Evening star., 1900-08-10
OPINIONS OF THE SPEECH
FURTHER COMMENTS ON BRYAN'S
ACCEPTANCE TALK.
From the Chicago Record.

From the Chicago Record.
1t will no longer do for the supporters OF
the policy of the administration to charge
that the opposition has no program for the
treatment of the Filipinos. Its program Is
definite and is now known to all. The time
has come for a more definite statement OF
republican policy and its defense on Its
merits. After this speech and the evident
democratic purpose to press the fight on
these lines there can be no evasion OF the
issue.
From the Chicago Tribune.
As a whole, this speech Of acceptance is
weak production. 1t was too hastily pre-
pared 1t is too diffuse In some places: too
brief and vague in others. 1t has the de-
: fects which mar all his speeches-looseness
of statement, perversion OF the arguments
of opponents, and the invention Of argu-
ments for them. and sophistical reasoning.
1t lacks the vigor of the "16 to L. argu-
ments Of four years ago. The paramount
issue" of 1896 appealed to his emotions far
more strongly than does what he calls the
paramount issue OF 19OO.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
Mr.. Bryan's discussion Of this paramount
issue is no less sober and dignifed than it
is powerful and searching. From first to
last 1t Is q solemn appeal not to pre1ud1ces
and passions, but to our best and noblest
impulses, to our highest reason and to all
that is most sacred in our history
Mr.. Bryan makes plain the irreconciliable
difference between Imperialism and republt-
canism-republicanism in the essential, not
the party. meaning of the word.
He sheds a clear light upon the path OF
true duty and recalls the country to that
path in tones not of anger but of profound
conviction and solemn warning
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
The entire elision of the silver issue from
Mr.. Bryans speech, especially after his
theatrical forcing of the bolus down the
throat nf q unwilling convention
City, is really its most salient feature
1t proves that while he might dragon
convention, he has since been docfle enough
to listen to the practical politicians. But II
does not the less make the silver question
the issue. Bryan personally is a free silver
issue by himself. He owes it entirely to the
silver issue that he has become standing
presidential candidate. He retains the quail
tiles of sophistry, levity and empiricism
which typified the free silver campaign in
1896 and makes his temperance in the field
this year an equal threat to the welfare
Of the nation.
From the Columbus Ohio State Journal
The democratic policy of dealing with
the Philippines, as declared in the Kansas
City platform and exploited by Colonel
Bryan, cannot fail to impress the American
people with its weakness and Ineffective
ness. Mr.. Bryan's exploitation of the demo-
cratic policy has certainly emphasized both.
Too much is assumed and too much taken
for granted. 1t is conditions, not theories.
with which this country has to deal in
the Philippines, and the policy that does
not take this fact into consideration must
fail. No doubt every American citizen would
be heartily glad If the Filipinos were ca
pable of self-government. The problems
there would then be easy Of solution. But
in approaching the great duty that has
been thrown upon by the acquisition Of
the Philippines we must deal with cond1-
tons as We find them and not as we would
wish them to be.
From the Indianapolis Press.
But the Indiana leaders are telling the
peope-partcularly those of German origin
that silver has been practically dropped
from the democratic program. We shall not
believe it until Mr.. Bryan himself says SO
and We do not believe he will ever say it.
With people that have property or credit
to protect, with men that are in business
and with men that are employed, this ques-
ton is of the utmost Importance, for they
feel that on 1t hinges the safety OF their
property, the prosperity of their business
and the continuance of their employment.
1t means bread and butter. and, inasmuch
most men spend most of their waking
hours earning their subsistence anything
that affects it interests them deeply.
From the New York Evening Post.
1t is impossible to deny that Mr.. Bryan's
speech at indianapolis was great literary
and oratorical achievement. When We an
nounced our intention not to support Mr..
Bryan. although agreeing with him on the
Issue which forms the text of this speech,
said that should tell the truth, as
we were enabled to see it, about him and
every other candidate and person and thing
in this campaign. Our opinion of the In
danapolis speech, a whole, Is accord
ingly stated without reserve. Our only re-
gret is that Its elevated tone IS contradict
ed by many speeches and sayings in Mr..
Bryan's previous career, and especially in
the last presidential campaign, that 1t
seems as though there might be two Bryans
in public life. and though electing him
to the presidency would be very much like
playing a game Of chance.