El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-10
ABRAHAM LINCOLN on THE SOW
EREI6NTY OF THE PEOPLE

| EREl6NTY OF THE PEOPLE
We oppose nilitarism. It is VIDA
in Europe. This republic has no place
for a vast military service and con-
scription.
The above is copied verbatim from
the democratic national platform
There is not man in the United
States who would take exception to it
1t represents the unanimous opinion
of American citizens, and if every
plank of the platform were as uneX-
ceptionable ss that the Bryanites
might we'll hope to sweep the country
But interviewer with the parts quoted
twaddle of the Bryanite stamp-high
sounding phrases cunninRly worded to
catch the ear and cloud the brain of the
unwary. Quoting again from the plat
form, we read:
1--WE oppose militarism. 1t means
oppression at home. 1t means the
strong arm that has ever been fatal
to free institutions. 1t will impose
upon our peace loving people large
standing army and constant menace
to their liberties
For any party Co be willing to go
before the people with such an absurd
platform demonstrates It's insincerisy
at once. Either rank ignorance OPP
presses the leaders of the party, or
there IL deliberate intention to bam
boozls those voters who do not do any
too much thinking for themselves.
Now in all seriousness, what is the
real substance of all this talk about
oppression and menace to our liberties?
What are the facts? The army con-
sists of but Is, 900 men, practically all Of
whom are now and will be for q long
time on duty overseas. There are in
addition 35 900 two year volunteers, on
duty abroad. If every one of these
soldiers were returned to this coun
try today they would scarcely
serve to garrison the existing
posts as they should be garrisoned.
The constitution is pretty high au-
thority, even In the company of
Bryanite platform. The constitution
says plainly that congress has power to
raise and support armies and to pro-
vide for organizing and arming the
militia. The president is but tn
agent of congress in executing the
laws In this respect, and If congress is
not to be trusted to conserve the
liberties of the free people, where
shall we look? 1t seems TO any rea-
sonable man that Bryan Is giving
some pretty hard blows these days
against the whole theory of popular
government. He is afraid to trust the |
voice of the people. He fears the
power of dictators like himself.
The talk about an army being "fatal
10 free institutions" and menace to
he liberties of the people" Is the
essence of the "lmperialism" fustian
II the Organizes, as nearly as the
can discover. The Organizes
re fond of bringing up the name of the
.reat republican, Lincoln, to lend the
olor of right to their false doctrines.
n reply, let Lincoln speak for him
elf. In his first inaugural address
brshsm Lincoln voiced the basic
pirit of our free government. Read
hose words, and compare their mag
with the deceitful foddle OF
he Bryauise platform:
All the vital rights of minori-
ties and nf individuals Ara an
plainly assured to them by AFR
ties and prohi billions, that con-
troversies never arise concerning
them. A majority held in res.
trair by constitutional check and
Limitation, and always changing
easily with deliberate changes
of popular opinions and senti-
ments is the only true sovereign
of a free people. Whoever re-
jects it, does, of necessity, fly to
anarchy or despotisn.
This country, with its institu-
tions, belongs to the people who
fnhabit it. Whenever they shall
grow weary of the existing gov
ernment, they can exercise their
constitutional rights of amend
ing, or their revolutionary rights
to dismember or overthrow it.
The duty of the chief magis-
trate ia to administer the present
government as 1t came into mis-
hands, and to transmit it, unim- |,
paired by him, to his successor. ,
BY the frame of the govern
ment under which we live, this
same people have wisely given
their public servants but little
power for mischief. and have 8