The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-09-22
A RINGING NOTE FOR BRYAN.
Prominent Dover Pastor to Cast His
First Democratic Vote.

First Democratic Vote.
Rev. Joseph Brown Turner, pastor Of the
Dover (Delaware) Presbyterian Church. who
has announced his intention TO forsake the
Republican party and support the Democratic
ticket. said in an interview:
81 shall vote for Mr.. Bryan in November,
though / have never before voted a Demo
cratic ticket. While am somewhat reluctant
to talk about my political relations, | see no
reason why should not candidly state some
of the reasons for nv personal convictions and
my change of political alignment at this time
.sConcerning the ordinary issues upon which
the American people agree to differ it Is wise
for the clergy TO keep silence, especially IN
the pulpit. Matters OF taxation, finance and
ordinary administration should be left to those
whose business it is TO understand them and
discuss them. But we are clear outside of
ordinary lines in this campaign. The issues
now pending are vital, and no political contest
since 1860 has been so charged with veal or
woe TO the government under which we live.
''The az is laid at the root of the tree under
whose shadow we have sat with delight. 1t
is time for every man who loves free insiI-
tutions and true democratic principles to speak
and keep on speaking. No more precious
legacy ever came 10 any people than that be-
queathed by our forefaihers to all succeeding
generations Of Americans. This generation is
in danger of belittling that legacy and of cast
ing it wholly aside.
90 We have outgrown the principles OF our
fathers, we are told, and We may safely dis
card them We cannot keep TO the old lines
and continue to expand. We cannot keep
inside of constitutional limitations and be q
world power. Then we had better not be q
world power.
Il am a constitutionalist. Until we change
our Constitution in the orderly way provided
in the Constitution itself can see nothing but
overwhelming disaster in refusal or neglect
TO abide by its guarantees and restrictions
We have gone outside of those restrictions
and guarantees under the leadership of the
present Administration, and what the end may
be under such leadership it is not difficult to
foresee.
Dangerous heresies, theoretical and prac-
iicai-ihose have always been among US.
Professionalism in politics, the lowering OF
moral standards in public life, the peryerslon
of parties, the corruption OF the ballot, bribery
and official venality-these we have grown
familiar with, and menacing they are indeed:
But with these we can cope. An aroused
manhood, returning political sanity IN the
country could and would sweep them away
ike the chaff off the summer threshIng floor.
Graver far than these evils, more pOrtenions
than any or all OF them, is the fact that Tree
America is forgetting its mission, turning away
from its glorious precedents, losing sight OF its
ancient landmarks and giving the lie 10 all
that our fathers believed 10 be politically and
eternaIly true. We are learning 10 depend
upon force rather than on justice; we are put
ting might before right. Rock bottom prin-
ciples-iruth, justice, liberty and liie--are at
stake in the present contention, for these have
all been :lssailed.
Under The impulse of new and foreign
conceptions Of duty we have transformed "a
righteous war for Liberation in the west into
an unholy strife for conquest in the East
war for humanity in one fair island OF the sea
has been changed to a war OF inhumanity IN
another Soldiers recruited 10 fight for liberty
in Cuba are fighting against liberty in i.uzon;
A weak and practically helpless people asked
from us the right TO govern themselves-ihIs
and no more-and we have preferred to
slaughter their best and most intelligent classes
by thousands rather than grant their request.
.They rallied in behalf of principles no
other than those for which the embatiled
farmers of New England died at Lexington
and Bunker HILL, and we pursue them with
fire and sword. They have bravely dared TO
assert their inalienable right to life. liberty
ana tue pursuit oi naPP'n.H'' ~ =
hiniey presents 70 lnem me W. a aea nn,a;,'; ~,
submission or ann'hlniio". we are ne ie ai;
under nla la.upns pIn ns9,o y, c al. W.. he mo
territory 10 w6ich 1ei1re oou "" na' ~
shade" oil right anu "hien we P'"'n'aeu H''
EMMY not to retain.
1--WE iniruded upon that territory eVei, he:
fore the Paris treaty was signed The Presl-
dent refused to give the people of that terri
tory hearing IN their own pehaii' ana men
made the plea that ne had no means u SNOW
ing their desires. IL mas Deeii sn'inein'
record IRON It's beginning. Our doh'iheer'hs,
our lnhdellty TO taeit pledges, proyoked re-
sentiment, followed by resistance. upon ms
resistance the Administrator ueciaieu li,sey
that the people were reoeisI' E ~ spl'e VI
Its assurance 'hat me onileu o.a'ea nan W.
intention Oh asserting Per'n""e"' ""'e'e's"''
over then.
Then greater force was se"t !" S"n"P
out the called reDeiiion. ana now, having
broken The arm OF the existing government
and spread bloodshed, confusion and anarchy
far and wide, Mr.. Mckinley declares, with
hands upliited to Heaven, that moran reasons
force us TO stay, Tor IL we were 10 Withdraw
our armies the people wouid not De ape 10
govern themselves. lhese are tne VICIOUS
stages by which we nave beeh leu py an am
bilious leadership iustIng Tor power anu hiu-
ing It's purposes Dehind worry log Vi P'""'
ana patrlOtlc cam. M,
This is why am willing TO speak. ms
IS why | shall cast my ballot Tor william j.