Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-10-27
SATURDAY EVENING. OCT. 81, 1900.

thing IN having BOOu wy AHo
republicans rely not on argument, but
on vulgar abuse and on stock phrases.
This they have done for thirty yesrs.
A few years back it was, "vote as you
shot"-that is to say that the democrats
we're enemies of the country. Now
they are glad to buy an ex-Confederate
at any price to support Mr.. Mckinley.
Another phrase is ''sound mouey"-as
If everybody was not for Sound mon
ey," even the republicans. who have
favored every kind of money, gold and
silver, gold alone, green backs and bank
paper in turo, as personal or party 10
terest might suggest. Another favor
ite phrase-the fifty cent dollar" is
ever on their tongues. Yet not one OF
them ever saw fifty cent dollar or
can tell what he means by the ex-
preston. Their last phrase, one that
their speakers are continually employ
ing, is Organism" A parrot may
have only one or two phrases and yet
enjoy profound dissatisfaction. Ask
arepublican what he means by any one
of these phrases, and he is dumbfouod-
ed. His mind, or what serves him in
stead of mi0d, refuses at once to re-
volve. Yet it may be well to repeat
the inquiry. What do you mean by
"Bryanism?" Do you mean 10 say
that there was no democratic party be-
fore Mr.. Bryan or that Mr. Bryan Is
the author of its faith? Did Mr.. Bryan
originate the democratic idea OF justice
among men; that all just governments
are founded upon consent of the gov
erned; that the rights OF the States and
OF the people ought TO be cherished
aud preserved; that the Constr
tuition with its sacred limitations
ami guards for a free press and
o jury trial is binding on every citizen,
and especially on public officials; that
the Congress only, not the President,
has the right to make war; that the
rights Of property of the poor as well
as OF the rich must be preserved; that
taxation should be limited to the spec
ial necessities OF government; that no
special privileges should be granted to
this or that class of men at the ex'
peuse of the community; that banks
should not be allowed TO usurp the
fu ctioDs of government; that the
money OF the Constitution, gold and
silver, and the economic sd ADMINISTRATION
OF Washington 10 1892 and Jackson 10
1887 constitute grand and wise hnan-
cial creed aud better basis than Brit
ish dictatioD; that We should avoid
standing armies, needless wars aud
entaDgling alliances; that justice and a
free press are surer prop to public
order and freedom than bayonets, and
that to buy an election by money, or TO
intimidate lsborers, is deadly crime
against free institutions? National
fraternity, peace, justice. economy,
preservation Of the national honor,
purity 10 government, equality before
the law--sre not all these the old DEM
ocratic iaith; and what is Bryan but the
man who mas honestly accepted the
democratic creed of our fathers and ex-
pounded it to the masses i words OF
truth and power? Has he added one
ioia to the democratic creed of Jetfer-
son and Jackson? Yet they cry Dry
anism." What about McKinleyism
Can they define that? Does II mean
war or peace, free Constitution, or
the repuoistion of it by man sworn to
obey it? Does it mean the coinage
of the so.called fifty cent dollars, as be
is now doing. or gold, or Oank paper,
or what? Does 1t mean our "plain
duty" or Hannaism?
What "McKinleyism" may mean, if
Mckinley be reelected, men may
dispute about by the hour. Pat
rick Henry said we have one
way of judging the future, and
that is by the past. Now, what has
McKinleyism bought US in the past four
years? We answer, what all know-s
large Increase of taxation; bounties TO
monopolists and repayments at the
public expense to those who put up the
money to buy the last Presidential
election; the prostitution of all the
powers of government to private ends
and class benefit; the Anglo-American
alliance and Difference 10 British ag-
gression 10 South Africa; the "hsuliue
down" of the American flag" over a
large area in Alaska; the vulgar imita.
ton OF the British colonial and imperial
system; needless, bloody and costly
war in the Philippines in order to crush
out aspirations for free government
which were encouraged by our own army
and navy officers; a great standing
army; scandals and jObbery in the
West Indies and the public departments
at Washington; the subversion of con-
stitntional government; On increase of
the annual government expenditures
from FIVE hundred to over seven buu-
dred millions per snnum; the employ
mant of fha Eederal patronage TO cor.