The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-02

presentation of Mr. Bryan. The speech
was a general discussion of the cam
paign, but especial attention was given
the consideration of the paramount
issue. This he insisted was the ques-
ton OF Imperialism, and he likewise in
sisted that the Republicans were doing
all in their power to evade this issue.
Mr.. Bryan declared that they were
doing all in their power to convince the
country that the finances were the issues
at issue. This they were doing notwith-
standing their declaration that silver is
q dead issue. He himself had predicted
that they would find it a very lively
corpse, but he had never dreamed of it's
becoming so vivifed as it had been By
the Republicans As for himself ne
had never doubted that the position of
the Kansas City platform was correct,
but while this was true it was still
fact that the tendency to imperialism
was Of more immediate concern than the
question of the finances. In that prob
lem was comprised the perpetuity of the
epublic-whether we shall have a re-
publican government or not He also
discussed the question of trusts, the in
crease of the army and other points at
ISSUE contending that the Republicans
had been on both sides these questions.
He declared that if the Republicans
should win at the next election there
would never again be q standing army
of less than 900 men. Already the
increase had been four-fold and the fact
that the increase mad not been made
permanent was due to the Democrats
and their allies. If, he said, we are TO
maintain an imperial policy we must
havena large army; if we are to get rid
of the army we INST get rid Of the prin-
ciple which makes it necessary. If we
are to go upon the theory that we shall
either conquer trade or force our rel-
gion upon other nations, we have got
to have a big army with which to do
this. The truth was that the licpubli-
cans who had inveighed so much against
a double standard in money were trying
to create a double standard in Govern
ment; they were contending for democ-
racy here and for a mild despotism
in the isles of the sea. He elaborated
his former discourse upon the question
OF whether q Filipino citizen was a cit
izcn or a subject. MIR. Bryan said that
the Spooner resolution meant that:
''When the war is over-nobody knows
when it will bC-the President will do
somethng-nobCdy knows what-and will
keep at it-nobody knows HON long
until Congress does something-nobody
can guess what. Republicans" he add
ed. 'aren't you ashamed of that policy?"
Mr.. Bryan defended his course in ad-
vccating the ratification OF the peace
.Neaty, saying that he considered it pref
cradle to have the treaty ratified to
having another made by the same par
ties, believing it better to eliminate
Spain from the question entirely. He
had at the same time advocated the adop-
ton of the Bacon resolution. Republi-
cans who had opposed that resolution
must take the responsibility for all the
bloodshed in the Philippines, for the loss
of the 1000 Americans who had been
killed or wounded there. The contrac-
tcrs-those who carried soldiers to the
Philippines, and brought back dead SOL
diers-mght find it profitable, but the
taxpayers would not so regard it. The
policy was good neither because it was
just nor polite. Deny if you dare the
doctrine that all men are created equal
in the Philippines and you are going to
find yourselves unable to maintain it
here. And destroy the doctrine and
you are all at sea. We are in advance
the best in the world. To change to the
European method is not progress, but ii
is to so backward.
AS for himself he was satisfied with
the progress which had been made and
he would not exchange the American Gov
eminent for all the empires that ever
existed If the President could haul
down the American flag in Cuba 200 miles
away, he could certainly haul it down
in the Philippines 1000 miles away
Furthermore, if the flag could never be
hauled down how was 1T to be gotten
out of Pekin. If we became the owners
of 100000 FilipinOs when we entered
Manila we must have become the own
ers of eco, 100000 Chinese when General
Chaffee entered the Chinese capital
Kings and emperors might laugh if we
should surrender the Philippines. but if
so, let them; it was not the first time
they had laughed at us, "Republic2Ds
you want the flag to tie feared" he said
amid cheers, but l want it to be loved"
And with few words of exhortation to
do their duty as they saw it, he closed
after talk of an hour and half
Mr. Bryan in referring to his connec-
ton with the ratification said: Some
Ol you may nave HGdTQ II SdlQ IndL nav
ing helped to get the treaty ratified, l
am responsible for all that has happen
ed since. If the treaty was good why don't
the Republicans assume the responsible
ity for the ratification of that treaty.
If the Republican party wants to shirk
the responsibility. l am not responsible
for the treaty. The treaty was not a
good treaty. It ought to have provided
for the independence Of the Filipinos,
as it provided for the independence of
the Cubans, and your administration is
responsible for the fact that we treated
the Cubans as citizens and the Filipinos
as subjects. The only question was
What was the best method to employ
in order to remedy the defects of the
treaty? There were two ways omen,
one was to reject the treaty. Then
what? Then a new treaty would have
been made. Who would have made it?
The same Administration that made the
old one and Spain. | argued that it was
better to ratify the treaty and eliminate
Spain and then let the American people
do what they would compel the people
of Spain to do. But my friends, have
you heard Republican state that at