The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-20

ed a letter written by Benjamin Franklin
10 Lord Howe, in June Of HIS The eN-
tract from Frankfn's letter is as follows:
spiIIins Blood for Trade.
The well founded esteem and the af-
lection which I shall always have for
your loriship make IL painful 20 me 20 see
you engaged In conducting war. the
great ground of which (as described in
your letter., Is the necessity for prevent
irg the American trade from passing into
foreign channels. To me. 10 seems that
neither the obtaining or retaining OF any
trade. how valuable 70 ever. IS an object
for which men may justly spill each 9TH
er's blood: that the true and sure means
Of extending and securing commerce are
the goodness and cheapness of cOmmOd-
tiles. and that the profits OF no trade can
ever be equal to the expense OF compell-
ing Il ard holding it Dy fleets and arms.
I consider this war against u.s. therefore.
as both unjust and unwise: and / am per-
sIaded that cool and dispassionate pos
terity will condemn TO infamy those who
advised il: and even that success will not
save from some degree Of dishonor those
who have voluntarily engaged TO conduct
IT,
Mr.. Bryan commented upon this letter
and said that Imperialism had its inspira-
ton in the desire of the syndiCajes 10
extend their commerce by conquest. and
he said that he wss willing 10 indorse the
language OF Franklin and say that Cool
and dispassionate posterity will condemn
TO infamy Of those who advised IT.
He also read a letter written by Abra-
ham Lincoln Novembec p, 1854, TO Mrs
Bixby, of Boston, a mother who had lost
five sons in the civil war The following
is an extract from the letter:
LincoIn's Letter 20 Mrs. Bixby.
IT feel how weak and fruitless must be
any words OF mine which should attempt
TO beguile you from the grief OF a loss
so overwhelming, but l cannot refrain
from rendering to you the consolation
that may be found in the thanks of the re-
public they died to save. l pray that our
Heavenly Father may assuage the an
guiSh Of your bereavement and leave you
only the cherished memory of the loved
and the lost and the solemn pride that
must have been yours to have laid so
costly a sacrifice upon the altar of FREQ
dom"
Mr.. Bryan said that the English Ian
guage contained no more beautiful ex-
preston of sympathy. and he contrasted
1t with the sordid assurances of those who
say that the trade which We secure will
be worth the blood that is spent for it.
and asked why the people who wanted the
trade did not purchase it with their own
blood, intsead Of the blood of other peo-
Pies sons.
Middle Of the Readers Barred.
The Populist convention was somewhat
from the start. There were M
nerous candidates for every position and
1bjectors TO every measure. Roll-calls |
we're frequent and consequently progress
was slow.
The meeting opened with a spirited con-
-est for the position of temporary chair |
nan, which finally fell TO W. II. West
,ver. of Chadron.
The committee on credentials decided |
against the claims OF the middle-of-the- |
road POpulists from Omaha 20 be cIassed |
IS delegates and barred them from the |
convention.
The position of D. Glenn Deaver. OF Oma- |
Ia as member of the Populist National |
Committee from Nebraska, was declared |
1acant, and z. E. Thomas, of Omaha, |
vas chosen in his place. Mr.. Deaver was |
,usted for the reason that he was mot /
considered a member Of the POpullst |
,arty''
After being denied admission as dele
rates to the POpulist convention, the |
niddle-of-the-roaders held a convention
# their own and appointed a Nebraska
delegation to attend the Populist conven-
ion at Cincinnati.
They also decided to hold a State con-
-ention in Nebraska at some date after
he Kansas City convention.