The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-09
IMPERIALIsM THE ISSUE.


No one can read the speech made by Mr..
Bryan at Indianapolis yesterday in re-
spouse to the notification of his nominal
ton for President by the Democratic party
without feeling that ne Is thoroughly
equipped for the discussion of the great
issue of the campaign-the issue Of impe-
rialism-and for all of the other issues
presented by the platforms. His speech
was devoted almost wholly to imperial
Ism. That is made the paramount issue
by the Democratic platform, and IT is ev-
ident that Mr. Bryan intends that 1t shall
be the paramount issue. There is not
phase of that issue with which he is not
thoroughly acquainted. He does not
avoid any of the arguments which have
been presented by the advocates of the
Philippine policy of the Republican party.
He takes them up one after another and
dissects them and points out their weak
points. He makes it so clear that it would
be against the best interests of this coun-
try to hold the Philippines as a perma-
nent possession that this notification
speech of his will be a powerful campaign
document.
When it was announced that it would be
10000 words in length, many thought that
it would be too long. 1t was
said that it would not be gen.
orally read. 1t was pointed out
that a speech of half the length would be
far more effective, because it would stand
a better chance of being published in its
entirety, and would have a much larger
number of readers. 1t will now be admit
ted that that was a mistaken view The
speech is so instructive. and at the same
time so entertaining, that few, If any.
who begin to read IT will be satisfied until
they have finished it.
The reputation that Mr.. Bryan has as
orator Is well deserved. This speech
will increase that reputation. II is a con-
vincing presentation of the reasons why
the Philippine policy of the Republican
party is a mistake and should be aban-
doned at once. 1t has already, as pointed
out by Mr.. Bryan. so paralyzed the love
of liberty in the hearts of the American
people that their sympathy has not gone
out to the struggling South African te-
publics in the volume it should go.
Nothing could be clearer or more salts
factory than Mr.. Bryan's explanation of
his course in advocating the ratification
of the Paris peace treaty by which this
country acquired the sovereignty of the
Philippines He wanted the war to stop
and the volunteers to come home. He be-
lieved that the American people would
deal as generously with the Filipinos as
they proposed to deal with the Cubans.
He had no thought that the party in
power would endeevor to change the re-
public into an empire. He favored the
now famous Bacon resolution because he
wanted it understood at once that the ma
ton was not going into the business of
governing colonies. That his record is
clear and that his course has been con-
sistent there Is no doubt.
And he has the courage of his convic-
tons. He points out the course he will
pursue in the event of his election. He
will call an extra session of Congress and
have steps taken for giving the Filipinos
their independence.
If Mr.. Bryan overlooks silver during
the campaign as completely as he did yes
terday and sticks to the issue of imper-
ialism in his speeches and letters, the Re-
publicans will not be able to make an
aggressive campaign on the silver issue
They will have all they can do to defend
their imperialistlc policy