The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09

Nothing could better illustrate Mr..
Bryan's political fickleness and stiffness
than a comparison of his notification speech
of yesterday with that of four years ago.
In his speech in New York Aug. II, 1896, he
devoted six solid columns to discussing the
money question, which he declared "over-
shadows all other questions in Importance"
Yesterday he devoted even more space to
discussing imperialism" which he now
insists overshadows all other questions in
Importance, and scarcely made a passing
alusion 10 l6 to l. People of intelligent
opinions and fixed convictions will be apt
to conclude that man who can so sudden
ly change his views concerning overshadow-
ing questions and paramount issues is. as
the sound-money Democrats Of Indiana
said of Mr.. Bryan, unsafe, unsteady and
dangerous"
The speech yesterday was an adroit at
tempt to prejudice and alarm the people
regarding the alleged danger of imperial
ism. just as the speech four years ago tried
10 prejudice and alarm them regarding the
alleged dangers of the money power and
| the gold standard. 1t would not be candid
or truthful to say that the speech does not
| read well. Mr.. Bryan is a master of form
and diction and very skillful in presenting
| the plausible aspects of a weak case. Four
| years ago he did more than all other speak
| ers combined to popularize 16 to 1. and no
| other speaker will be able TO make more
| plausible or effective presentation of the
| case against Imperialism than Mr.. Bryan
| did yesterday. BY cunning misrepresenta-
| ton of the principles and policy of his polit-
| zeal opponents, by garbled quotations from
| honored statesmen of former times. and by
| an apparently sincere assertion of his own
! alarmist views he managed TO invest a
| fake issue with an approach to substantial
! ity and imaginary dangers with something
| like real impressiveness. This was his role,
| and he played it well, but when one has
| admitted his skill in presenting a weak
| case, his heroism in attacking windmills,
one has given tbs speech all the praise 1t
deserves. Through all his sophistries the
people will see that the real question. the
question of present interest, is not one of
| expansion or Imperialism. but of establish
ing the authority of the United States over
territory rightfully belonging to 1t and
| where its authority is now defied. This is
what President Mckinley is engaged in do
| ing in the Philippines, and Mr.. Bryan, If
he were President, could not do more nor
its possible and impossible aspects he says:
There is an easy, honest, honorable solu-
ton of the Philippine question. 1t is set
| forth in the Democratic platform and ii is
| submitted with confidence to the American
people This plan | unreservedly indorse.
| traordinary session as soon as inaugurated
| and recommend an immediate declaration
a stable form of government in the Philip
pine islands just as We are now establish
ing a stable form of government In Cuba
second, to give independence to the Fill
pinos just as We have promised 10 give in
| dependence to the Cubans; third. to protect
the Filipinos from outside interference while
they work out their destiny.
In this he gives away his whole case and
virtually approves the Republican policy.
What is the present administration doing
but trying to establish a stable form OF
government in the Philippines? Further
than that, the Republican party is not COM
mitted to any policy regarding the future
government or disposition of the islands
| IL VIII tiiile cHOuSH iOi thc pcOplc u
decide that question when they get to It
| Meanwhile the establishment of stable gov.
eminent by President Mckinley is no more
Imperialism than it would be by Mr.. Bryan
if he were President. The whole force oil
Mr.. Bryan's labored argument is in jmput
ing to the Republican party designs ant
purposes which 1t does not entertain; its
weakness is in claiming that the same pol
icy which he characterizes as vicious ant
dangerous in the hands of a Republican
President, namely. the establishing of sta
BILE government in the Philippines, would
be safe and patriotic in the hands of
Democratic President.