Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-08-24
PARAMOUNT ISSUES
William ]. Bryan Has Paramount
Issue New For Each Campaign He
Enters.
First it Was Free Trade, Then Free
Silver, and Now it is
"Imperialism"
Fallacies of the Democratic Platform
and Policy as Shown by the
Republican Record.

~no OAASy - S"O"u W suS
Republican Record.
Washington, Aug. 22.-Bryan has
been identified with three paramount"
issues, to which he has, with all due
solemnity dedicated his life, and
pledged his powers to engraft upon the
national legislation of the country.
When in the fifty-second congress,
nine years ago, he was an ardent
champion of free trade, in a speech,
long and brilliant he declared that
"a protective tariff was conceived in
greed and fashioned in iniquity, false
in economy and the most vicious po-
litical principle that ever cursed this
country" Yet protective tariff bill
was passed by the first congress and
approved by Washington. Bryan fur
ther declared that he would fight the
protective system as long as there was
anything to remedy. The struggle be-
tween protection and free trade went
against him. The people repudiated
free trade and Bryan dropped it. 1t
was not wise to paramount" free
trade when it would not make votes.
Four years ago, realizing that he
must paramount" something else, he
took up silver and worked it with all
the force of his eloquence. That in
turn was repudiated by the people and
dropped by Bryan. All his wild pro-
phesies have been proven to be false
by the prosperous facts of recent eX-
perience.
This year, he concluded to let free
trade alone, touch lightly on free sill
yer and paramount" imperialism, and
he is working it in the same prophet
promising, reckless fashion. In op-
posing protection he denounced Wash
ington, in advocating experience, in
opposing expansion he reflects on JEFF
ferson. After a few more campaigns
he may possibly get into line and
strike something that is right, but at
present there is a big dent in the pub
lie confidence as to the accuracy of his
prophetic powers and as to his leader
like ability.
AS the silver crown of thorns stam-
peded the Chicago convention but
failed to stampede the country, so the
golden crown of imperialism will have
no terrors for the people as long as
proof of it's existence depends on the
assertion of the Nebraska prophet who
said that the gold standard would
starve everybody except the money
changers and the money owners.
A study of Mr.. Bryans late speeches
emphasizes the we'll known truth that
it is easier to be critical than to be
correct.
1t is perhaps worth while at the pres
ent stage Of political misrepresenta-
ton to turn aside from assertion and
look at some facts as revealed by the
conduct of the United States in deal
ing with Porto Rico. Sentiment is
hard to weigh and difficult to appraise
at it's true market value, but facts are
tangible evidence of intention whether
they be good or bad.
The so-called imperial administra.
tion of Mckinley has, according to the
published statements of Porto Ricans
relieved the inhabitants of that fan
Atlantic island of the following:
Stamped paper dues on the transfer
of property.
Personal certificates.
Passports.
Export duties.
Tax on professions, trades and occu-
pations.
Import duties have been made nom
inal, and the Porto Ricans have been
given power to abolIsh them alto.
gether.
Tribute to Spain.
Tribute to Veraguas family.
Tribute to colonial minister.
War tribute in times of peace.
Navy tribute.
Pensions to retired Spaniards.
Support of mounted police.
Military courts to try political of.
tenders.
Mayors appointed by the govern.
ment.
A military governor.
All these burdens have been liftex
from the shoulders of our insula,
| wards and in addition to these mega