The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-07
IMPERIALISM OF THE BRYAN
PARTY.

While the Journal cannot accept the
declaration of George Fred Williams that
empire is here" it is frank to say. since
Mr.. wil,iams's startling announcement.
II can detect indications of imperial
istic designs in this country. The very
bold and emphatic might call these indi-
cations the march of empire.
In nearly every State in the Union which
is under Democratic control plans have
been devised either to take the manage
ment of elections out of the local control of
the people or to make the Democratic party
by DISTINGUISHING voters by the
thousands. The one distinctive feature of
Democratic rule in all the States where the
party is in power is to deprive the opposi-
ton of all power or influence in govern
ment. Because of dissensions in the Demo-
cratic party in Kentucky the Republicans
Democrats regained the Legislature and
forced through the infamous Goebel law,
which takes from the local county officials
all voice in the naming of election officers
$500 f~~ eANe PO"OA "a u NNANAot OoA
selected by the Legislature. The purpose
of that law. according to the Louisville
Courier-Journal and Mr.. Watterson, is to
make certain the election of Democrats-to
be done by the wholesale throwing out of
Republican or other opposition votes, st.
Louis is a Republican city in the Demo-
cratic State of Missouri. In the expecta-
tion of getting rid of that majority the
Democratic Legislature in 1899 put the
police department i'm the hands Of a Demo-
Governor. That board has the appoint
ment of all election officers. Whatever
money that board deems necessary to ex-
pend the city must raise, consequently the
nearly doubled under this law depriving
the people of the city of all control over
expenditures for police. Under this regime
the police of st. Louis has become almost
worthless. What is this but the tyranny
of Imperialism. or of a party intent on rule
by depriving citizens of all control over
their local affairs?
In Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana,
and now in North Carolina, under the
direction of the Bryan Democratic leaders,
the right of suffrage has been taken from
the colored man. In the States just named
the colored voters were As per cent Of the
entire vote. In these States the constitu-
tional amendment was not submitted to
the people for approval or rejection. In
North Carolina, it was carried by intimida-
ton and fraud. The action of these States
is clearly in violation of the fourteenth
amendment to the Federal Constitution,
which declares that mo State shall make
or enforce a law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States" and of the fifteenth amend
ment, which declares that 'the right of
the citizens of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State. on account
of race. color or previous condition of servi-
tude." The Bryan Democracy in Virginia
has already taken steps to d~isfranchise the
colored voters in that State, and the matter
is up again in Georgia.
This is imperialism in it's most effective
and ~tyrannical form, because its purpose is
to make one party supreme in the United
States. 1t is the Imperialism of Organism.