The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-13
COMES BACK AT BRYAN.
Assistant Secretary MeikIejOhn
Writes Another Letter.

Chicago. Oct. 13.-George D. Meikle-
john, assistant secretary of war has
mailed the following letter to W. J.
Bryan:
Chicago, Oct. II, 1900.
Dear Sir:--In your communication to
me of the 10th instant, you refer to the
/ fact that the Republican party adheres
to Its doctrine that the constitution can
/ not be extended to new territory acqulr-
| ed by the treaty making power of our
government, nor by the military COM
! n1anders OF our army. You then declare
| that therefore the president was not
/ obliged to refuse his approval to that
portion OF the Eulu agreement which
permitted the temporary continuance OF
| the alleged slavery in the Sulu islands
| The point to which / called your atten-
| ton in my communication was that the
| president Gid refuse his approval and
therefore that portion of the agreement
| is not existing. l am gratihed that you
direct attention to the fact that the
present administration does not require
| the force Of constitutional provision TO
prompt it to recognize the rights of
men. Permit me, however, to call your
attention to the concluding words of
the amendment to the constitution TO
which you refer. Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude shall exist within
the United States or any place subject
to their Jurisdiction
While amendments to the. constitu-
ton are under consideration viii you
give an explanation of the discrepancy
between your platform this year and the
one on which Tilden made his canvass?
Your platform declares:
I'VE, the representatives of the Dem
ocratic party Of the United States as
sembled in national convention on the
anniversary Of the adoption of the de-
claration of independence, do affirm our
faith in that immortal proclamation of
the inalienable rights of man and our
allegiance to the constitution framed in
harmony Herewith, by the fathers of
the republic"
AS framed by the fathers of the re-
publlc, the constitution recognized
slavery and provided that a slave es-
Gaping into a free state did not become
free. and must be returned to his owner
article 4, section 2, clause 3. The con-
stltution as framed by the fathers did
not contain the guarantees for the
rights OF our cOlored citizens provided
by the 14th and 18th amendments
The Tilden platform declared as fol-
lows:
For the Democracy of the whole
country we do here reaffirm our faith
in the permanehcy of the federal union.
our devotion to the constitution of the
United States with its amendments I'M
iversally accepted as a final settlement
of the controversies that engendered
civil war and do here record our stead
fast confidence in the perpetuity of the
Republican government
Why does your platform refuse adj
herence to the amendments to the con-
stitution?
In view Of your present contention,
might 1 beg to request an explanation
Of the concluding words Of the Chicago
platform Of 1895, on admission Of terri
tories which reads
We recommend that the territory of
Alaska be granted a delegate in con
gress and that the general land and tim
Der laws of the United States be ex-
tended to said territory
Very respectfully
@. D. MEIKLEJOHN.
Hon. VIM ]. Bryan. Cleveland, o.