The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-28
4 REPUBLIC OR AN EMPIRE2
This is the Question Now Confronting lie
Bryan Declares.
UE POINTS OUT THE EVILS OF M|L|TARISN

ocrdllc party abundantly appear. Both
conventions recognized with equal clear
ness the wrongs that were being inflicted
upon the masses by the money-hoarding
ana trust-breeding classes, and the
deadly peril with which the republic is
surrounded, and they have both de-
CARED, with equal dfstinctness. their
linfnoVable purpose to redress every
wrong and rescue the republic from it's
perilS. Z 4
1t is urged that there is little dam
ger under the benign reign of Mr.. Nc
hlnley and the Republican party that
ne uhrestrained power of Imperialism
Wlll be misused. Association with politi-
cal parties does not change the nature
OF men; and the nature Of men is to en-
croach upon enc anOther's rights and to
90 TO excess when their attempts are
resisted. The Constitution was framed in
view OF this nature in man: and the
united states courts were created to en-
1orce the safeguards Of the Constitution
against all who surrender their conduct
to the bad impulses Of their nature. Rut
however benign the sway of the Pre.i-
dent. such a government is a TYRANNY.
Daniel Webster, the great constitutional
~eXpounder, we'll expressed it when he
said: There is nothing that satisfies
mankind in an enlightened age unless
man IS governed by his own country and
the institutions of his own government
NO matter how easy may be the yoke
OF a foreign power, no matter how lightly
it sits upon the shoulders, if it be rot
imposed by the vote Of his own nation
and his own country he will not and
cannot, and he means not to be happv
under it's burdens
at was in such lights that the Philip-
pine question presented itself to the Sioux
rails convention. How did the conven-
tion view it? AS BELTS patriots and
American citizens, With ringing voice its
platform declares: Murder and arson
have been our response to the appeals
of the people who asked only to estab-
lish a free government in their own
land. The Declaration Of independence,
the Constitution and the American flag
are one and inseparable. We demand
a stoppage of this war of determination
by the assurance to the Philippines of
Independence and protection under a
stable government of their own crea-
ton
Here again we find the Democratic
brain and heart acting in patriotic uni
son with the Populist brain and heart.
The Democratic party gave this grave
issue more prominence in its platform
than did the Populists; but it could not
give it greater emphasis. All that the
Democratic platform declares concerning
it is accepted by Populists as supplement
tary. Populists say amen to the truth
that the Declaration of Independence il
the spirit of our Government of which
the Constitution is the form and letter.
Populists hold with Democrats that the
Constitution follows the flag, and that no
nation can long endure half republic and
half empire; and they unite with the
Democrats in warning the American peo-
pie that Imperialism abroad will lead
quickly and inevitably to despotism at
home. They agree that while the Fill
Pine has given abundant evidences of
his capacity for seif-goVernment, this
Asiatic people with their modified Asiatic
civilization, cannot become citizens with
out endangering our American clviliza-
ton, and that they cannot become sub
iectS without imperiling our form of
government; and that we are not will
ing to surrender our civilization, or to
convert the republic into an empire.
With the Democrats the Populists favor
an immediate declaration of the nations
purpose to give to the Filipinos, first, q
stable form Of government; second, indie.
pendence: third, protection from outside
interference, such as has been given for
nearly a century to the republics OF
Central and South America.
MI. Bryan. nothing that ] can say can
add to the fullness of the honor, faith
and affection in which American patriots
hold you. Whether native to the soil or
born IN foreign chimes, as patriotic Amer
leans they look to you as the defender
of the faith of freemen and protector OF
their assaulted institutions. Those who
fled from the tyranny OF their own coun-
try to find lib0r y in ours. il assuming tn
duties Of citizenship SWOre before high
heaven with uplifted hand to protect and
defend the Constitution of our country
1t is this Constitution that is assailed
and our foreign-born citizens will not
forget the oath which admitted them tC
share it's blessings. You have a stupen-
dous struggle before you-one that must
trv to the utmost the moral, intellectual
and physical qualities with which the
Greater has endowed you. But, Sir, W.
are assured that the just and mercifu
God that raised You up to be the leader
in this great national struggle lof pre-
sewing to this and all other countries
that are brought within our power tht
inaIienable rights of man, Whatever his
creed color or nativity. will be with you
and euide and protect you through al
nerils that may beset your pathway.
Judge A. w. Rucker, who conveyed t
l Mr.. BRYAN the rma OF ms en-
!, dorsement by the United States None
J tarv League. also curtailed his speech
owing to the heat. He made a number
. Of noints which met with the approva
=, of the auditors.
z When Mr.. Rucker took his seat, Mr.
y Simnson introduced Mr.. Bryan, VINO wa
I received with a burst OF applause.
Mr.. Bryan read the greater part OF M
address from manuscript, and the deIV
erv consumed about forty minutes
when he ceased speaking those presen
waro invited to shake hands with hin
end many awaited themselves of this op
nortunity to formally greet him.
!, before beginning his address proper
NJ Rrvan took occasion to reply to MI
Trortman's welcoming remarks. rms II
aid extemporaneously and as follows:
sI daeire in the beginning to than
Tho authorities of this state ana city 10
= tho noo-nartisan welcome which has bee
y aa1ivared through Mr.. Troutman. ap
- anaciota that liberty of thought ina
, ppannrositv too infrequent in politics ina
eonh1oe n]olitical opponents to thus tende