Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-09-20
DEAR Boy LETTERS-NO. 5

My Dear Boy-You ask why the Dem
ocrats insist that Imperialism and mill
tarism are the paramount issues OF this
campaign"
The reason. my son. is very plain. 0nr
Democratic friends are pushing these
things TO the front because there isn't
anything else for them 10 talk about this
year. All the rest Of their powder has
been burnt once and won't even iizzle this
year. Their platform d%enounces the
Dingley tariff bill. bur they do not wish
10 meet us before the people on that
issue. The hard times under the Wilson
bin and the present prosperity under our
protective tariff furnish IN object lesson
which makes it uphill business 10 argue
free trade this year.
Their platform also d%enounces the gold
standard legislation and demands free
coinage of silver at the ratio Of 10 to /.
But that powder was burnt fonr years
ago and events have shown the falsity of
their predictions.
They are like the boy who when beaten
playing marbles says, Lets play some
thing else" Beaten on tariff n the
money question. they want TO play nil
itarism'' awhile. Their lack of any other
issue is responsible for the conjaring up
Of the spectre OF imperialism"
But while they are not talking about
free trade or free silver, the people arc
not going to forget that they are the
free trade and free silver party. And,
as Mr.. Lincoln used TO say, that reminds
me OF a little story.
One OF our excellent missionaries and
his good wife went 10 an island IN Poly
neSia about fifty years ago. They stayed
there sixteen years and their work was
wonderfully successful. 'rhcy found d
tribe of savagcs. They left a tribe OF
civilized. Christian people, Industrious
and temperate, .c.othed aud in their
right minds"
The incident which illustrates my point
occurred during the FIRST year OF their
residence on the island. A chief clothed
in sunshine and nothing else called on the
missionaries. They treated him politely,
but as he left the house the missionary
followed him and snid: "Chief, we are
glad to see you and want you to come
again. but in my country men wear
clothes and my wife is not accustomed
to see men without clothing. The next
time you come TO see ms, won't you please
put on a little clothing, one or two gar
ments at least?'
The chief promised compliance. A few
days after. he entered the missionaries
home with a satisfied smile on his face,
saying. "Me all right now
He had on a shirt collar and a pair Of
socks.
Ny son. Mr.. Bryan and his friends
are badly deceived If they think that
their imperialism collar and militia
ISM socks will hide the free trade and
free silver nakedDess Of the Democratic
party from the gaze of the American
people.
BY the way. speaking OF ''militarisn,"
| advise you always to watch with sus-
picion any man or any party that is
afraid OF the United States army. Cur
army is a volunteer army of as gallant
men as the sun ever shone upon. They
are our defenders and the protectors OF
our persons and property. Hard-work-
ing. accomplishing. brave and faithful,
they follow the flag through summers
sun and winters storms, through tropi-
cal jungles and the dangers of fever and
of battle for you and me and for their
country's sake. III a man Is a good, law
abiding citizen lie has no reason to be
afraid OF an American soldier.
| was one, my father was one, my
grandfather was one, and my great
grandfather was one. and I feel like taxi
ing on my hat to every soldier I meet.
And wherever ] find a man who Is
afraid OF the Tyranny OF our gallant
little army. | feel like asking him what
he has been doing. 1t is a small army
for SO great a nation, and the ~introduc-
ton OF '4militarism' in this campaign
shows that our Democratic friends are
hard up for an issue.
YOUR FATHER