Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-08-15

a
only portion of his acceptance speech
however, which may be construed q,
dealing with the currency problem
dealing With it incidentally, and
will prove . bitter disappointment,
to the republicans. In truth, il will
prove more, for IL 10 81 last &: un-
snswersble indictment of their party
for regeneration and insinosrity on
the financial and msnv other impor-
tant problems.
Following the deliversncs quoted,
Mr.. Bryan presents the cognsts issues
OF Imperialism and the revolutionary
conditions to which it must give
birth, discussing each in q calm,
dispassionate manner, that cannot
fail TO carry conviction TO all save
the most unreasonsbly biased. He
notices the criticism that has been
leveled against him for advocating
the ratification of the treaty with
Spain, and utterly confounds his
critics, in so far as they would seek
to make that advocacy in any way
responsible for or any excuse for
imperialism, or al apology for our
course respecting the Philippines.
Whether or not he committed an en-
ror, be demonstrates that there is no
inconsistency between his position
towards Imperialism, and his champ
ionship of ratification. He draws
the fangs of all who would poison
the public mind regarding the mat
ter.
That indictment lie in the opening
part Of Mr.. BryAn's speech, and leads
up logically 70 his recognition and
assertion of the overshsdoWing issue,
which are in this sentence: but
they (the republicans shall not be
permitted to evade the stupendous
and far-reaching issue which they
have deliberately brought into the
arena of politics" Mark the words,
democrats, "ShAll not be permitted TO
evade," Hold them (the republicans
to "the stupendous and far-reaching
issue" Force it upon them at every
turn. That way lies victory.
Mr.. Bryan takes Mr. Jefferson out
Of the hands of the republicans, who
had placed him on the witness stand
to prove against the democrats the
charge of imperialism, and by his
testimony annihilAtes, that charge.
The verdict of the public from the
testimony Mr.. Bryan adduces from
the sage of Monticello must be 8
sealing of Mr.. Bryan's declaration
that 1.-The forcible annexation of ter
ritory to be governed by arbitrary
power, differs as much from the &C.
QUESTION of territory to be built up
into States (theJ effersonian doctrine),
as monarchy differs from a democ-
racy." The speakers explanation of
the difference between the two poll
cies, on expansion is mastery.
In pushing the question, Is the
Filipino to be citizen or q subject:
and in treating of the case of Porto
Rico, Mr. Bryan drives the repnbli-
can party and administration abso-
lutely TO the wall, and when he
comes to discuss the reasons which
are given for the support of the i'm
perialistic policy, he demolishes them
seriatim. He shows that in his last
analysis the argument in defence of
imperialism is resolved into greed,
hypocrisy, lust Of power, cant, and
unholy ambition, and makes it plain
beyond the peradventure of mistake,
that unless American people shall in
November turn back the tide from
its present drift they may well des-
pair of the republic.
Taken in its entirety, Mr.. Bryan's
acceptance is an unequivocal and
ringing endorsement, and an abls ex-
position of the Kanssa City platform
q crushing arrangement of the re-
publican party and Imperialism, and,
we have said before, a great and con-
vincing campaign document.-Rich-
mond Dispatch.