Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-08-11
oooN. WILLIAM ]. BRYAN. n

oils. said that at an early day aud in a |
more formal manner he would accept the |
nomination which they rendered. At that |
time he promises to fully discuss the vari- !!
Gus questions covered by the Democratic |
platform. limiting his remarks before the |
committee to few observations upon |
the general character of the contest, and |
upon the question which is declared to |
he Of paramount Importance in this cam |
paign. Mr.. Bryan spoke substantially |
as follows:
When I say that the contest OF 1NU
Is a contest between democracy on the
one hand and plutocracy on the other. l
do not mean to say that all our oppon- |
ents have deliberately chosen to give TO
organized wealth predominating innu.
ence Ia the affairs Of the government, but
] do assert that on the important issues
Of the day the Republican party Is DOM
mated by those influences which con-
stantly tend to elevate pccuniary consid-
erations and ignore human rights.
The Democratic party Is not making
war upon the honest acquisition OF
wealth: 1t has no desire to discourage in
dustry. economy and thrift. On the con-
trary. IL gives to every citizen the great
est possible stimulus to honest toll. when
1t promises him protection In the enjoy
ment OF the proceeds of his labor. Prop
crty rights are most secure when human
rights are respected. Democracy strives
for a civilization In which every mem
her of society will share according to his
merits.
Against us are arrayed a comparatively
small. but politically and financially pow
erful. number who really profit by Re
publican policies; but with them are as.
sociated n large number who. because OF
their attachment to their party name. are
giving their support to doctrines antag-
cnistic 90 the former teachings OF their
own party. Republicans who used to ad-
vocate bimetallism, now try to convince
themselves that the gold standard IL
good: Republicans who were formerly at.
tached TO the greenback are now seek
ing an excuse for giving national banks
control OF the nations paper money: he.
publicans who used to boast that the He
publican party was paying off the ma.
fionnl debt. are now seeking for reasons
TO support perpetual and increasing
debt: Republicans who formerly alb
horred trust. now beguile themselves
with the delusion that there are good
trusts aud bad trusts, while, In their
minds. the line between the two Is be.
coming more and more obscure: Republi.
cans who. in times past, congratulated
the country upon the small expense OF
our standing army. are now making light
Of the objections which are urged against
n large increase In the permanent mill
gloried in our independence when the ma
zion was less powerful, now look with
favor upon foreign alliance; Repub.
licans who three years ago condemned
'forcible annexation" as an immoral and
even criminal. are now sure that II IL
both immoral and criminal to oppose
forcible annexation. That partisanship
has already blinded many to present
dangers Is certain; how large a portion
Of the Republican party can be drawn
over to the new policies remains to be
seen.
Abandon Early Ideals.
In attempting to press economic Ques.
tions upon the country to the exclusion
Of those which involve the very structure
OF our government, the Republican lead.
ers give new evidence OF their abandon
ment OF the earlier ideals OF the party
and OF their complete subserviency to
pecuniary considerations.
But they shall not be permitted to
evade the stupcndous and far.reaching
issue which they have deliberately
brought into the arena OF politics. When
the President. supported By a practically
unanimous vote OF the House ana Sen
ate. entered upon a war with Spain for
the purpose Of aiding the struggling pa.
triots OF Cuba, the country, without re-
gard to party, applaudcd. Although the
Democrats recognized that the admins.
tration would necessarily gain political
advantage from the conduct of II wal
which, In the very nature of the case
must soon end In Il complete victory, they
WED with the Republicans in the support
which they gave 10 the President Whcr
the war was over and the Republican
leaders began to suggest the propriety Ol
n colonial policy, opposition ut once mani
Tested itself. When the President final
~ laid before the Senate treaty which
recognized the independence of Cuba, bu
provided for the cessiOn OF the Philippine
Islands to the United States, the menac,
OF imperialism became so apparent tina
many preferred 10 reject the treaty ant
risk the ills that might follow rathe
than take the chance Of correcting tn,
errors OF the treaty by the Independent
action Of this country.
T was among the number Of those VIII
believed IL better 10 ratify the treaty al,
end the war, release the volunteers. re
move the excuse for war expenditures
and then give 10 the Filipinos the indie
pendence which might be forced from
Spain by a new treaty. thought II safe
80 trust the American people to give In
dependence TO the Filipinos than to trus
lme ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...;,h -, ,.inn,r ,o,
IT, Ill Snair no,nn ax,jno,ishaJ ~.
80, ~, iiba.,r >" JoaI wi,h IN E;iin;no
o'.1inn ~ mar;c"r nri,ninlss TT
Iaa'.,' r..oin,inn ;n,rndnnod a mon,b hs
80 has,ui,ias hr,ta on, a, Manila nrom,
- observation-disclosures 20 ,ha EiIin;nns on ~
-. 80, ,ba, I, w. nron,isaJ 10 tb
Cmhans snnnor,ad ,his resolution an
Saii"ua ,ba, IL aSon,ion nr;or ~ III
breaking out of hostilties would hav