The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-17
THE REPUBLIC TREMBLES
McKinley's Assumption of Despotic
Power Threatens It's Life.
THE SHADOW OF THE EMPIRE is UPON US
A Vote For Bryan Means Blow at Imperialism
Which Means Rule Without the Coasttu-
ton and Without The Consent
of the Governed
of the Governed.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
indianapolis, Ind, August 16.-The
Liberty Congress of the American
League of Anti-Imperalists today
emphatically endorsed the candidacy
of William j. Bryan for President.
The resolutions to that effect were
read to the convention by Colonel
| Charles II. Goldman, Cf Massachusetts.
who moved their adoption, after stat
ing that the entire committee of %
/ had endorsed them. The convention,
however, did not adopt the platform
as submitted by the Resolution Com
mittee without a prolonged and heat
ed debate. Thomas NJ. Osborne, of
Auburn, y. y, leader of the Third
| ticket" movement, offered an amend
ment to strike out endorsement of
| Bryan and his amendment was vigor-
| ously supported by several delegates,
! but when the previous question was
| ordered less than a score could be
marshaled 10 vote against the BRYAN
endorsement. The vote was viva vo-
ca and its exact result will never be
| known; but the sentiment of the
! convention was clearly shown as be-
ing in favor of the endorsement of
/. BRYAN as the most effective manner
| OF checking the alleged imperialistic
policy of the Administration.
| The most vigorous opponents of the
Bryan pronOuncement in the plat
form were CONSPICUOUS members i'm the
| National" or Third Party conven-
| ton, who were also admitted as del
egates to the Anti-Imperialist Con-
gress They were ably led by Thomas
| NJ. Osborne and advocated the nomi-
nation of a third ticket ON the theory
that their followers while opposed to
! President Mckinley were not prepared
to accept Mr.. Bryan on the Kansas
| City platform.
Col Charles II. Goldman and Ed
win Burritt Smith were the chief
proponents of the platform as re-
ported, claiming that all political
questions were now subordinate to the
questions of Imperialism and that all
opposed to the present Administra-
| ton should unite to overthrow is in
| the most effective and available man
ner presented.
Every mention Of Mr.. Bryan's name
in the convention called forth enthuS-
iastic applause.
The speaker who opposed the Bryan
plank in the platform were received
with ieers and cries of time" from
the delegates and Chairman Zeisler
at times had difficulty in obtaining a
hearing for them.
The platform as adopted follows:
This Liberty Congress of Anti-Imperal-
lists recognizes a great national crisis
which menaces the Republic upon whose
| future depends in such large measure
the hope of freedom throughout the
world. For the first time in our coun-
| try's history the President has under
taken to subiugate a foreign people and
| to rule them by despotic power. He has
| thrown the protection of the American
flag over slavery and polygamy in the
| Sulu stands. He has arrogated to himself
| the power to impose upon the inhabitants
| of the Philippine a government without
| their consent and annexation without
representation. He is waging war upon
them for asserting the very principles
| for the maintenance of which our fore
fathers pledged their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor. He claims
for himself and Congress authority to
govern the territories of the United
| states WlLnOuU constitutional restraint
We believe in the Declaration of In
| dependence. It's truths not less self
| evident today than when first announced
| by our fathers, are of universal applica-
tion and cannot be abandoned while gov
ernment by the people endures.
We believe in the Constitution of the
United States. 1t gives the President
and Congress certain limited powers and
secures to every man within the jurisdic-
ton of our Government certain essential
rights. We deny that either the PFesi-
| dent or Congress can govern any person
| anywhere outside the Constitution.
We are also absolutely opposed to the
| policy of President Mckinley, which pro-
poses to govern millions of men without
their consent, which in Porto Rico, es-
| tablishes taxation without representation
| and government by the arbitrary will of
| LEGISLATURE unfettered by constitutional
| restraint. and in the Philippines prose-
cutes war of conquest and demands un-
conditional surrender from a people who
| are of right, free and independent. The
| struggle of men for freedom has ever
| been a struggle for constitutional liberty
There is no liberty if the citizen has no
right which the Legislature may not In
wade, if he may be taxed by Legisla-
ture in which he is not represented, or
if he is not protected by fundamental law
against the arbitrary action OF executive
! power. The policy of the President offers