Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-01

l
Fellow -countrymen, Ladies' and Gen
tlemen: / am glad to have this opror-
tunity to address the voters of this
city. Your presence here tonight indi-
Gates the interest which you fee! in the
issues OF this campaign. l only wish
that my strength aud time we're suf
ficient to go into every precinct Of the
United States and come face to face
with every voter, that | might do all
within my power to present the issues, |
go that every voter would he able to |
vote with an understanding as to what |
his vote meant.
have read in the paper that some Of |
your Republicans were anxious to ask |
me questions, Applause. My friends,
don't you thinksit is little unfair for
the Republicans to insist on asking me
questions when we can't get the Presi-
dent TO answer any questions we ask
himr Great applause II | were to
rermit Republican 10 each town to
select the subjects which l was to dis
ouss / am afraid that everywhere some
Republican would avail himself Of the
opportunity in order to prevent my dis
oussiug the things the Republicans
didn't want me to discuss. Great APP
plause. And when | heard that some
questions were 10 be asked, | suggested
that it was only proper that the Repub
lican committee should back the ques.
tions up so that there would be n re-
sponsible party known In the trans.
action. (Great and deafening applause.
Voice: Good Good!) | have not
heard yet whether the Republican cum.
mittee was willing to ask these ques-
tions on its responsibility, or not, but /
thought would make an exception in
this case and answer five questions,
and then ask five. Great applause.
The first question is: "Will you, Mr..
Bryan, IL elected President, as COM
mander-in chief, Immediately withdraw
the American army from the Philip
pine IslandsP"
My friends, the man who asked that
question shows that he either is ignor-
ant of what | have said, or does not
care TO know what l will do. Great
applause, For, IN my speech of ac-
ceptance stated, that il elected Presi-
dent, would Immediately convene
Congress in extraordinary session, and
] would ask Congress to declare the
nations policy to.be,
First-To establish stable govern
ment in the Philippine Islands, as we
are now establishing a stable govern
ment 10 Cuba.
Seeond-To declare our purpose to
give Independence to the Filipinos as
we have promised to give independ-
ence to the Cubans. (Applause.
Third-To declare our purpose to
give protection to the Filipinos as We
promised to give protection to the
Cubans, and have, for 10 years, given
protection to the Republics OF Central
and South America. Applause.
Nobody, SO far as i know, has ever
said that the troops should be with
drawn until government was estab-
lished, but We have said to the people
Of the Philippines that the govern
ment, when established, is to he their
government, and not ours, and it will
take vety few troops to establish a
government in the Philippine Islands.
(Great applause.
"Second-How soon, Mr.. BRYAN, dc
you contemplate that stabls form o.
government can be given to the Philip
pine Islands?"
No one has attempted to fix the mum
Der OF hours, or number ii days, OF
number of weeks, or number OF month";
necessary, but i will say this, that
believe that we could establish
stable government in the Philippine
in less time than the Republican cart,
had established one 10 Cuba. (Grea
applause. And think can promis
you that our officials will not embezzl
Filipino money as Republican official
did under the administration in Cuba
daughter and applause
"Third-How soon, MIR. Bryan, afte
stable form of government is estab
lished, do you propose that Congress
shall declare the independence of thos
islands?"
If the man had read my speech q
acceptance, he would have known tina
we promised to give them independence
as soon as stable government is estat
lished and 'as soon as'' means Elm
mediatelyn In our language-I don
know what 1t means in the Republica
language. Laughter and applause
"Fourth-Mr. Bryan, how long aftt
stable form Of government is estal
Hshed and indepe ndence is declared q
you propose that the American prt
tectorate over the Philippine Islanc
shall continueS"
If he had read my speech he woul
have seen that there was no limit {
the protectorats, and we believe thu
this nation can assert the doctrine th
when this nation helps a republic
stand upon its feet the ground wherec
IT stands is holy ground, and that I
king shall ever set foot on that soi
(Great applause
"Fifth-Will you, Mr.. Bryan, y,
the obligations of this government
silver or gold, il elected President
daughter.
Nov, my friends, | want the Reru
licans who want that question answer
TO fist find out what the law require
and then | want them to know that
elected President | will enforce tn
law, Just as rigidly as / would enfor
the law against trusts and put strip
clothes on big thieves as we'll as lit
thieves. daughter and applause.
But my friends, il you ask me
construe Republican law, reply tina
shall not construe law until it becun
my duty To enforce it, and il | 9,
have 10 sign n law it will be 80 pla
that 1t won't need to DO conatru,
(Applause.
But my friends, don't you thi
that before AN asked to constru
law ON the statute books / ought to
presented with certificate from 4
Hanna that the law wont be chans
before have chance to construe
daughter aud applause.
What would he your opinion o
candidate who would attempt 70 @
atrue laws before he reached them "
the possibility that there would be
such law on the books by the time
did reach thenY Laughter.
Now, | want TO ask five questic
Laughter and applause. Voice WI
is Nieidss)