Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-12
Declares That Imperialism Has Driven SO
Per Cent Of 0hio's Gold Democrats
Back to Their Party.
81 Prefer Even Silver Republic to a Gold
Standard EMPIRE" Says the Eloquent
Mr.. Clark

Attorney John n. Clark, one OF the
best known Gold Democrats in Ohio,
who was the candidate for Supreme
Judge upon the Gold Democratic ticket
four years ago, having repudiatcd Mr.
Bryan and his platform shortly after
the Chicago convention, has issued Il
public statement, telling why lie will
support Mr.. Bryan and his platform
this year.
Mr.. Clark formerly lived in Youngs-
town and has upon several occasions
addressed Akron audiences on polti-
cal questions. He is the general coun.
sci for the Nickel Plate railway and
one Of the attorneys for the Erie sys-
tenn. His statement follows:
II shall vote for Bryan and Steven
son, and shall do all in my power in
aid Of their canvass. 1 shall do this
without having modified my views, in
the slightest degree as to Il sound cur
rency from what they were four years
ago. regard the demand of the Dem
ocratic platform for free coinage of sill
YER simply as concession to pride Of
opinion in the men who SO sincerely
advocated it in 1896. It, is no
longer vital issue and the
plank is, in my judgment, quite
as harmless and not nearly
SO offensive or insihccrc, as the plank
Of the Republican platform, commend
ing the Mckinley administration of
the civil service in Cuba.
"But even if free silver We're Il ques-
ton of practical Importance and likely
to follow upon the election of Mr.. Bry-
an, should, nevertheless, vote the
Democratic ticket this year-ths be-
cause / prefer even free silver repub-
lie to gold standard empire. The
diift OF the Mckinley administration
toward Imperialism Is beyond doubt.
1t Is true that the Republican majority
in Congress, in face of the pending
presidential election, with more discre-
ton than candor. refused to provide a
form of government for the Philippine
Islands. but the government imposed
upon Porto Rico is sufficient.
"The president appoints the governor
of Porto Rico and the entire upper
house of the Legislature, Il majority Of
which must be citizens of the United
States. The people of the island have
no voice whatever except in choice of
the members of tue lower house which
is equivalent to giving them no voice
at all in legislation, since the upper
house and the governor,as well as Con
gress, can defeat any measure orignat-
ing In the lower house. Add to this a
tariff imposed upon the trade of the
islands by Congress, and we have not
only precisely the taxation without rep
resentatlon, which precipitated the
American Revolution, but we have
an entire system of government
imposed upon subject people
by the hand of a strong
er power. This is not only the method
OF government of an empire, but pre-.
clsely the method df the British en-.
plre of century ago. For our govern
nient to adopt such a policy is 10 de
clare that George III was right and
that George Washington was wrong,
believe in George Washington and his
ideals of government. With such a pol
icy adopted toward Porto Rico. which
submitted to our rule without resist
snce, yet more arbitrary system is
very certainly in store for the Philip
pine islands after their two years of
war against us, should Mr.. Mckinley
be reelected,
~ cannot understand how any man