The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-06
ATTACKS SUPREME COURT
Says Decision Has Not Decided Our Course.
Republicans Have Now Been ConS .. yicted of the Charge of Imr perialism Made in the
 ; Last Campaign.

Kansas City. Mo. June 5.-Willfa11 J. Bryan addressed the Jackson Coun- ty Democratic Club tonight. taking for his subject. "The Outlook"
 The auditorium, holding 1.50o, was packed. MT. Bryan was especially severe in his arraignment of the Supreme Court because of it's decision in the insular cases. He said in part;
 "I believe we have the best governs ment ever conceived by man and that it will remain the best government if the Supreme Court will leave 1t alone. In discussing the outlook for our party. I will say that the two things which we must ever advocate are organization and principles. We were well organized in 1898 and had the con- fidence of our supporters. I believe that our stand in 1Ss6 saved the Demo- cratic party from absolute annihila- tion. We were organized in 1900 and our supporters believed us to be honest. There were men purporttng to be Democrats who did not support us dur- ing those two campaigns. Now these men are suggesting reorganization. uGS6 SO~CdilC0 AC-VE0ctAAASA5 5b "AAS S@@t& not represent 20 per cent of our Demo- cratic voters in 1896, and who repre- scented a smaller per centage of our number in 1900. would now dominate the party. A man who supported the Republican party in 1896 must have a biz change of heart before he tries to lead the Democratic party. The party must convert the men who have been opposing 1t. and 1t must not be con- verted by them.
 Supreme Court Decision.
 ~"If the Supreme Court decision on our insular possessions, by which hv@ men--by a majority of one--decided to convert ,his republic into an empire. had been given before election. the re- suit would have ben different. The American people have not yet voted on imperialism. We charged 1t. but they denied it. Since he election the peopley have learned that our charge was right. we should not resort to expedien- cy. Only principles will win. My philosophy is that can afford to De in the minority, but cannot afford to be wrong.
 ''The decision of the Supreme Court does not settle the question. As Abra- ham Lincoln said of the decision in the Dred Scott case, that decision was law in that case.'
 ''It takes more than five Supreme Court Judges to annul' the Constitu- tion of the United States. My objec- ton to that decision is that you canndG carry out the logic of 1t without ee- stroying the liberties of the people af- fected by 1t.
 Justice Brown says that the Forte Ricans can trust Congress. We would u4 With0llt 0IE Constitution. I do not object to impe- rialism because an emperor Is necessa- rily bad. but because he denies the peo- ple their only source of power.
 A Blow at Liberty.
 "The decision of the Supreme Court strikes at constitutional liberty. JAls- tice Brown says that perhaps the Por- to Ricans will have liberty of speech liberty of the press and other liberties that we enjoy. I don't believe In per- haps' rights. Other nations have tried the doctrine of imperialism and none has escaped. There Is no reason way this nation should not be perpetuai- The wages of sin is death in a nation as in an individual but when a nation is good it lives. If we abandon the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, we shall die. We must anpeal to the conscience of the people, I want this to be world power. but 2 power for good. not for evil. I do not want it to be great because It's drum- beat can be heard around the worids but because it's civilization can De rei1 everywhere.
 "The time will come when the Amer ican people will become aroused ana right the wrongs of Republican ooc- Urine. If I were the only opponent of Republicanism in the United States. should be glad to have the fact wits ten on my tombstone.