Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-12


liam j. Bryan delivered in Madison
Square Garden, New York, on his return
from Il 'round-the-world tour:
Like all travellers who have visited other
lands, return with delight to the land of
more confidence in Its government and
grateful to the kind Providence that cast
my lot In the United States.
MY national pride has been Increased be-
cause of the abundant evidence have seen
OF the altruistic interest taken by Amer-
cans in the people of other countries. No
other nation can show such record of
Denevolence and disnterested friendship.
My love FOR our form of government has
been quickened as 1 have visited castles
and towers and peered into dark dungeons,
and l am glad that our nation. profiting by
the experience of the past and vet unham-
pered by traditions and unfettered by cas-
ties, has been permitted to form new
center OF civilization on new soil and erect
mere "a government of the people, by the
people and for the people,
Each nation can give lessons TO every
other, and while our nation Is In position
70 make the largest contribution, as be-
lleVe, to the education of the world. II
ought to remain in the attitude of a, pupil
and be ever ready TO profit by the expert
ence of others. 80
The first message that l bring from the
other world Is message of peace. The
cause of arbitration Is making real progress
~ opilt VI Inc lhcu InuI tile nhtlOHS most
prominent In the establishment of The
Hague tribunal have themselves been en-
gagged In wars since that court was organ
lied
Arbitration of National
Difficulties Endorsed.
The Peace Congress, as 1t is generally
known. not only adopted resolutions In fu-
arbitration of all questions relating to debts.
but unanimously Endorsed the proposition
mat all questions of every nature should he
submitted to an impartial tribunal for In
nations before hostilities are commenced.
1t is not necessary to point out the i'm
portance of the position taken. The en-.
bodiment of the suggestion in treaties would
ability OF war. While the idea is of Amer
lean origin, Il; was heartily accepted by the
representatives of England, France, Ger.
many and other European countries.
am sure from the public utterances
of the present prime minister of Great Brit
ain. Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman, that
such treaty could he made between the
two great English speaking nations and
danger of war would be almost, II not en-
tire!y, removed.
To take the lead in such movement
would establish our position as n world pow.
er in the best sense of the term.
Private Debts should
Another subject connected with our for
egn relations: | venture TO suggest that
we not only promote peace, but also ad
vance our commercial interests by announc-
Ing as n national policy that our navy vii
not be used for the collection of private
| debts. While protecting the lives of oui
citizens everywhere and guaranteeing the
| personal safety of all who owe allegiance
to our flag, we should, In my Judgment
announce that persons engaged In business
business purposes should be subject to the
laws of the countries in which they engag,
In business enterprises,
Mark the distinction between the protec
tion of the lives OF our citizens and the ust
| of the navy. to guarantee a profit on in
| vestments. We do not imprison for debt
In the United States, neither do we pui
men TO death because of their failure tc
| pay what they owe, and our moral prestige
as well as our commercial interests will be
conserved by assuring all nations that Amer
lean Investments depend for protection upon
the laws of the country to which the In
vestOrs go.
Before leaving International politics lie,
me add that our nation has lost prestige
rather than gained it by our experiment IL
coloniallsm. We have given the monarchis,
a chance to ridcuie our Declaration of In
dependence and the scoffer has twitted US
with Inconsistency. tour through the
Philippine Islands has deepened the con
vlctlon that we should lose no time in an
nouncing our purpose to deal with the Fill
ipinos us we dealt with the Cubans
Filipinos Want to Work
Out Their own Destiny
Every consideration, commercial and pc
litcal, leads to this conclusion. Such yrounl
as we may need for coaling stations or fol
naval base will be gladly conceded by
the Filipinos, who simply desire an Oppor-
tunity to work out their own destiny, in.
spired by our example and aided by our ad
vice.
In so far us our efforts have been direct.
ed toward the education of the Fiiipinos we
have rendered them distinct service, but
In educating them we must recognize that
we are making colonialIsm impossible.
If we intended to hold them us sub
jects we would not dare to educate them
self government, with ultimate independ
ence, must be assumed IL we contemplate
universal education In the Philippines. Az
soon as Opportunity Offers ! shall discuss
the Philippine question at more length, and
shall also refer to English rule in India
for 1t throws light upon our own problems
In the Philippines, but these subjects must
be reserved until can speak more in de
tail
England's Government
Compared with Our own
In several OF the nations of Europe the
legislative department of government Il
more quickly responsive to public seuti
ment than in our Congress. In England
for instance, where the ministry is formed
tion Is held upon any important issue THE
government proceeds to put into law the
will Of the people expressed at the polls
While our system is superior III many
respects 1t has one defect, viz: that Con
gress does not meet in regular session unit
thirteen months after the election. During
this period there Is uncertainty, long drawn
out, which to the business community is
often more damaging than change of pol
Icy promptly carried into effect. Would no,
the situation be improved by a constitu
tional amendment converting the first SEES
sion of Congress within few months after
election and compelling the second session
to adjourn several days before the following
election?
Such a change would not only serve lecit
innate business interests and give the pub
lie the benefit of more prompt relief through
remedial legislation, but 1t would protect
the people from the Jobs that are usual ii,
reserved for the short session which is now
held after the election and when many OF
cause of defeat at the polls.
return more convinced than before OF
the Importance of u change in the method
of electing United States Senators. There
ment toward democracy in its broades,
sense. In all the countries which | have
visited there is a demand that the govern
ment be brought nearer TO the people, In
China constitution Is under considerable
In Japan the people are demanding thai
the ministry, instead of being chosen by
the Emperor from among his particular
friends, shall be selected from Parliament
and be in harmony with the dominant sen
tlment. In India there is agitation In favor
of native congress; in Russia the CZai
has been compelled to recognize the popular
voice In the establishment of a dOuma
and throughout Europe the movement mani
tests itself In various forms.
National Senator's Should
BE Chosen by the People
In the United States this trend toward
Democracy has taken the form of II grow.
Ing demand for the election of United
States Senators by direct vote of the PEG
pie.
1t would he difficult to overestimate the
strategic advantage of this reform, fol
since every bill must receive the sanction
of the Senate as well as the House of Rep
resentatives before II can become a law, nc
important legislation of n national char
acter is possible until the Senate is brought
into harmony with the people.
The income tax, which some In our coun
try have denounced AS a Socialistic ATTACK
upon wealth, has, ! am pleased to report
the endorsement of the most conservative
countries in the Old World. 1t is a perma
nent part of the fiscal system of most Of
the countries of Europe and Inf many placer
1t is graded tax, the rate being highes,
upon the largest income England has
long depended upon her income tax for
considerable part of her revenues and ar
English commission is now investigating thu
proposition to change from a uniform to q
graded tax.
am so convinced of the Justice of thu