The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-16

direct influence upon the result is by
voting for the Republican candidate who
supports it, or the Democratic candidate
who opposes it.
Nothing can be accomplished by the
nomination of third candidate that can
not be accomplished equally by abstene-
ton from the polls except that the c1t1-
zen who remains at home on election day
passes unnoticed while he who votes
third ticket attracts attention. The diff
ference between a silent and voc1ter-
Gus refusal to exercise the suffrage is
not worth discussion, since abstention
from civic duty is never commendable.
When the republic is in danger the only
place for the patriot is in the ranks of
it's active defenders Absence from the
field of contest CT shooting in the air can
never be justified
1t can not be denied that while anti
imperialists unanimously approve Mr..
Bryan'S position on imperialism, many
of them hesitate to vote for his election
to the presidency because they regard
his views upon other questions with dis
trust and apprehension. We can not
hope to deal intelligently with the issues
of this campaign until we liberate our
selves from the domination of the queS-
lions, discussions and passions of the
last campaign. Within four years polit-
ical conditions have changed decisively,
and as conditions change issues change
with them. The question which the peo-
pie must decide now is radically different
from that submitted to them in 1896.
Then the election of Mr.. Bryan would
have placed the Democratic party in
branch of the government with full pow
err to enact all its belief into law, while
now his election will result not in placing
the control of the government in the
hands of the Democratic party, but in
dividing it's control between the two par
ties. Whatever maybe the result of this
election, the senate will remain Republi-
can for two years certainly and probably
roi ATrs
Bryan to the presidency in November
the Democratic party can not possibly
achieve any power of legislation during
the existence of the next congress, and
without legislative sanction no change
in the standard value, no reorga nization
of the supreme court, no modification
whatever of our financial, industrial or
political systems could be accomplished
There is one issue which the popular
verdict will settle irrevocably and that
is the issue of Imperialism. If the Re
publican party be successful in it's con-
troll of the judicial, as well of the
executive and legislative departments
of the government, it will be absolute and
it's disposition to exercise all it's power
for the enforcement of an imperialistic
policy cannot be doubted AT the end
of four years Imperialism will be so
firmly imbedded in our political life
that it can never be expelled.
Mr.. Bryan's election of itself would
present a quietus on the imperia1istic
adventure. No policy specifically con-
demned by the people has ever been
adopted into our system, and imperial
ism would prove no exception to the
rule Mr.. Hoar's suggestion that the
senate would refuse to follow q Demo-
cratic president in a policy of humanity
approved by the people does faint JUS
tice to his own patriotic capacity when
liberated from the exigencies of a
campaign for re-election-his intellect
and his conscience would be restored to
harmonious and effective cooperation.