Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-16

Filipino Versus American.


In his speech Of acceptance. Mr..
Bryan complains that the RePubli-
cans in their national platform are
attempting to press economic ques-
tions upon the country to the exclu-
sion OF those" invented by the Demo-
cratic party e., the issues Of 'lm'
perialismn and "miitarism."
We may well understand why Mr.
Bryan and the Democratic party are
anxious to get away from the inter-
nal problems involving the prosperity
and happiness fthe American people
They made one campaign on econom-
tc questions, and the result gave
Them a horror that even time cannot
soothe.
But nevertheless and notwithstand-
ing, it would seem to be a reasonable
expectation that the country Will De
deeply interested in the questions OF
home government, The first law OF
nature is seIi-preservation, and the
l.
people are apt to take considerable
note Of their own affairs in preference
to the affairs Of lot Of foreigners.
Mr.. Bryan asks the voters OF the
United States to cast aside all the
consideration OF home government,
and to take notice only OF the sentl'
mental rights Of a race 10000 miles
away. He asks them 70 forget the
smokeless chimneys, the closed fac
tories, the empty dinner buckets OF
four years ago. He would have the
curtains OF oblivion drawn across the
last era of Democratic rule when
want and misery stalAed the land.
He asks the farmer to forget the low
prices received for the products OF
his farm. lie asks the mechanic to
forget his weary search and worthless
days. He asks the laboring man to
forget his almost state OF beggary.
He asks the merchant, the profession
al man, the citizen Of every degree,
to forget the lessons learned in sor-
row and in woe.
A people who do not realize that
their very existence depends upon a
right handling of the economic ques'
tions which arise in their commercial
and industrial organization have
much to learn indeed. Four years
ago our country was sent almost tt
the verge Of despair by wrong hand
ling. In comparison with that dis
astrous period the conditions Of to
day speak volumes. We are in tn
midst Of a prosperity such as oul
country has never known before. !
was brought about by correct dealin!
with the economic problems whicl
Mr.. Bryan processes to displse, AM
which he asks the American people Il
ignore in the interests Of a maudlll
sentiment. Four years ago he ha'
more respect for these economl
problems. In fact, he made his en-
tire campaign on the single one o
finance and declared that 1t wa
powerful enough to make or brea
the nation, Yet now he tells tn
American people that finance, tarlll
taxation, and the hundred and on
things which make for good or oa
government, are not worthy OF a
much consideration as the distan
Filipinos, and he blames the Republ
can party for emphazing them!
Worked down to its last analysis
Mr.. Bryan's letter Of acceptanc
would wage the present campaign o
the issue of Filipino versus American
In nine columns of newspaper spae
he has told what, upon his election
) he would do for 100000 barbara
souls across the sea, but he couldn
find time to explain what he woul
do for the s0,000,000 Of our hon
people.
In contrast with this the Republ
cans have declared in their platfor
that the future of the Philippines is
q matter Of small Importance as cor
pared with the present and the futu
y Of the American people. They co
|. ceive it to be the duty Of an admin
/, tration to work for the best interes
v of its own countrymen. They ha'
n set forth faithfully the policies whit
|. they expect to pursue in sustaini'
the present good times and in makil