The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-04-25
Con1n1oner Comment.
Extracts From W. J. Bryan,s Paper


If Jefferson and Franklin were right,
how can we delude ourselves with the
doctrine of destiny which Is being de-
veloped now?
Yielding to bad principle because
1t seems triumphant is simply an easy
method of avoiding labor and sacrifice.
1t is q complacent but unsound phil
osophy, which teaches compromise
with wrong merely because the enemy
is strongly entrenched.
No one has right to assume that
error will be permanently victorious.
If some Of our citizens condemn small.
crimes, but seem inclined to condone
grand larceny and killing on a large
scale. Mr. 'Watterson should remem-s
Der his lecture on morals and point
out to the deluded ones that nation
can, no more than an Individual, avoid
the consequences of transgression. II
he believed the authors of the consti-
tuition and "the wisest of our states
men" wrong he would be justified In
repudiating their counsels, but believ-l
ing them right it is surprising that he
should be carried away by the brutal
and barbarous doctrine upon which
empires are built. His influence might
help to restore American ideals; he
cannot afford to aid in their overthrow.
The position of Mr. Watterson would
be untenable, even if the issue Of inn
perialism had been the only issue pre-
sented last fall and the people had de-
liberately Endorsed the republican pol
icy. Suppose the campaign of 1900 had
been Fought with no other question be-
fore the people, even then it would
still be the duty of those who are con-
scientiously opposed to imperialism to
continue the discussion. with the hope
of convincing majority of the people.
But, as matter of fact, there were a
number of issues in the campaign.
While imperialism was declared by the
democratic convention to he para
mount, every one knows that other
questions entered into the contest, and
it is also we'll known that the republic
can party constantly denied that 1t had
any thought of attacking fundamental
principles, or. of converting republic
into an empire. The Indictment
brought against The republican party
was so severe that a great many re-
fused to believe the party capable of
such intentions as were charged.
Then, too, the republicans sought
cover behind the fact that a war was in
progress. They circulated misleading
reports from the Philippine islands,
and declared that the lives of Ameri-
can soldiers were imperileh by the fact
that the democrats were cfiticising thl
administration.
What the democratic p#ty need
not advice to surrender, 1T coy
to resist the attacks whie ~
made upon American d.
democratic principles.
The campaign of 1896
ore in recent years wis
radical issue between tn.
republican party pretend,
ternational bimetallism,
wanted the gold standar
victory under the cove
tional bilnetallism and
election was over, threw
and came out for the g
Many of the democratic
had supported the ticket, d
democratic papers which hadN
the party in that year, cOunse9
party to accept a decision, won
fraud, as conclusive of the questid
And for four years the leading dem
cratic dailies gave no assistance wha
OVSI1 W IuE Retl ~ 5rfA&--t
fight against the money power.
In the campaign of 1900 the repub-
lican party practiced another fraud
upon the people on the SUBJECT of inn
perialism, and now Mr.. Watterson and
a few other democratic editors advise
the acceptance of the republican posi-
ton on that question.
On the trust question the republican
orty al InpnntiNn
some of our democratic papers seem
willing to concede the triumph Of the.
trust principle.
Nothing is to be gained from party
standpoint and everything is to be lost
from the standpoint of principle by
Mr.. Watterson's method of dealing
with the questions at issue. He ex-
poets the democratic party to indorse
the colonial system, and then promise
to send better carpet-baggers to Ma
Mia than the republicans have sent.
Such a course would make our party
a laughing stock. ii,
No party is good enough to admin
lister a colonial system honestly and
for the benefit of the subjects. A ma
ton that is selfish enough to want a
colony is too selfish to do justice by it,.
and party demoralized enough to in
dorse colonial system would be i'm
potent to administer it satisfactorily.
The Commoner is panied to see so
able and brilliant an editor as Mr..
Watterson unconsciously lend his, in
flnence to the republican party. Ffk
better that his voice Should command
a charge upon the republican strong
holds than that it should call a retreat
in the midst of a battle Which mast de-
ter,niEe, not only the fate of this re-
public, but the fate of al republics
FOR years to come.
The st. Louis Chronicle 4 charging
that Mayor Wells was electeSby fraud.
This is adding insult to injury. To
run seventeen thousand voteA behind
the national ticket and then AVE his
election to republican votes Is bad
enough, without having subicion
cast upon his title.
One of the most humorous reArks
of the decade is the one to the @ect
that Philander Knox sacrifices a vi
vate income of $4,000 year as atSr-
ney for the Carnegie interests to
cept an $4,000 position in the p5ar
dents cabinet.