The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-02-08

Hon. w. j. BRYAN. former NONer-
nor Hogg, of Texas, Governor Benton
Mcmillan, of Tennessee, and other
Democrats of national prominence,
addressed the 500 banqueters and
spoke of the future of the party Of
Jefferson and jackson. Expansion,
trusts, the Philippine rebellion, and
the war in the Transvaal were most
frequently treated on. The utterances
regarding the struggle in the Trans
vaal were, without exception, pro-
Boer, and they were cheered and APP
plauded by the hauqueters, who were
enthusiastic in the extreme. Trusts
were denounced as in furious to the in
terests of the common people, and as
threatening the foundation of the re-
public.
Mayor Harrison, president Of the
William J. Bryan League, presided
and acted as POSTMASTER. Mr.. Bryan
was the last speaker of the evening
He said, in part:
''To-night the members of the club
meet upon the campaign of 1900 to
announce to their party associates
throughout the nation that the Demo-
Gratis of the chief commercial center
of the great West are fully armored
for the fight and only waiting the con-
vention's command. The year 1896
showed how the voters of the party
can, whenever necessary, overthrow
recreant leaders and shape the party's
policy.
The years which have elapsed
since 1896 show how the voters of
the party, when their conscience,
their Judgment, and their determina-
tion are once aroused, can resist the
foes within and the foes without, and
keep the party true to its high mis-
sion as the representative Of the strug-
Cling masses in their never-ending
contest with the privileged classes.
The plutocratic influences which won
the last national campaign, and which
have rioted in power ever since, have
not been able to force the surrender
of single plank or line or syllable Of
the Chicago platform.
"After three years burial Of the
money question by our opponents
they have recently accentuated its
Importance by presenting currency
bill which would have condemned
the Republican party to Overwhelm-
ing defeat if it had been proposed by
the President in his letter of accept
ance.
The Currency bill fastens to the
financial systems of the old world
and sub iects US to all the disturbances
which affect them while it places the
control of the volume of paper money
in the hands of a bank trust, which
will be as merciless to the people of
this country as Weyler was to the re-
concentrates. The fight for bimetal-
lism at the ratio of 16 to l has not
been lost. The increased production
of gold has shown the advantage of
more money and has answered the
argument so often made that the
parity could not be maintained be-
cause Of the production of silver.
The fight against bank-note circula-
ton will grow stronger as the big
banks swallow up the little ones, and
as the people learn that permanent
national bank-note circulation, secur-
manent and increasing national debt.
II have discussed the trust ques-
tion in this city so recently that it is
only necessary for me to say that the
Democratic party will meet the issue
with a plain and positive remedy.
The Republican party is unable to en-
act and enforce efficient antitrust
| laws.
The question of imperialism will
occupy prominent place in the next
campaign. 1t matters not whether
the war in the Philippines ends in the
near future or continues until cleo
ton. The people must determine the
policy to be pursued in regard to the
Filipinos. That policy must contem-
plate the ultimate independence Of
the Filipinos or their permanent re-
tention under American sovereignty.
If the islands are to be retained per
manently the inhabitants must be
given the hope of full citizenship, or
they must be condemned to the lot Of
subjects. Who desires TO admit them
to share and share alike with US in
the destiny of this republic?
We cannot adopt a colonial policy
without ignoring the doctrine Of self
government SO long cherished in this
country, and We cannot ignore this
doctrine in dealing with the Filipinos
without endandgering its existence in
the United States. Upon what ground
can forcible annexation be defeated
Is it on the theory that the Filipinos
are incapable Of self-government:
. Clay, in discussing the revolution
which led to establishment Of South
American republics, declared that
self-government is the natural gov
ernment, and asserted that those who
deny the capacity of any people fol
self government impeach the wisdom
of the Creator Clay was right. The
doctrine that it is the duty Of a yower
fulnation to cross the ocean and force
an allied government upon another
race which happens to inhabit valu
able lands is doctrine conceived il
avarice, born in iniquity and defended
ALWAYS BY hypocrisy.
Nv hen we enter upon polollcy o
empire We cease to be a moral factoI
in the worlds progress. Heretofor'