Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-09-11
BRYAN'S GREAT NEW YORK SPEECH.
Trusts Paramount Issue in AmerCa--Peope
Must Rule or Nation Falls.
900


from 'round-theworld tour
Like ali travellers who have visited other
lands, | return with delight to the land OF
my birth more proud of its people, with
more confidence in its government ana
grateful to the kind Providence that cast
my lot in the United States.
My national rIide has been increased ne
cause of the abundant evidence | have seen
of the altruistic interest taken by Amerl-
cans in the people of other countries No
other nation can show such record OF
beneyoence and disinterested friendship.
My love for our form of government has
been quickened as | have visited castles
and towers and Peered into dark dungeons,
and | am glad that our nation, Fronting by
the experience of the past and yet unham-
pered by traditions and unfettered by -
ties, has been permitted to form new
center Of civilization on new soil ana erect
here "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
TO make the largest contribution, as be
lieve. TO the education of the world, IT
ought TO remain in the attitude OF a pupil
and be ever ready TO profit by the expert
ence OF others.
The first message that / bring from the
other world is a message of peace me
cause of arbitration is making real progress
in spite Of the fact that the nations 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, rs it is generally
known. not only adopted resolutions In IA
vor OF the limitation of ornaments ana the
arbitration of all questions relating to debts,
but unanimously Endorsed the proposition
itnat all questions of every nature should be
submitted to an impartial tribunal Tor IN
yestigation or TO the mediation of friendly
nations before hostilities are commenced:
1t is rot necessary to point out the I'M
portance of the position taken. The EN-
bodiment of the suggestion in treaties would
go long way toward removing the PROB
ability of war. While the idea is of Amer
lean origin, it 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 a treaty could be made between the
two great English speaking nations and
their example would be followed until the
danger of war would be almost if not en-
tirely, removed.
To take the lead in such a movement
would establish our position as world pow
er in the best sense of the term.
Private Debts should
Not Be Collected by Navy.
Another subject connected with our for
elSu EtidllOHS venture 10 SuSSeSl liidl
we not only promote peace, but also adj
vance our commercial interests by announc-
ing as national policy that our navy will
not be used scr the collection OF private
debts. While protecting the lives of our
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
and holding property in other lands Tor
business purposes should be subject to the
laws of 10 countries in which they engage
in business enterprises.
Mark the distinction between the protec-
ton of the lives of our citizens and the use
of the navy to guarantee a profit in
veStments. We do not imprison for debt
in the United States, neither do we put
men TO death because of their failure to
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 let
me add that our nation has lost prestige
rather than gained it by our experiment in
colOnialism. We have given the monarchist
chance to ridicule our Declaration Of In
dependence and the scofer has twitted us
with Inconsistency. tour through the
Philippine Islands has deepened the con
viction that we should lose no time in an
nouncing our purpose to deal with the Eli
ipinos as we dealt with the Cubans.
FiIipinos Want to work
Ont Their Own Destiny.
Every consideration, commercial and po-
litical, leads to this conclusion. Such ground
as we may need for coaling stations or for
a naval base will be gladly conceded by
the Filipinos, who simply desire an oppor-
tunit. to work out their own destiny, in
spired by our example and aided by our adj
vice.
In so far as our efforts have been direct
ad I'd ba a6u nf ha EfliuinnS wa
have rendered them distinct service, but
in educating them we must recognize that
we are making colonialism impossible.
If we intended TO hold them as sub
jects we would not dare to educate them !;
self government, With ultimate independ-
ence, must be assumed if we contemplate
universal education in the Philippines. As
soon as opportunity offers l shall discuss
the Philippine question at more length, and
l shall also refer to English rule in India
for it 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 is
more quickly responsive to public senti-
ment than in our Congress. In England.
for instance, where the ministry is formed
from the dominant party, when an eec-
tlbu Is utlu ulou any Important ISSUE the
government proceeds to put into law the
will of the people expressed at the polls
While our system is superior in many
respects 1t has one defect viz that Con
greSs does not meet in regular session until
thirteen months after the election. During
this period there is uncertainty. long drawn
out, which TO the business community is
often more damaging than a change of pol
icy promptly carried into effect. Would not
the situation be improved by a constitu-
tional amendment converting the first ses-
sion of Congress within a few months after
election and compelling the second session
to adjourn several days before the following
election?
Such a change would not only serve egit-
innate business interests and give the pub
lie the benefit of more prompt relief through
remedial legislation, but il would protect
the people from the jobs that are usually
reserved for the short session which is now
held after the election and when many of
the members feel less responsibility be-
cause of defeat at the polls
| return more convinced than before OF
the importance of change in the method
of eecting United States Senators. There
is noticeable everywhere distinct move
ment toward democracy in its broadcast
sense In all the countries which / have
visited there is demand that the govern
ment be brought nearer TO the people In
China constitution is under consideration
in Japan the people are demanding that
the ministry. instead Of being chosen by
the Emperor from among his particular
friends. shall be selected from Parliament
and he in harmony with the dominant sen
timent. In India there is agitation in favor
of a native congress in Russia the Car
has been compelled to recognize the popular
voice in the establishment of a dOulna
and throughout Europe the movement mani
tests itself in various forms
National Senators should
BE Chosen by the People.
In the United States this trend toward
Democracy has taken the form OF a grow
Ing demand for the election Of United
States Senators by direct vote Of the peo-
pie.
II would be difticult to overesfimate the
strategic advantage of this reform. for
since every bin must receive the sanction
of the Senate as well as the House of Rep
resentativeS before ia can become a law. no
important legislation of a national char
actor 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 SOciaiistie attack
upon wealth, has. ! pleased 30 report.
the endorsement of the most conservative
countries in the Old World. Ii is a perma-
nent part of the fiscal system OF most Of
the countries u Europe and in many places
il is 4 graded tax. the rate being highest
upon the largest income. England has
long depended upon her income tax for a
considerable part OF her revenues and an
ras.-Es Har~a~ in #fs.s