Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-03

tune
Judge Holt here read extracts from
editorials in Republican papers advo-
eating an imperialistic or monarchial
form of government in America
Ii the administration continues in
its present policy the military power
which is now being exerted to crush
the aspirations for liberty abroad, how
long will it be until they undertake to
exercise the same arbitrary power at
home. Suppose you elect Bryan.
Wouldn't you have the same Constitu-
ton. the same country, the same hopes
for the future? Suppose you elect Nc
kinley. He would say, Il have quad
rupled the American standing army. l
have been criticized. / have submit
ted the matter to the people. They
have approved my course, and there
fore conclude that they are in favor
of large standing army. and l will
crafty them by continuing 10 increase
it. He would say, Il have crushed
out the aspirations for liberty in for
eign seas. l have been criticized. The
people have ratified my course, and
/ therefore conclude that they are in
violated the principles of the Declara-
ton of independence, and when criti-
cized the people approved of my
course. Therefore, conclude that they
don't lay so much stress and store by
those principles now as they did in
the past. | have started in the bust
ness of colonial possession. have
been criticized, l have been ratified at
the polls, therefore l conclude that the
people are anxious to build up colon
iai empire" Is not this the concur
sion he would have a right to draw?
There is one other trouble. If you
refuse to extend the provisions Of the
Constitution to the new possessions,
you will have the old story OF carpet
bagism repeated over again. They have
already begun to steal in Cuba. When
you rule by the flag, and not by the
Constitution, this is the inevitable re-
suit.
Our forefathers in the Revolutionary
war consecrated their lives and for
tunes to the cause of liberty, to the
end that we might live as freemen.
They were heroes-rhey were mar
tyrs. Their high courage and sacred
blood left us a priceless heritage of
civil liberty, and yet, in a moment of
mad folly, we would throw all away
like the spendthrift who cruelty wastes
the product of his parents patient
toll. But | still have faith in the
American people. | think that no man.
no matter what his party affiliations
may have been in the past. If he will
stop and think for moment, will, by
fostering the present imperialistic ten
denotes, deliberately cut his child Off
from the opportunities in time to come
that he enjoyed in the past. l believe
the American people are aroused to a
realization of the situation, and do
not care to talk about money or tariff.
but that the inclination is to preserve
the government and institutions. and
when they are safe there will be ample
time to fight out these domestic ques-
tons among ourselves. Let us first
save the country.
Judge Holt concluded with de-
scription of the national conventions
of the two parties, both of which he
attended, dwelling particularly upon
the applause which followed the first
mention of the name of Bryan in Kan
sas City, adding that it would pale into
insignifcance in comparison with the
hosannas which will ascend next Tues
day, when the fact is proclaimed that
William Jennings Bryan has been
elected President of the United States.