchist?
One who defies the law
What is the supreme law of this
country?
The Constitution.
Who has most conspicuously violated
the Constitution?
President Mckinley, by declaring
war against the Filip!nos, while ONLY
Congress has the constitutional right
to declare war.
Is our law a net contrived to catch
little fishes and let the big ones es-
cape?
The American people realize that
their security depends upon respect for
law, of which it has been we'll said
that none are too low to claim its pro-
lection and none too high to do 1t rev.
erence
1t was very wrong to throw bombs in
Chicago. 1t is very wrong to throw
them at our late allies in the Philip
pines for maintaining the claim that
government must rest uDon the consent
OF the governed.
If there is any danger Of anarchy in
our land 1t comes <'om disregard OF
law by those in places of authority
and power
The Bible says oppression maketh n
wise man mad.
The people here have the remedy for
oppression in their own haads. They
select those who make and administer
the laws. If the voters recognize the
sacred responsibility which the ballot
places upon them they can stop wrong
doing and oppression.
They are themselves to blame if they
yield to pressure from employers or to
social or pecuniary influences and vote
for man or n party that disreGards
the law or artfully aids in making I'M
just laws to give governmental advan-
tage to oppressive trusts.
But Mr.. Hanna says we have no
trusts. lady who believed In the
faith cure reproved a little boy for say
ing that his father had rheumatism She
told the child that all diseases were
merely imaginary: that he ought to
say, Father thinks he has rheanu-
tism." a few days later she asked
him again about the father. and the
boy said, Please, marin, he thinks he's
dead
If any Of you think you are suffer
ing from loss of work because of the
trusts, you had best consult the great
faith curist. DR.. Hanna. He will no
doubt make You feel all right again
But see him before election. or he may
not take so much interest in your case.
1t Is mistakenly charged that Mr.
Bryan has attacked the Supreme Court
because he has said that n certain de-
cision OF the court is unjust and that n
rehearinS of the case ought to be had.
can remember that Lincoln made a
memorable campaign on the same issue
regarding the bred Scott decision. and
that the Republican party made the
same claim regarding the first legal
tender decision. and by appointing two
new Judges got the decision reversed.
We have seen much adrot legislation
by the Republican party and enough
adroit administration in the interest of
those who contribute to that party's
campaign fund.
But has Mr.. Bryan ever done anything
to justify a suspicion that he will in
any underhand way seek to give effect
10 his own personal views regarding
the currency?
He believes that If our minis were
open the natural demand for silver
would make the market ratio 16 to l,
the last legal ratio determined by
Congress.
The demand from the far east has
lately advanced the price of silver %
per cent.
The Constitution puts upon Congress
the duty of regulating the ratio. This
meant. as all the debates show, to
make 1t conform as near IS may be to
the market ratio.
Why does not the Republican Con-
gress alter the ratio If it thinks 16 to
l unjust?