St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-21
BRYAN'S PLATFORM.


!, Lincoln, Neb., March 20.-Mr. Bryan
. speech before the Democratic state con
vention last night is consideredsthe wa
n note of the campaign of 1900
1t is considered the opening gun of the
great presidential contest and the pro
ceedings Of the convention will furnish
, the key to the general character of the
coming campaign. The platform to "A
large extent foreshadows what the
, national campaign will be.
The platform which was adopted by
the Nebraska Democracy with the
greatest enthusiasm reaffirms the Chi
cago platform, declares for '16 to l."
opposes a large standing army, de-
nounces the action of the Republican
party on the Puerto Rico tariff BILL de-
clares against trusts and Imperialism
and favors the income tax and the choice
of United States senators by popular
vote. The platform is practically the
creation of Mr.. Bryan. He did not write
Il personally, but he was consulted con-
corning it, and before it was read to the
convention it had been approved of
throughout.
The platform adopted by the Populist |
convention was substantially the same |
as that adopted by the Democrats. 1t
differs somewhat in form, but conflicts
in no essential point
Both conventions were enthusiastic
for Mr.. Bryan to the last degree and
l.
with cheers Of delight and approval. In
structions were given to both delegations
to stand for Mr.. Bryan in the Kansas
City and Sioux Falls convention.
Mr., Bryans speech before the Demo-
cratic convention dealt almost entirely
with the three questions he has been
discussing in various parts of the coun-
try-money, trusts and imperialism.
He charged the Republican party with
practicing a deliberate fraud upon the
voters in 1896, by holding out the hopes
of international bimetallism when the
leaders neither expected nor desired the
restoration of the double standard,
either by independent action or by inter- Z
national agreement. He denounced the ,
currency feature of the financial bill, and
said that the Republican party had never
N a campaign advocated the retirement
# the greenbacks, and that it would not =,
De able to defend that bill before the
On the trust question he reiterated his =
of the Republican party,
IND said that the Republican party was
oowerless to interfere with the trusts
the leading Republicans were +
with the trusts, and the party y
lad to rely upon trust contributions to T.
larry on the coming campaign. He a q
presented and defended the remedy u
which he suggested at the antitrust L.
Meeting in Chicago last fall, and which
lie has frequently discussed since that
ime.
Taking up the Philippine question he o
eferred, first, to the Puerto Rcan bill, tt
md said: n
THE desire to impose import duties u
m goods coming from Puerto Rico COM D
'elled the Republican party to disclose v
is imperialistic tendencies. Imperial u
SIN means that the people brought under Il
he flag are not to share in the guarantees II
the constitution. 1t is amazing that II
republicans have contemplated the per- n
lament acquisition of the Philippines
ithout stopping to consider the future
atus of the Filipinos.
1.-THE only settlement of the Philippine u
lestion consistent with American in d.
rests and American principles" said II
r. Bryan, lis a declaration of the ma Of
ons purpose to give the Filipinos in g
ependence as soon as stable govern p,
tent is established. When that declara- re
on is made hostilities will cease and it Sc
i'll be easy to establish stable govern a.
lent. To independence should be added h
from outside interference.
lot a protectorate such as European
exercise for the spoilation of
ne protected, but protection such as this or
alton has exercised over the republics A
Central and South America" in