The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-10-04
Halt Imperialism-bieot Bryan,

Either William J. Bryan or Will
lam Mckinley will be elected Pres
ident Of the United States i'll No
vember. There are other organiza-
tions and candidates which may
command hundreds Of thousands of
the popular vote, but they are not
reckoned in considering the ulti.
mate issue OF the contest.
The battle of 1896 was fought
and largely decided on all issue
that has been entirely overshadowed
by the assertion Of new and most
dangerous policy to the tranquility
and safety of the Republic. Cen
tralization has been appreciated by
intelligent political observers as the
great peril 10 the Republic ever
since our civil war but it has been
wholesomely restrained by the peo
pie, and never reached the appall-
ing attitude of positive imperialism
until President Mckinley pro-
claimed it and enforced it. regard
less of the wise limitations upon
Executive authority.
The paramount issue between the
two great parties to-day is that of
imperial prerogatives against the
true Jefersonian theory of govern
ment by the people and it must
now be obvious to all intelligent
| voters that there can be no hope of
halting the present reckless and
riotous spirit of imperialism i'll any
other way than by the election of
William J Bryan as the next Pres
ident of the United States. 1t is
the vital, the paramount issue, and
it must triumph whenever the peo-
pie of the nation appreciate their
sovereign power and assert the
majesty Of popular rule.
We are now engaged III costly
and bloody struggle in the Philip
pines that could and should have
been avoided by recognizing the
right of the people to rule them
selves and under the imperial pol
icy, now for the first time proclaimed
to the country and the world, the
President inaugurates war in the
far distant East, without the author
ity Of Congress and in defiance of
the supreme law of the nation
and has made and prosecuted war,
and proposes to make peace, with
all the authority of the Car OF
Russia.
The nation is thus in peril from
the threatened subversion of the
sovereign power of the land that is
supporting the concentration of
capital against the interests of la
Dor ; that is debauching our politi-
cal system by the open collection Of
millions of money from protected
trusts to expend in the national po-
litical contest and that has inaugu-
rated reign Of reckless prohigacy
and eXtravagance unexampled in
the history of the nation. 1t must
be halted by the people if they
would preserve their own govern.
ment "ot the people, by the people
and for the people !" and it can be
done only by the election of Will
lam ]. Bryan as the next Presi-
dent.
The Democrats Of Pennsylvania
have great duty and a great op-
portunity in the present contest.
They can become an important, in
deed controlling, factor, and not
only in restoring Pennsylvania to a
purer political system and better
administration, but in gaining for
themselves and for all good citizens,
an honest ballot and fair representa-
tion of all parties in the national
and State Legislatures. Democrats
have the cordial cooperation of In
dependent Republicans, and they
must be false to themselves it they
fail to control both branches of the
Legislature, and thus place the
Democracy Of Pennsylvania in a
position to command the confidence
of the people and win future vic
tories. because they shall deserve
the victory.
Halt Imperialism-elect Bryan.
Times.
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