The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-23
HIS ELOQUENT SPEECH
PLEADING FOR HIGH IDEALS OF
THE FATHERS.
TALK or THE APPROACHING CAMPAIGN
A Suggestion hat Bryan Be Made the Stand
ard Bparrr of the Eastern leage. TO
Work for More Thorough
Organization.

Philadelphia, Pa. Feb. 22.-An EAST
ern Conference of Anti-Imperiahsts' be-
gan here today and wall remain in
session two days. The leaders claim
that ''show of hands" a. few months
in advance of the Republican National
convention Will have some weight with
the delegates. The conference looks TO
q more thorough organization and more
vigorous discussion of the doctrine.
Ait an informal meeting Of the confer
ence this afternoon the chief subject
OF discussion WAS the coming presidential
campaign in which William j. Bryan
name was frequently mentioned. Ervlng
Winslow, Secretary of the New England
Anti mperialist League, in speaking of
the subject: suggested that the league
might, if advisable, select Bryan as the
Standard-bearer. He also suggested thar
national convention be held after the
two great parties had held their CON
Yentions, so that anti-imperialists could
choose which to support No conclusions
We're reached.
Numerous speeches were made and let
ters read including one from Edward
Congressional campaign.
Mr.. Carl Schurz spoke this evening in
part as follows:
"And can you be blind to the effects
which the tendencies OF Imperialism are
already exercising among ourselves upon
the popular mind? Do you not hear the
scoffing levity with which the Declare
ton Of Independence and the high ideals
Of liberty and human rights which
long have been sacred TO our people, are
made sport Of; now the teachings OF
Washington and Lincoln are derided rs
Anticipated nursery rhymes, and how the
constitution, when it stands in the way
OF grasping schemes. is slightly brushed
aside with the tiippant word, that con-
Stitutions are made for men and moi
men for constitutions?
1T cannot he repeated too often that
there are things which may be done ny
mOnarchical or aristocratic governments
without making Them less strong as mon
arches or aristocraeies but which call-
not be done by Democracy based upoh
universal suffrage, without fatally de-
nloraliZing it as a Democracy; and that
one of those things is tire arbitrary rul-
ing Of foreign populations as subjects.
BY the way, England is sometimes quo
racy. This is Il mistake England IS
not a Democracy, but monarchy with
Democratic tendencies, but very power
full and tenacious aristocratc traditions.
What democracy, based upon UNI
versal suffrage, like ours needs most to
insure its sta bihty Is an element of con-
seryatiye pcise in itself. This can be
furnished only by popular faith in the
principles underlying the Democratic In
situations, by popular reverence for high
ideals and traditions: by popular respect
for constitutional forms and restraints
Take away these conservative and en-
nobling influences, and the only motive
forces LEFT in such democracy will
be greed and passion. l can hardly
imagine any kind of government more
repellent than a democracy that has
ceased to believe In anything. and in
which all ambitions are directed towards
selfish use Of power.
And i'll this direction the policy of inn
berialism is evidently driving us. Have
You considered what this means? What
will it lead 10 il our people accept the
teaching that all our traditional creeds
about liberty and the rights of men are
mere sentimental rubbish; that the most
solemn professions and pledges may be
our ambition; that even such base treach-
cry as has been committed against our
late Filipino allies will be iustifiabe Il il
profits us; that only old fogies in their
dotage talk about legal principles and
constitutional restrictions when they OBJ
struct the qualification of our desires,
and that might need not be too scrupr-
lous about right? Many of our rich men
have become imperialists, believing that
the possession of THE Philippines, IN
whatever way acqired. will offer favor
able chances of gain to speculative CAPT
ralists. Have they thought Of it that
the doctrine Of might not needing to be
scrnpuious about right. may be applied
not only to the INSCRIPTIONS might of
arms, and not only TO the unscrupulous
might of wealth., but also. in a democ-
racy, to the might of numbers becoming
INSCRIPTIONS! And this is the tendency
of Imperialism in this Democratic re-
public.
Il am by no means blind to the CONNER
cfal side of the question. | desire the
greatest possible commercial oxpans on.
honOrably accomplished. And mere than
once have | argued that all the CONNER
cial advantages and naval facilities We
can reasonably desire in the Philippines.
we might easily have had from the Phil
ippine Islanders if we had faithfully re- |
spected their title to Independence: snd
that those advantages would no much
more secure with the Filip.nos free and
friendly than with the Filipinos subiu-
gated and hostile. This argument has !
never been answered. It never will be, |
How crininahy wanton is 1t to seek |
those commercial advantages needlessly
at the price of crying injustice 10 others |
and fatal decentralization among ourselves
"a price we should never pay for ary-
thing.
But am now asked, admitting all this
to be true: What can we do, after having
gone so far? The case is simple. Indeed, |
we cannot wake up tue dead, whose inilo-
cent blood has been spilled. We cannot