Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-08
APARAMOUNTMAKER
BRYAN is PEDDLlNG HIS THIRD EF-
FORT IN THIS LINE.
First TWO Rejected by the People.
Like Fate Awaits His Latest
what the Administration Has Done
For the Porto Ricans.
Ispeclal yvashinEton Letter. ]


Especial washington letter.
Bryan has been identified with three
paramount" issues, 10 which be mas,
with all due solemnlty, dedicated his
life and pledged his powers to ingraft
upon the national legislation of the
country.
When In the Fifty-second congress
nine years ago. he was an ardent
champion Of free trade. In speech,
long and brilliant, he declared that "a
protective tariff was conceived in greed
and fashioned in iniquity, false in
economy and the most vicious political
principle that ever cursed this coun-
try" Yet a protective tariff bin was
passed by the First congress and APP
proved by Washington. Bryan fur
Their declared that he would fight the
protective system as long as there was
anything to remedy. The struggle be-
tween protection and free trade went
against him. The people repudiated
free trade, and Bryan dropped 1t. Ii
was not wise to paramount free
trade when 1t would not make votes.
Four years ago, realizing that he
must paramount" something else, he
took up silver and worked it with all
the force of his eloquence. That In
turn was repudiated by the people and
dropped by Bryan. All his wild prophe-
cies have been proved TO be false by
the prosperous facts of recent expert
ence.
This year he concluded to let free
trade alone, touch lightly on free silver
and paramount" imperialism, and he
is working it in the same prophet prom
Using, reckless fashion. In opposing
protection he denounced Washington,
in advocating free silver he ran coun-
ter to all financial experience, in OPP
posing expansion he reflects on Jeffer-
son. After a few more campaigns he
may possibly get into line and strike
something that is right, but at present
there is big dent in the public conf
dence as to the accuracy of his prophet
ic powers and as to his leaderlike abil-
ity.
AS the silver crown of thorns STAN
peded the Chicago convention, but fail
ed to stampede the country, so the
golden crown of imperialism will have
no terrors for the people as leug as
proof of it's existence depends on the
assertion of the Nebraska prophet VINO
said that the gold standard Would
starve everybody except the money
changers and the money owners.
A study of Mr.. Bryan's late speeches
emphasizes the well known truth that
it is easier to be critical than to be
correct.
1t is perhaps worth while at the pres
ent stage of political misrepresentation
to turn aside from assertion and look
at some facts as revealed by the con
duct of the United States in dealing
with Porto Rico. Sentiment is hard to
weigh and difficult to appraise at its
true market value but facts are tangi-
BILE evidence of intention whether they
be good or bad.
The so called imperial administration
of Mckinley has, according to the pub
lished statements of Porto Ricans, re-
lieved the inhabitants of that fair At
lantic island of the following:
Stamped paper dues on the transfer
of property.
Personal certificates.
Passports.
Export duties.
Tax on professions, trades and occu-
pations.
Import duties have been made nomi-
nal, and the Porto Ricans have been
given power to abolish them altogether.
Tribute TO Spain.
Tribute to the Veragua family.
Tribute to the colonial minister.
War tribute in time of peace.
Navy tribute.
Pensions to retired Spaniards.
Support of mounted police.
Military courts to try political Of
tenders.
Mayors appointed by the govern
ment
A military governor.
All these burdens have been lifted
from the shoulders Of our insular
wards, and in addition TO these mega.
tive benefits they have been given the
, following:
Habeas corpus.
Courts of justice composed Of Porto
Rican magistrates.
A modern free school system.
Uniform currency.
Regularity in exchange.
Autonomous municipal rule.
Increased right of suffrage.
Native police force.
Free justice and quick procedure.
Representation in the executive
council
A house of representatives to legis-
late for the island.
No people were ever treated more
generously, and under the new regime
business has doubled in volume in
two years. Burdens have been lifted,
liberty has been extended, education
has been advanced, business has in
creased and the people are prosperous
Il -