The Van Buren press., 1900-01-13
An Address.

snsas and In 1t he leaves no doubt rs to
the grounds he occupies on the public
questions of the day. The Senator in
his addresses voices our sentiments, and
we believe the sentiments of by far the
largest majority of the Democratic
voters Of the state Of Arkansas.
To TIE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS:
lam, as many Of you know, candi'
date for re election to the Senate OF the
United States. In formally announcing
my candidacy think it Is due to you to
state my position In very brief way
upon the leading issues Of the day.
am, and have always been, in favor
Of bimetallism; In favor of the free
coinage Of both gold and silver at the
ratio Of sixteen to one, and am opposed
to the bill now pending in Congress to
establish the gold standard and retire
grsenbacss. am IN favor OF :esitirming
the Chicago platform of 1896 believe
1t was right then, and l believe it is
right now
am unalterably opposed to all trusts
and combinations of wealth banded
together for the purpose OF controlling
the prices Of products, and in favor OF
legislation, both by the States and by
the General Government. that will
utterly crush and destroy these mono
poles, which seek not only to fix the
prices of all commodities, but to dictate
legislation and control elections.
am In favor of an amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States pro-
viding for the election of Senators by q
direct vote of the people of the several
States.
| am In favor Of tariff for revenue
only.
am opposed to the bill, introduced
by Senator Hanna, and now pending In
Congress. to give subsidies to ocean
steamships, and opposed to all subsidies
Of every character by the Government
am opposed to IMPERIALISM, Elk
lPANSION, and to large standing
army, am also opposed to acquiring
either by conquest or purchase, territory
In the Eastern hemisphere. Ii we seek
to hold permanently, and to govern the
Philippine Islands, we must either
govern them as colonies, or we must
Incorporate them into the United States
as a Territory or State, and make the
inhabitants thereof citizens of the United
States, entitled to all the rights and
privileges OF American citizens. TO
govern them as colonies Is contrary to
the Constitution Of the United States
and the declaration Of independence and
will require for all time to come large
standing army. On the other hand, to
bring the inhabitants In rs citizens
would be to add to our population ten
million of people, differing in race and
color, unused to our ways and methods
Of life, and living ten Thousand miles
from our capital, and would also bring
them into direct competition with all
lsboring people, and this would, as |
conceive, be not only an act of folly but
a crime against our own people, For
these reasons l think we should deal
with the people Of the Philippine Islands
precisely as we have promised to deal
with the people of Cuba. can see no
reason why we should give the people
Of Cuba free and independent govern
!nent and at the same time hold the
people Of the Philippine Islands In sub
lection by military force and inhict upon
them the same curse Of carpet bag
government that the people OF the
Southern States endured immediately
after the close Of the Civil War.
I believe In the Democratic party and
in Democratic principles as to all OF oul
affairs, and that all just government
derives Its powers from the consent Of
the governed. believe that II the
policy of the present Republican Ad'
lninistration Ia to become the permanent
policy OF the Government-that is, the
policy Of the gold standard the protection
Of trusts, the creation OF q large stand
ing army, and controlling by force
distant colonies-it will eventually des
troy the Republic. believe that the
only hope OF defeating this policy Ii
through the Democratic party and by
appealing TO the great mass OF thu
pe0ple, and for these reasons l earnestly
hone that the Democratic Convention ol
1900 will reaifirm the Democratic plat
form Of 1895, declare against trusts and
imperialism, and nominate William j.
Bryan for President.
I hope that the Democrats OF every
county Of Arkansas when they come II
nominate candidates for the Legislature
will at the same time give the people ar
opportunity to express their choice fol
United States Senator. This course has
been pursued In the last two Senatorial
elections, and I hope that In Arkansas
1t will be continued, want the people
to vote ON II, and II q majority OF then
prefer me | hope to be elected; II Q
majority Of them are against me, | do
not desire the Office.
| respectfully ask the Democratic
Central Committee Of each county II
the State, where they order primary
election for county officers, that they
submit the question OF choice fol
United States Senator to the primary
elections and where they order a count,
convention TO nominate county officers
and have no primary election, that the,
submit the question Of q choice fol
senator 10 the convention.
am deeply grateful to the people o.
Arkansas for their long continued con
Hdence and support, and can only "a,
that II I am reelected will endeavol
In the future as | have In the past &c
serve them earnestly, faithfully anf
honestly. Very respectfully,