The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-10-25
MITCHELL'S VIEWS.
Erstwhile Leader of Democracy
Denounces Bryan.

has been a lifelong democrat, was
formerly judge of the Second Judi
cial district, and is an attorney and
citizen of state prominence. He has
ever been a leader in the demo-
cratic party of the Sixth Congress-
ional district andhas frequently been
mentioned as a suitable and able
candidate for congress. Recently
Mr.. Mitchell renowned his party be-
cause OF the Kansas City platform.
When the republican county conven-
ton of Wapello met they asked Mr..
Mitchell to address them which he
did, saying in part:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen There
is certainly no more improperly in my
addressing this convention for a few
minutes than there was in Webster Da-
Wis addressing the late Kansas City con-
vention. One submitting to the taking
of a nauseous dose at one time does not
imply that he shall ever after continue
taking the same thing: l took the I6
to dose in 1896; / found it awful Bit
ter and without healing efficacy and l
am not going to take it again. And the
dose compounded by Mr.. Bryan's doc
tors at Kansas City and deceptively la
beled Anti-Imperialism"-it should
have been labeled national pusilanimity
Il am not going to take at all. 1t is
oven worse than 10 to /.
What the Kansas City platform is
pleased to dub imperialism is the same
old straw scare crow that was set UP
by the New England Federalists when
Jefferson purchased the Louisiana coun-
try. Federalist orators pointed to it and
with long drawn, solemn visages, be-
walled the speedy downfall of the re-
public. Nevertheless Jefferson took mill
tary possession and gave the discomfort
ed French and Spanish citizens notice
that he intended, by the shedding of
blood if necessary, to enforce obedi-
ence to the jurisdiction of the United
States government. Jefferson simply as
serted and maintained treaty rights
in and to the newly acquired territory
without asking the consent of the inhab-
itants therein. And the Federalist party
at once went into "inocuous desuetude,'
and the republic lived.
Before purchasing Florida Monroe did
not take a poll of the Spanish and Sem
mole inhabitants to ascertain if they
would consent to jurisdiction. He
simply purchased from Spain and then
at once sent Jackson with the army to
take military possession, and for quite
a while the government over the new
territory was military, more arbitrary
and relentless than our present rule over
the Philippine Islands. But the old scare
crow of imperialism was not exploited
against Monroe, because at that time
practically all the people being Jeffer-
sonian Democrats, there was no party
to rear and exploit it.
But when it was proposed to admit
Texas to the Union, and it was known
that the admission would bring on war
with Mexico the old Wing party brought
the old scare crow from its hiding place,
touched it with additional hideousness
and again set it us to public gaze. The
most eloquent men this or any other
country eve had, ~eloquently detained
blood-curdling representations of ca
lamities to conn should the hideous
monster not at once be annihilated. But
Polk and a Democratic Congress were
elected-Texas was admitted-we whip
ped Mexico in the war that followed,
and in the treaty of peace closing the
war, demanded and received from her
without the consent of its inhabitants,
the vast stretch of California country,
and took military possession. And the
republic still lives. But the Wing party
soon followed the Federal party into
'inocuous desuetude."
Where is the American who will say
that the purchase of the Louisiana coun-
try, the purchase of Florida, the admis-
sion of Texas, and the annexation of the
California country have not redounded
to the greatness of the republic, to the
extension of liberty and the lasting good
of mankind? There expansion did not
endanger liberty; they enlarged her
scope and added to her prowess.
Not an argument has been advanced
by Colonel Bryan or his co-laborers
against our holding on to permanent
jurisdiction yer the Philippines and our
temporary military will over them. But
that wa hurled at Mr.. Jefferson and
Mr.. Polk with greater force in logic
and defamation than Colonel Bryan has
capacity for.
Territorial expansion, until Colonel
Bryan and a crowd of noisy Populists
got control of the machine of the Demo-
cratic party, was the party's proud boast
and has been its longtime policy.
Jefferson not only purchased the