The state herald., 1900-09-21
BRYAN'S SPEECH.
(Chicago letter.

Mr.. Bryan's speech of acceptance Is
without doubt the political event of
paramount Importance In the present
campaign. Mr.. Bryan received at the
hands of the Democratic party the
nomination for the presidency. par
tisan ntterance upon this occasion
would have been pardoned, nay more.
was even expected by the country at
large. Tradition and precedent exist
to Justify candidate in such course.
He OF Canton-Mark Hanna's man
who was recently notified of a nomi-
nation. took occasion to plead for the
principles of a party and in the cause
of an administration. In multifarious
terms he told what we" had done.
and fairly reveled In the deeds Of 'us."
The Republican party was defended
even apologized for, And VIM. Nc
Kinley accepted at the hands OF those
who bore the stamp of the Republican
party, the nomination for the presi-
dency of the United States. Mr.. Me-
Kinley's speech OF acceptance will go
down in history as the statement of a
party chief to his party followers. But
how different the tone and tenor OF
Mr.. Bryan's Indianapolis address. Nc
KInley spoke to a party-Bryan to a
nation: Mckinley plead the cause OF
an administration Bryan the cause
of a people. Mckinley defended the
principles of a party-Bryan spoke In
defense of the principles that are at
the foundation of free government:
Mckinley spoke as n candidate, but Mr..
Bryan spoke as an American citizen.
In the face OF existing circumstances
II is fact of peccliar Significance that
Mr.. Bryan could reply TO the notifca-
tlon committee In n speech bearing
as little trace OF partisan politics as
the constitution OF the United States
or the Declaration OF Independence.
This does not Indicate that Mr.. Bryan
is not a good Democrat. but rather
that the Democratic party Is contend
Ing not SO much for certain theories
OF administration In free government
as for free government itself. Hence
IL is that. fighting for the very exist
tHft VI AH' i'phbiAA. pbhAAipH VI
the patriotic citizen who stands for
free government and the position OF
the Democratic party became lden-
teal. Mr. Bryan was great enough to
recognize this. Mr. Dryan's speech was
remarkable enough on account OF the
things he said Mr.. McKinley's Can
ton speech was chiefly remarkable on
account OF the things he did not say.
The Canton so,eeh nboInds In vague
intlmations AMI promises. II does not
hold out to the Fiilpinos the faintcst
hope either OF independence on the
one hand or OF the freedom and rights
OF American citizenship ON the other.
The voter has only 10 read so much
OF Mr. MeKinley's speech as relates to
this subject IN order TO find this state.
ment to be correct, lie Will IND some
thing nbou, giving the Flliplnos as
much solf-gotornmcnt as they are nj
for-ns though the right Of people TO-
900 miles away to seif-goyernment was
not a d.giycn right, but right 10
be granted by some authority In Wash
!ngton. But he will nnd no, the faint
est whisper OF such a thing as indie
pendence for people oyer whom We
have no authority except such M
Spain somehow Ia supposed 10 have
had right 10 give us. In Mr.. Bry.
ans speech, however. IN. voter may
md u pledge that II he ~ elected he
will convene congress ai tn. earliest
moment to declare the nations pur.
poses,
First. 10 establish stable form OF
government In the Philippine islands.
Just NJ We are now establishing n sta
bic form of government In Cuba, Sec.
ond, TO give independence to the Fill
pinos. lust As We have promised to
give independence ~ the cnbans,
Third. to protect the Fillpinos from
outside interference while they work
ont their own destiny. lust NJ W. have
protected the republics Of Central and
South America aud are by the Monroe
doctrine pledged 10 protect Cuba"
This Ia a sufficiently clear and sue.
clnet statement of the Democratic
position. Of IL correctness. of course
there ran be- no doubt This, with
what Mckinley says, aud with what he
significantly omi's 20 say. sufficiently
defines the issue Ne 10 the Philippines.
The broader Issue Of Imperialism.
which includes that oi the Philippines.
may be- stated thu.
"- Bryan stands upon the doctrine
of the Declaration Of Independence.
that governments derive their Just
powers from tho consent of the gov.
erned
Mr. Mckinley stands for tho utter
reputation OF that doctrine and for