The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-09-07
WELLINGTON FOR BRYAN.

II
going wild. 1t was disappointment
to those scandal mongers who expect
ed to hear the President traduced and
a torrent of vituperation heaped upon
the shoulders of the administration.
Mr.. Wellington made it absolutely
plain that he had not abandoned his
party but that the present leaders
had steered it upon the rocks of i'm
perialism and he himself did not pro-
pose to follow their blind dictation.
He said that his vote for the treaty of
| peace was obtained by the President
through misrepresentation although
he did not believe that Mr.. Mckinley
intended to deceive him at the time,
but that he was a weak man easily
swayed and had afterwards been per-
suaded by bad advisers.
Mr.. Bryan who was on the platform
with Wellington made an excellent
impromptu address dwelling on the
Senator arguments. 1t was a master
| full speech and will set at rest the
charge that the Democratic nominee
cannot make an address on the spur
of the moment.
This is staggering blow to the Re-
publican campaign managers. They
can boot the idea that Mr.. Yelling
ton has any following, but that is
ridiculous on the face of it. The office
itself carries great weight with it and
any man who has sufficient influence
to be elected to such a high position
is not without friends. In other States
this change will also have it's weight.
The Senator is the representative of a
large German-American vote and this
frank statement that he is opposed to
militarism and imperialism indicates
that his followers throughout the
country will do likewise on election
day.
The frantic efforts of the Baltimore
american to belittle the effect oil
Wellington's actions are very anus
ing. Instead of having the desired
results the mad vituperation of oul
esteemed contemporary will greatly
magnify the influence which the Sen.
ator exerts.
Bryan's star is daily growing bright.
er in the political horizon. Each sue
ceeding day brings some new convert
to the Democratic folds, not only from
the Gold movement which was so
prominent in 1896, but recruits are
also being drawn directly from the
Republican party.
1t would be foolish for the Demo.
Gratis to think that they will be able
to hold all Of these voters permanent.
ly for there Is not the slightest doubt
but what many will return to their
first love when the dangers of imper.
ialism are past. This issue is now
however so great that it is over.
Swallowing all others and when the
day of election rolls around we feel
sure that the views of the majority OF
voters, who are not too much blinded
by party prejudice will show in no
uncertain manner that this country
does not wish to embark into an en-
pire. All we have to do is to keep
our own voters in line and impress
upon then the necessity of a solid
front.
BOURKE COCHRAN ONIMPERLAL
ISM.
Hon. Bourke. Cochran, the distin-
guished Democrat, who four years ago
opposed the election of w. J. Bryan,
now thinks that the hope of the
country lies in the Democratic nomi-
! nee's election. He says:
imperialism must always rest on a
| standing army. Its vital principle
| and essential element is the thirst OF
a mercenary soldiery for opportunities
of plumber and promotion.
Republican government must al
ways rest on the virtue, patriotism,
/ self-sacrifice and self.control of the
citizen soldier. We anti-imperialists
have no fear for the security of our
country while it is guarded by the
valor of the American Democracy.
We don't sit up nights for fear that
China, Japan, Germany or any other
power might undertake to injure us
or to seize part of our territory. We
would be perfectly satisfied to trust
the security Of American soil to Ameri-
can laborers, organized as citizen SOL
diers; even if they were armed with
no better weapons than paving stones.
1.-The opponents of militarism have
often been called towards by its sup
porters. Who are the towards? The
| men who believe in the resistless
strength of the greatest citizenship
that this world has ever seen, and who
are willing to trust the safety of their
lives and property to it, or those hys-
terical, vociferous patriots who call
frantically for other men to take up
arms and go into the four quarters of
the globe seeking pillage and spread
ing destruction
1--WE have been told that after we
have acquired these islands and es-
tablished standing army over them
they will all be happy. Well, they
may. An imperial system might re-
suit in benefit to those islanders. 1
won't dispute that. But do insist
that this would be absolutely ruinous
to this country, and it is in defense of
this country that l write. 1t has
been asked: What have you anti
imperialists to propose? answer. 1t
is not for us to propose while Mckin-
ley alone has the right to dispose.
But 1 will venture to say that what
ever may be the outcome of the crisis,
it will be the very best solution of
which human virtue is capable.
II know that the imperialistic pol
icy is the very worst that could be
suggested, and therefore l am conf
dent it will be rejected. 1 can
prophesy what will not happen, from
the whole history of the American
people. 1 can prophesy what will
happen, because they have always
surpassed the expectation of the
wisest in the splendor of their actual
achievements.
1.-THE issue before the American
people is the vindication Of the de-
claration of independence. Can
there be doubt as to how it will be
decided? There is but one, and that