The Leon reporter., 1900-09-20
BRYAN's SPEECH.
(Chicago Letter.

(Chicago Letter.)
Mr.. Bryan's speech of acceptance is
without doubt the political event of
paramount Importance in the present
campaign. Mr.. Bryan received at the
hands of the Democratic party the
nomination for the presidency. A par
tisan utterance upon this occasion
would have been pardoned, nay more,
was even expected by the country at
large. Tradition and precedent exist
to justify candidate in such course.
He Of Canton-Mark Hanna's man
who was recently notified of nomi-
nation. took occasion to plead for the
principles of a party and in the cause
of an administration. In multifarious
terms he told what "we" had done,
and fairly reveled in the deeds of "us.
The Republican party was defended
even apologized for. And VIM. Nc
Kinley accepted at the hands of those
who bore the stamp of the Republican
party. the nomination for the presi-
dency Of the United States. Mr.. Nc
Kinley's speech Of acceptance will go
down in history as the statement of
party chief to his party followers. But
how different the tone and tenor of
Mr.. Bryan's Indianapolis address. Nc
Kinley spoke to party-Bryan to a
nation; Mckinley plead the cause of
an administration-Bry the cause
of a people. Mckinley defended the
principles of party-Bryan spoke in
defense Of the principles that are at
the foundation of free government:
Mckinley spoke as candidate, but Mr..
Bryan spoke as an American citizen.
In the face Of existing circumstances
it is a fact of peculiar significance that
Mr.. Bryan could reply to the notifica-
ton committee in a speech bearing
as little trace of partisan politics as
the constitution Of the United States
or the Declaration of Independence.
This does not indicate that Mr.. Bryan
is not good Democrat, but rather
that the Democratic party is contend
ing not so much for certain theories
of administration in a free government
as for free government ITSELF Hence
it is that, fighting for the very exist
ence Of the republic. the position of
the patriotic citizen who stands for
free government and the position of
the Democratic party became iden-
tical. Mr. Bryan was great enough to
recognize this. Mr. Bryan's speech was
remarkable enough on account of the
things he said. Mr.. McKinley's Can
ton speech was chiefly remarkable on
account of the things he did not say.
The Canton speech abounds in vague
intimations and promises. 1t does not
hold out to the Filipinos the faintest
hope either Of independence on the
one hand or of the freedom and rights
of American citizenship on the other.
The voter has only to read so much
of Mr.. McKinley's speech as relates to
this subject in order to find this state
ment to be correct. He will find some
thing about giving the Filipinos as
much. self-government as they are ut
for-as though the right of people TO-
600 miles away to self-government was
not God-given right, but right to
be granted by some authority in Wash
ington. But he will find not the faint
est whisper Of such thing as inde-
pendence for people over whom we
have no authority except such as
Spain somehow is supposed to have
had right to give us. In Mr.. Bry-
ans speech. however. the voter may
find pledge that if he is elected he
will convene congress at the earliest
moment to declare the nations pur-
poses.
First, to establish stable form OF
government in the Philippine islands,
just as we are now establishing a sta
BILE form of government in Cuba. Sec
ond, to give independence to the Fill
pinos. just as we have promised to
give independence to the Cubans.
Third. to protect the Filipinos from
outside interference while they work
out their own destiny, just as we have
protected the republics of Central and
South America and are by the Monroe
doctrine pledged to protect Cuba
l. 4 =
This is sufficiently clear and sue
cinct statement Of the Democratic
position. OF its correctness. of course
there can be no doubt. This. with
what Mckinley says, and with what he
significantly omits to say. sufficiently
defines the issue as to the Philippines.
The broader issue OF Imperialism.
which includes that Of the Philippines,
may be stated thus:
Nv Bryan stands upon the doctrine
Of the Declaration of independence,
that governments derive their just
powers fron the consent Of the gov
erned.
Mr.. Mckinley stands for the utter
repudiation OF that doctrine and for