Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-20
BRYAN'S SWINGS ON
IMPERIALISM AND
MIllTARlSM.

lands? DO NC hold them by treaty or
conquest Slig Did we buy them oil. did We
pe so hove Da Mf w psre sseSre the td
them? Mere they thrown in with the
land? VIII the Republicans say they in
earth TX nodded by the divine hand and
stamped with the likeness of the Creator
II becomes fixture and passes with the
soil? If governments derive. their just
powers from the consent of the governed
II is Impossible to secure title to people
either by force or by purchase.
The growth OF the principle of self
government. planted on American soil.
has been the overshadowing political fact
Of the nineteenth century. 1t has made
TINS nation conspicuous among the ma
tons ana given 1t n place in history such
as no other nation has ever, enjoyed.
Nothing has been able to check the on
ward march of this idea ! am not will
ing that this nation shall cast aside the
again the weapon of physical warfare.
| would not exchange the glory OF this
Republic for the glory of all the empires
that have risen and fallen since time be-
gan.
Our nation has n mission, but it is to
liberate those who are in bondage-not
TO PLACE shackles upon those who are
struggling TO be free.
We rejoice in the marvellous victory
won by Dewey in Manila bay: we void
give to him "A sacred place in history and
crown his memory with blessings. To us
savior. Let him he known to postcrity.
not as asubjuganter oil an alien race.
but as the redeemcr Of an oppressed
Fayette. The gratitude of a people is
better than a jcweled sword.
Shall we keep the Philippines and
amend our flag? Shall we add a new
G. "a ha
that we have entered upon career of
conquest? Or shall we borrow the yell
low, which in 1896 was the badge of
gold and greed. and paint Saturn and
his rings. TO suggest n carpet-bng gov
eminent. with its schemes and spoila :
ton? Or shall we adorn our lag with 4
milky way composed of multitude or
minor stars representing remote and
insignificant dependencies?
II 100000 men are withdrawn from the
ranks of the producers and placed as n
burden on the backs of those who re-
main it must mean longer hours.
harder work and greater sacrifices for
those who toll, and the farmer, while
he pays more than his share of the
expenses OF the army, has no part in
army contracts or in developing com
panies, and his sons are less likely to
fl the positions in the army than tho
sons of those who. ny reason OF wealth
or political prominence exert influence
ut Washington.
Lincoln embodied an argument in the
question when he asked. can aliens
make treaties easier than friends can
make laws?" 7 believe that we are now
/ in a better position to wage a success
| ful contest against imperialism than
| we would have been had the treaty
been rejected. With the treaty rati-
! ned clean-cut issue is presented be
tween q government by consent and a
| government by force, and impcrialists
must bear the responsibility for al
that happens until the question is set.
| tied.
This Republic is not prodigal son;
IL has not spent its substance in riotou.
| living. 1t is not ready to retrace its
| steps and. with shamcd face and
! trembling voice, solicit an humble place
among the servants of royalty. It has
not sinncd against heaven, and God
grant that the crowned heads of Eu-
rope may never have the occasion tc
| kill the fattcd calf to commemorate its
! return from reliance upon the Nill-ei
the people to dependence upon the au-
thority which flows from regal birth OF
! superior force,