The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-06

SdillleHl HAS DcCOIIlc tuG uiOos AoVoAS0
Corset among the elite.
ton, lose the prestige and place now In their
country's roll Of honor which years OF splendid
deeds and patriotic action have won for them.
For myself l would rather for all time to come
forfeit my right OF afRliation with the Democratic
party than by chance assist in giving place to
one who might yes, who would, n placed In
power. work out by the incorporation Of his
financial views and socialistic theories into the
laws Of the land, a disaster so widespread and
ruin so far.reaching.
Upon what theory then can 1t be argued that
Mr.. Bryan. in the face of SO much that the
thoughtful hold to be harmful, is Il safe man 10
elect to the presidency The Importance Of the
office is not to be under.estimated, nor its power
TO be gansaid It is mighty instrument for
good or a tremendous engine for harm. BY force
of circumstance its occupant enters into the
CIVIL the social, the business life OF the American
people, and 1t Is not wisdom to say that upon
single qualification ohicf executive shall be
selected, despite a lack Of many others vital in
themselves for good or evil.
The New Humbug.
Tliosc who now try 10 reconcile their conscience
with their new political position, repudiatng
Mr.. Bryan as unsound and unsafe in every other
direction, ally themselves to his cause, to his
issues, to his associates. to his unDemocracy,
because they assert that his views on the one
newer question in the countrys politics are
more to their views than those Of President Me.
kinley. | do not propose to argue this phase
OF the question at any length. for it seems to me
there is no justification for all this hue and cry
OF imperialism and threat tened militarism. 1t Is
an issue conceived and uttered by the opposition
to divert from the real thing at stake, to conceal
the purposes Of those who arc in the confidence
of Mr.. Bryan, to make for their plans nt home
and not work out reforms abroad Who, knowing
Mr.. Bryan, analyzing his mind. following the
course of his career, passing impartial Judgment
upon his declarations on any question. will be.
lieve him capable of heading an administration
which can carry out successful foreign policy?
How IS it possible for Mr. Bryan, wrong on all
things at home, to be right on all things abroad2
But his position upon the Philippines is not one
that entities him to consideration. He did make
possible the acquisition of the Philippines by in.
sisting upon the ratification Of the Paris treaty,
and now it, his act, returns to plague him, un'
dertakcs to disprove his responsibility by assert.
ing that his action was based upon the idea OF
making more manifest the dangers of Imperialism.
Why make it more manifest? Why jeopardize,
II his present position is correct, the liberties
Of the Philippines by creating more evidence
of title for the United States to the land he
claims is theirs9 Why? Simply that Mr. Bryan
might have another issue in his presidential cam
paign. II he states the truth that he was against
it all the time hut yielded to make more mani
fest the issue of imperialism he stood for politics
then he does now, for partisan purposes then
as he does now, for self.aggrandizement then as
he does now. He was not patriotic then and he
is not now.
Who Urged on the WARP
I was not in favor of the war with Stain.
believed it to he a mistake, but having entered
upon it. l did not see in the light OF all the
facts as presented by the records that things
could have been different | was opposed TO
colonial expansion, but that expansion Is an
accomplished fact, made so largely by Mr.. Bry'
ans cooperation, anl dealing with conditions
as they are and not as they might have been,
prefer to trust the wisdom and experience oil
Pres idcnt Mckinley. backed by party that
yet retains some conservative elements in it, to
the vagarlcs of Mr.. Bryan, supported by an Or
ganization which boasts that within its circle
the radical rules and there is neither use nor
place for the conservative. The public must not
forget that Mr.. Bryan's supporters in congress
urged On the war with Spain; that Mr.. Bryans
friends gave the requisite votes to ratify the
treaty. The speeches of Democrats were the
speeches making for blood and fire before the war,
their votes after its conclusion bespoke either
their hypocrisy or their belief in the wisdom
Of the treaty which they were aiding In ratifyine,
q treaty the provisions Of which. judged by Their
present uteranccs, they did not believe in and
the results OF whicl, as they now profess to STE
they, they condemn The policy which Mr..
Bryan announces for the Philippines, II elected
president, to convene congress to create stable
for them and establish Monroe
doctrine protectorate over them, the public
knows to be idle. The great mass OF the Ameri.
hat ia I'M
romplish these things until conditions as ts
guarantee OF property rights and
safety OF personal ones warrant such action. How
ever many the errors of judgment made which
wrought the condition which now presents itsel:
in the colonies, the country is not willing with.
cut taking thought. to set adrift though ie'
tanning full protecting responsibility FOR their
ncts any people who have come to lis through
the Spanish war, educated in Spanish ways and
grown in Spanish practices MIR. Bryan and his
friends msjadge popular sentiment II they think
That upon such an issue they can blind the elec'
tors Of the country to those things, which af
Iecting the immediate country, more para
mount than any involved in the issue they nov
attempt to create. The dangers of military au-
Lhority here, cf lessened liberty to the American
people, of enlarged power to the army, 10 not
now and will not in the future exist, for patriot
ism everywhere and at all times has been thu
priceless heritage Of the people and will continue
10 be- for centuries yet to come. With elch
year a better condition will, through
American influences, be worked out for the pec.
pie OF our foreign possessions. until, fitted for a
larger liberty, they take their place in the gal.
Ky Of republics. But it will come about only
through wisdom ot act, statesmanlike legislation,
md education II will not be the fruits OF de-
signing demasogues, partisan politicians and SELF
,nriching spoilsmcn When that day comes thers
Ill. q NhA liz, h,,t .,l,n