Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-08-31
SOME SUGGESTIVE EXTRACTS
FROM BRYAN.

When the passion OF party politics
takes hold upon men it is difficult for
them to deal Justly with those who
are upon the other side OF the politi.
cal fence. We are all human and
some OF us mistake IL preiudices for
principles. But the heat Of the cam.
paign Is not yet upon us, and let us
hope that the bitterness OF anger will
be long withheld. In the calm light
OF common sense and right thinking
tho willingness to see things as
they are-let the reader consider the
following propositions:
Rights never conflict; duties never
clash. Can it be our daty to usurp
political rights that belong to Others?
Can it be our duty to kill those, who,
following the example OF our fore
fathers, love liberty well enough to
fight for it?
Men may dare to do in crowds
what they would not dare to do as in
rhSiduals, but the moral character OF
the act is not determined by the num-
Der OF those who join it. Force can
defend a right, but force has never
yet created a right.
the highest obligation OF this ma
ton is to be true to itself. No OBJ
legation to any particular nation or to
all nations combined, can require the
abandonment OF our theory OF gov
eminent and the substitution Of doc
tnnes against which our whole ma
tionul life has been n protest.
The question is not what we can
do, bnt wta: we ought to do. This
nation can do whatever it desires to
do, but it u accept responsibility
for what it does.
Better a thousand time that our
flag in the Orient gives way to the
mag representing self. government
than that the flag OF this republic
should become the flag Of an empire.
"a war Of conquest is rs unwise rs
il is unrighteous.
"When trade is secured by force the
cost OF securing it and retaining it
must be taken ont OF the profits, and
the profits are never large enough to
cover the expense. Sdch a system
would neve be defended but for the
fact that the expense il borne by the
people, while the profits are enjoyed
by the few.
NThe shedding OF American blood
in the Philippines does not mako it
imperative that we RATTAN possession
forever. American blood was shed Mt
San Juan Hill and Ell Caney, yet the
President had promised the Cubans
independence.
1--WE cannot repudiate the prnci.
pies OF seli.government in the Philip.
pines without weakening that princi.
pie here.
1.-The forciblc annexation OF terri.
tory to be governed by arbitrary
power differs rs much from the nc.
IuiniNiOD u ttIIItOTl W De Dulll UP
into states ms n monarchy differs from
II Democracy
DO the above declarations square
with the principles and traditions OF
this republic, or do they not? Indeed
would they not, up 10 very recently,
have passed as unchallerged and TN.
c~hallengeable Americanism2 II this
be true. why are they unacceptable
TO any citizen Of the United S,ntes
today, and what robs them Of tho
ancient and noble spirit that would
have made them current coin in this
Democracy only a short time agoY
These Questions are evidence that
the peace ~ our hitherto triumphant
Democracy has been broken. It has
become aadly d~iscordant with itself
Tho questions that press are compel.
ing and vital; We cannot escape them
they must be thought about.--Spring.
field (MNs.) Republican.