The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-06
BRYAN SAYS 1T AGAIN
HE REITERATES THAT THE RE-
PUBLIC Is NOW AN EMPIRE.
Another Attack on the United states
Supreme Courts Decisions in
the Insular Cases.

KANSAS CITY. Mo, June 5.-Wiliam ].
Bryan addressed the Jackson County Dem
ooratic Club tonight. taking for his sub
ject, THE Outlook. The auditorium,
holding 1,5OO. was packed. Mr. Bryan was
especially severe i'm his arraignment of the
Supreme Court because of its decision i'm
the insular cases. He said in part:
Il believe we have the best government
ever conceived by man. and that it will re-
main the best government if the Supreme
Court will leave it alone. In discussing the
outlook for our party. L will say that the
two things which we must ever advocate
are organization and principles We were
we'll organized in 1896, and had the conf.
dence of our supporters. believe that our
stand in 1896 saved the Democratic party
from absolute annihilation. We were or
ganized in 1900, and our supporters believed
us to be honest There were men purport-
ing TO be Democrats who did not support us
during those two campaigns Now these
men are suggesting reorganization
These so-called reorganizers, who did not
represent 20 per cent. of our Democratic
voters in 1896, and who represented a
smaller percentage of our number in 1900
would now dominate the party. \ man who
supported the Republican party in 1896
must have big change of heart before he
tries TO lead the Democratic party. The
party must convert the men who have been
opposing 1t, and it must not be converted
by them.
IF the Supreme Court decision on our
insular possessions, by which nine men, by
a majority of one, decided 10 convert this
Republic into empire, had been given
before election the result would have been
different. The American people have not
yet voted on Imperialism. We charged it,
but they denied il. Since the election the
people have learned that our charge was
night. We should not resort To expedency
Only principles will win. My philosophy is
that i can afford 10 be i'm the minority, but
L cannot afford TO be wrong.
THE decision of the Supreme Court does
not settle the question. AS Abraham Lin
coin said of the decision i'm the Dred Scot
case. that decision was law in that case
1t takes more than five Supreme Court
judges TO annul the Constitution of the
United States. My objection To that deci-
sion Is that you cannot carry out the logic
OF II without destroying the liberties of the
peoples affected by il. Justice Brown says
the Porto Ricans can trust Congres We
would not like TO trust Congress without
cur Constitution. | do not object to i'm
rerialism because an emperor is necessarily
lad. but because he denies the people their
only source of power.
The decision of the Supreme Court
strikes at constitutional liberty. Justice
Brown says that perhaps the Porto Ricans
Will have liberty OF speech, liberty of the
press and other liberties that we enjoy. |
don't believe in perhaps rights. other
nations have tried the doctrine of imperial
ism and none has escaped. There is no
reason why this Nation should not ne per
petual The wages of sin is death in a
nation as in an individual, but when ma
tion is good il lives. If we abandon the
Declaration of Independence and the Con-
stitution we shall die. We must appeal TO
the conscience of the people. L want this
10 be world power, but power for good,
not for evil. ! don't want ii 10 be great
because it's drumbeats can be heard around
the world. but because its civilization can
be felt everywhere.
''The time will come when the American
people will become aroused and right the
wrongs OF Republican doctrine. If l were
the only opponent Of Republicansm in the
fact written on my tombstone"