The Delawarean., 1900-09-15
WHY BRYAN
SHOULD WIN.
Rev. Joseph Brown Turner Tells
Why He Can't Longer Be
Republican.
ISSUES NEED ATTENTION NOW.
Clergy Compelled to Speak Out Now
That Human Lives and Not Nero
Talk of Taxation and Econo-
mics are in the Balance.

Rev. Joseph Brown Turner, pastor
OF the Dover Presbyterian Church, who
has announced his intention to for
sake the Republican parry and support
the Democratic Uicket, said in an in
teryiew here Wednesday:
Il shall vote for Mr. Bryan in No
vember, though | have never before
voted Democratic ticket. While l ann
somewhat reluctant 10 talk about my
political relations, l see no reason why
l should not candidly state some of
the reasons for my personal conyic-
tions and my change of political
alignment at this time.
Concerning The ordinary issues
upon which the American people agree
TO differ it is wise for the clergy ito
keep silence, especially in the pulpit.
Matters of taxation, finance and or
dinary administration should be left
TO those whose business it is Ito un-
derstand them and discuss them. But
we are clear outside of ordinary lines
in this campaign. The issues NOW
pending are vital, and no political con-
test since 1860 has been so charged
with weal or woe to the government
under which we live.
1.-The ak is laid at THE root of the
tree under whose shadow we have sat
with delight. 1t is time for every man
who loves free institutions and true
Dea4ocratic principles to speak and
keep ON speaking. No more precious
legacy ever came ito any people than
that bequeathed by our forefathers ii
all succeeding generations of Ameri-
cans. This generation lis in danger of
belittling that legacy and of casting
it wholly aside.
We have outgrown the principles
of our fathers we are told, and we
may safely discard them. We cannot
keep to the old lines and continue to
expand. We cannot keep inside the
constitutional limitations and be a
world-power. Then we had better not
be a world-power.
II am constitutionalist. Until we
change our constitution in the orderly
way provided in THE Constitution itself
can see nothing but overwhelming
disaster in the refusal ir a neglect to
abide by it's guarantees and restric-
tions. We have gone outside of those
restrictions and guarantees under the
leadership of the present administra-
tion, and what the end may be under
such leadership it is not difficult tc
forcsee. te.tg
Dangerous heresies, theorebical ani
practical-those have always beer
among U.S. Professionalism in politics
the lowering of moral standards il
public life, the perversion of parties
the corruption of the ballot, bribery
and official venality-these we have
grown familiar with, and menacine
they are indeed. But with these W.
can cope. An aroused manhood, re
turning political sanity in the countr.
could and would sweep them away lilz
THE chaff off THE summer threshin!
floor. Graver far than THESE evils
more potentous than any or all o
them, is THE fact THAT free America i
forgetting it's mission, turning ava,
from it's glorious precedenlts, losing
sight of its ancient landmarks and Civ
ing the lie to all THAT our fathers be
lieyed Ito be politically and eternall,
true. We are learning ito depend upot
force rather than ON Justice; we ar
putting might before right. Rock-bot
tom rinciples-lbruHh, Justice, libert
and life-are alt stake in the presen
contention, for these have all beel
assailed.
'Under the impulse of new and for
eign conceptions of duty we hav
transformed a righteous war for libeI
ation in the West into am unholy strif
for conquest in THE East. "A war fo
humanity in ONE fair island of the sc
has been changed to war of inhr
manity in another. Soldiers recruite
Ito fight for liberty in Cuba are fightin
against liberty i'm Luzon. a weak ali
practically helpless people asked frol
us the right ito govern themselves
this and mo more-and we have pre-
ferred ito slaughter their best and moi
Intelligent classes by thousands ratht
than grant their request.
'eThey rallied I'm behalf of principle
mo oither than those for which Hf
embaHtled narmArs of New bingham
died at Lexington and Bunker Hill