Hutchinson gazette., 1901-04-25
Con(moner Comment.
Extracts From w. J. Bryan's Paper

III JeTerSOn ana FRANKLIN were flBntI
how can we delude ourselves with the
doctrine of destiny which Is being de-
ycloped now?
Yielding to a bad principle because
It seems triumphant Is simply an easy
method Of avoiding labor and sacrifice,
II Is compliment but unsound phi'-
osophy, which teaches compromise
with wrong merely because the enemy
Is strongly entrenchcd.
No one has right to assume that
error will be permanently victorious,
II some OF our citizens condemn small
crimes, but seem inclined to condone
grand larceny and killing on a large
scale, Nj. WattersOn should remem-
ber his lecture on morals aud point
ont to the dcudcd ones that nation
can, no moro than an Individual avoid
the consequences Of tran8gresslon, II
he believed the authors of the constl-
triton aud "the wisest Of our states
men" wrong he would be justified In
repudNtng their Counsols, but believ-
ing them right 1t ~ surprising that he
shpald he carried away by the brutal
and barbalcus 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 untonable, oven II the Issue OF I'M
perlalIsm had been the only Issue pre-
sented last fall and the people had de-
lihcrately indorsed the republican pol
Icy Suppose the campaign OF 1900 had
been cought with no other question be-
fore the people oven then II would
StIll be the duty OF those who are con-
sClentiOusly opposed to imperialism to
continue the discussion, with the hope
Of convincing a majority OF the people.
But, as 4 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 enc knows that other
questions entered into the contest, and
II Is also well known that the republi-
can party constantly denied that II had
any thought Of attaching fundamental
principles, on Of converting a republic
into an empire. The indictment
brought against the republican party
was so severe that great many re-
fused to believe the party capable OF
such intentions as were charged
Then. too, the republicans sought
cover behind the feet that "A war was In
progress, rhcy circulated misleading
rcrorts from the Philippine Islands,
and declared that the lives of Ameri-
can soldiers were imperiled by the fact
that the democrats were critlclsing the
administration,
What the democratic party needs 10
not nlvice to surrender, but courage
To resist the attacks which are being
made upon American doctrines and
democratic principles.
The campaign of 1896 was the first
ore In recent years when there was a
radical Issue between the parties. Tho
republican party pretended to want IN
lalnational Dlmetalism, when 1t really
wanted The gold standard. II won its
victory under the cover Of interna-
tIOnal bImctallism and as soon as the
election was over, threw OF the mask
and came cut for the gold standard
Many Of the democratic papers which
had supported the ticket, and all OF the
democratic papers which had deserted
the party in that year, counseled the
party to accept a decision, won by
fraud. as conclusive OF the question.
And for four years the leading demo-
cratic dailies gave no assistance what
ever to the democratic party in its
fight against the money power
In the campaign Of 1900 the repub-
lican party practiccd another fraud
upon the people on the SUBJECT OF I'M
pcralsm and now Mr., Watterson and
few othcr democratic editors advise
the acceptance of the republican posi-
tlon on that question.
On the trust question the republican
party also practiced deception, and
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. lie eX-
poets the democratic party to indorse
the colonial system, and then promise
W Atllu UtlltI Nul ptl -lASbNlo w A'N
nlla than the republicans have sent.
Such course would make our party
laughing stock,
No party is good enough to admin
lister colonial system honestly and
for the benefit of the subjects, A ma
zion that is selfish enough to want a
colony is too selfish to do justice by 1t,
and party demoralized enough to In
dorse a colonial system would be i'm
uotent to administer it satisfactorily
The Commoner is panied to see so
able and brilliant an editor as Mr.,
Wntterson unconsciously lend his in
iluencc to the republican party Far
better that bis voice should command
charge upon the republican strong
holds than that 1t should call retreat
in the midst of n battle which must de-
tcrmire, not only the fate Of this re-
public, but the fate Of all republics
for years to come.
-
The st. Louis Chronicle is charging
that Mayor Wells was elected by fraud,
This is adding insult to injury. To
run seventeen thousand votes behind
thp national ticket and then owe his