The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-07-14
THE NOMINATION OF BRYAN
AND THE PLATFORM.

mously nominated as the Democratic
candidate for President by the Kan
sas City convention last week. Tha
his nomination was foregone con
clusion, it is hardly necessary to say
Ever since his great fight in 1891
Mr.. Bryan has been regarded as tn
logical candidate of the Democratic
party. That the people have clunl
TO him, even after defeat. shows a,
example of party loyalty and conf
dence that the annals of mo- cam
paign can equal.
Bryan is the candidate of tn,
plain people-the toiling masse
who constitute the true greatness o
the country-as were Jefferson ant
Jackson in their days; and there ha
appeared no more powerful person
ality on the stage of American poll
ties since the times of Andrew
Jackson than che peerless Nebrask
an, who has stood like lion in tht
path of right and voiced the senli
ments of the working people.
Tie Kansas City convention is
in marked contrast to the Republi
can convention at Philadelphia, 9
few weeks since. The Dem ocratie
convention was brim full of enthu.
siasm from beginning to end, while
the Republican convention was all
cut and dried before the delegates
reached Philadelphia. No such en-
thnsiasm has ever marked any presi-
dental convention as was character
istic of the one recently held at
Kansas City, the climax of which
was the nomination of that fearless
tribune of the people, William j.
Bryan.
The platform of principles adopt
ed by the convention is an open
declaration of what the Democratic
party believes, and will command
great strength in the coming cam
paign. The new issues of imperial.
ism, militarism and trusts are made
the first and foremost issues of the
campaign, and on these especially
will the battle be waged. They re-
ceived more attention. and space
than all the other issues combined.
Silver lis a secondary issue, and
while the country, and large pro.
portion of the delegates to the con-
vention, would have preferred to
sidetrack it, the dominating infiu.
ence of Mi. Bryan prevented such
action, and it was inserted in the
platform, the same as in the Chica-
go platform of 1895. =
But the most vital issue before
the convention. as with the nation,
was Imperialism, and it is voiced in
unmistakable tones in the platform.
which says:
"We declare again-that all gov.
ernments instituted among men de.
rive their just powers from the con.
sent OF the governed; that any gov.
eminent not based upon the consent
OF the governed is a tyranny: and
that to impose upon any people
government of force is to substitute
the methods of imperialism for
those of republic. We hold that
the Constitution follows the flag.
and denounce the doctrine that am
executive or Congress deriving
their existence and their powers
from the constitution can exercise
lawful authority beyond it, or in
of it. We assert that no
nation can long endure half republic
ana half empire; and we warn che
American people that imperialism
abroad will lead equally and newt.
ably to despotism at home"
The Democratic platform does not
object to expansion when such ex.
pansion takes in desirable territory, /
put of which can be erected States. ,
ana whose people are willing and fit
10 become American citizens; but it !
sets The seal of it's disapproval upon I
mat kind of expansion which wren.
'hes territory from a weak people
y the arm of conquest, held by the ?
word, controlled and governed in '
manner entirely out of keeping with b
he spirit of American government a
md antagonistic to The traditions of 9
'ur common country. In
Miiitarlsm, which naturally fol. b
ows in the path of imperialism, :,
nd is its concomitant part, is de. a
ounced, for il means the keeping Al
f large armies and fleets to conquer =
Their peoples, and to impose upon p,
le American people unnecessary p.
lrdens of taxation. =. ::
The platform scores the Republi. til