The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-08-17

An UnanswerabIe Argument.
The independent press of the
country comedies with the view ex-
pressed by the World yesterday that
Mr.. Bryan's speech of acceptance
was "the most logical, eloquent and
convincing OF all his public efforts. ="
1t is mastery presentation OF the
paramount issue of the campaign
and a splendid evidence Of real in
tellectual power. 1t combines ar
dor without intemperance, argument
without abuse, and fire without ia
naticism. No greater political
speech has been delivered in this
country within the last decade.
\ Beginning at the beginning, Mr..
Bryan truly says that
If the Bacon resolution had been
adopted by the Senate and carried
out by the President, either at the
time of the ratification of the treaty
or at any time afterward, it would
have taken the question of imperial
ism out Of politics and left the Amer
ican people free to deal with their
domestic problems.
The defeat OF this resolution by
the casting vote of the vice-presi-
dent, and the practical abdication
of Congress in leaving the entire
management Of this most important
question to the President, was the
beginning of the policy of imperial
ism. 1t substituted one vaclllating
mans judgment or caprice for the
will of the American people.
Mr.. Bryan touches the most vital
point of the discussion in saying
that
Those who would have this nation
enter upon career of empire must
consider not only the effect of i'm
perialism on the Filipinos, but they
must also cal,ulate its effect upon
our own nation. We cannot re-
pudiate the principle Of self govern
ment in the Philippines without
weakening that principal here.
i And he indicated with unerring
} finger wherein this departure from
our basic principle has hurt the re-
public. The nation is no Longer
free to express, "a heretofore, "its
sympathy with all those who are
fighting for civil liberty" We speak
Of freedom with bated breath. No,
only so, but IF we have an impe.
rial policy we must hare a large
standing army as its natural and
necessary equipment" That this
is intended by the Republican lead
ers, says Mr.. Bryan, "is not mere
matter of conjecture, but matter
of fact"
! Concerning the status Of the Fill
pinos, Mr.. Bryan cites with ap-
prevail the declaration Of the national
platform that "they cannot be cit
izens without endangering our civ
: ilization, and cannot be subjects
J without endangering our form OF
government" A republic, he de-
clares, can have no subjects. Citing
the Republican promise to secure to
the Filipinos "the largest measure
OF self-government consistent with
their welfare and our duties," Mr..
Bryan cogently asks:
In what respect does the position
of the Republican party differ from
the position taken by the English
government in 1776? Did not the
English government promise good
government to the colonists? What
king ever promised a bad govern
ment to his people? Did not the
English government promise that
the colonists should have the largest
measure Of self-government con-
sistent with their welfare and En-
glish duties? Did not the Spanish
government promise to give to the
Cubans the largest measure OF self
government consistent with their
welfare and Spanish duties?
There is no true answer to these
questions that does not overthrow
the Republican position in regard to
the Philippines. As Mr.. Bryan
tersely says:
The whole difference between a
monarchy and a republic may be
summed up in one sentence. In a
monarchy the king gives to the peo-I
pie what he believes to be a good
government; in republic the peo-
pie secure for themselves what they
believe to be good government.
Meeting Mr.. McKinley's claim Of
a "duty" and "obligation" to hold
the islands, Mr.. Bryan pointedly
says that "duty is not an argument,
il is conclusion" and must be de-
cided upon well-settled principles Of
right. "Force can defend a right,