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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL.. 10, NO. 32
Lincoln, Nebraska, August 19, 1910
The Texas Doctrine
Tho democratic state convention of Texas
has announced a new tariff doctrine and pre
sented Senator Bailey as its candidate for tho
democratic presidential nomination. Tho Texas
convention rejected a resolution endorsing tho
national platform of 1908 which tho Texas
democracy endorsed soon after the adjournment
of the national convention and made a
departure on the tariff question. It goes back
to-tho national platform of 1896 but, as that
is now being given a different construction from
that placed upon it by the party then, the Texas
state platform adopted in Texas that year is
also endorsed. But as that does not quite suit
tho protectionist democrats those platforms aro
now cdnstrued to mean that they (tho demo
crats of Texas) "expressly condemn tho proposi
tion to remove all duties from the manufac
turer's raw material so long as such duties re
main on the manufacturer's product."
It remains to be seen how many of the Texas
democrats really favor protection, but if they
favor it now they will not do so long for they
will not only find themselves out of harmopy
with the democracy of the nation but they will
find that those democrats who try to carry out
the Texas doctrine will be kept so busy trying
.to retain protqction for a few sheep growers and
lumber men that they will not have time to do
any work in behalf of reduction on manufactured
products. 7Those who want "a tariff on wool
w,iH6Pnecessfty7be' "driven to act with those who
J want" a tariff on w'oolens.
It is unfortunate for the party that just as
the insurgents are entering upon a fight against
Aldrichism in the republican party an attempt
should be made to commit the democratic party
to the doctrine of protection. "We want our
share," may be a popular alogan among those
who profit by a protective tariff but it will not
arouse enthusiasm among the masses who are
the victim of all protective tariffs and are op
posed to taxation of the many for tho benefit
of the few.
MR. WATTERSON'S ADVICE
Wide publicity Is being given to an editorial
which recently appeared in the Louisville
Courier-Journal discussing tho democratic
party's part In the next presidential campaign.
Mr. Watterson assumes that there may be a'
disposition on the part of some democrats to
nominate a man who did not vote the ticket in
1896 and he urges Mr. Bryan not to oppose it,
giving as his" reason that loyalty to the party
in that election ought not to be made a test.
He assures Mr. Bryan that he would win great
applause if he would bury the past and join
with the "eastern democrats in winning a victory
for the party under the leadership of some ono
who opposed the party In 1896.
Mr. Bryan appreciates the kindly spirit in
which the editorial is written and will give it
CONTENTS
THE TEXAS DOCTRINE
MR. WATTERSON'S ADVICE
THE GOSPEL OF WORK
GAMBLING
THE FRUITS OF THE TREE
COUNTY OPTION
ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS PROTEST
CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
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NEWS OF THE WEEK
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due consideration when tho tlmo cornea to se
lect & candidate. It is not necessary to discuss
tho subject at this time. There will bo plenty
of tlmo to speak when there is a serious attempt
to name a candidate who was not loyal in '96.
In tho meantimo Mr. Watterson might use somo
of his energy in trying to persuade those who
have defeated tho party to consider tho wisdom
of supporting a candidate against whom tho
charge of disloyalty can not bo made. It ought
to be possible to find an available man among
'the six and a half millions who supported tho
ticket in 1896, 1900, 1904 and 1908.
It seems to bo assumed upon tho part of those
for whom Mr. Watterson speaks that no man
is fit to be a democratic president unless ho
helped to elect a republican president in tho
critical campaign of fourteen years ago. If
it would promote harmony for tho six and a half
millions to announce that they will gladly fol
low ono who laid down his arms and went over
to the enemy, would it not alBO promoto har
mony for those who left to announce that they
will gladly support some ono who has an un
broken record of regularity? Generosity should
not be one-sided.
Just a word more. Mr. Watterson must re
member that boquets, delightful as thoy aTo,
are not, after all; tho most Important things
to bo considered. It is nico to have people
praise you but no one knows better than Mr.
Watterson that ono should do his duty whether
he wins praise or encounters criticism.
Mr. Bryan is not at liberty to consider the
matter from a purely personal standpoint. Ho
owes something to the men who have thrice
nominated him in spite of the influences that
are now at work trying to emasculate our plat
form and substitute a reactionary for a pro
gressive program. Can ho afford to surrender
these supporters into the hands of tho opposi
tion, merely to enjoy the plaudits of those who
have no sympathy with the platforms on which
he has won? Mr. Bryan will be pleased to dis
cuss these very interesting questions with the
editor of the Courier-Journal when tho issue
is presented.
THE GOSPEL OF WORK
Work has a moral as well as "an economic
value: idleness corrodes the character. When
ono is doing nothing, the consciousness of tho
fact, annoys him, and ho endeavors to find somo
excuse; and. as there is no reasonable excuse
x his vision becomes distorted by tho effort . to
find even a plausible explanation of his
refusal to render service to society. Carl Hilty,
the Swiss author, says that happiness is only
possible when one is engaged in somo regular
work which occupies his time, employs his mind
and satisfies his conscience, and no one can
doubt the truth of tho statement. God never
intended man to be a drone and man can not
expect to enjoy life or the respect of those
whose respect is worth having If ho is not able
to show that his existence adds something to
the world's activities, to the world's wealth,
and the world's welfare.
GAMBLING
The embezzlement of $1,500,000 by August
Ropke, trusted employe of the Fidelity Trust
company of Louisville, Ky., is a repetition of
tho old story. He was drawing a salaTy of
$18,000 more than twice tho salary of a sen
ator or congressman had a largo Income be
sides, but he wanted to get rich quick and en
tered upon market speculation. The tide came
his way for a while, but it finally turned
against him and now another "model" banker
is a victim to that criminal conspiracy against,
public morals commonly known as the stock
exchange. Parents should warn their sons
against the gambling passion; it is ruinous. But
we ought to have legislation, state and national,
to protect society against market speculation in
"produce and stocks.
Whole Number 500
The Fruits of the Tree
Address delivered by Mr. Bryan at the World's
Missionary conference at Edinburgh, Scotland,
June 17, 1910:
I appreciate, boyond tho power of words to
express, tho privilege of participating In thin
groat conference tho groatest rollglous gather
ing within tho history of tho Christian church.
I am horo becauso my interest In missionary
work was greatly quickened by a personal' visit
to numerous missionary Holds - in Asia and
Africa.
Having been a church raombor from tho age
of 'fourteen, and having taken an interest In
church work, I had contributed to foreign mis
sions as to other branches of Christian work,
and had hoard numerous addresses by mission
aries respecting tho work done in tho foreign
field. In planning a trip around the world I
had intended to visit a mission station for the
purpose of Informing myself as to tho environ
ment of tho missionary and as to the details
of his work; circumstances, however, very much
enlarged my opportunity for observation. My
experience and observation suggest answers to
tho objections which I had heard raised to mis
sionary work in foreign lands, and it may be
worth while to consider somo of these ob
jections. First, it is argued that "wo need tho monoy
at home" and can not afTord to send it abroad.
I am satisfied that this objection is not sound,
The ministers present will bear mo out in tho
assertion that monoy contributed to foreign
missions is not subtracted from monoy avail
able for homo missions. Tho foreign mission
ary work Is, as a rule, supported by those who
are Interested fn homo missions. The man who
excuses himself from contributing to foreign
missions on tho ground that he wants to keep
his monoy for home missions, generally finds
some excuse for withholding his money even
from homo missions. Tho enthusiasm aroused
by work in other lands so enlarges the Chris
tian's sympathies that the home missionary work
is bettor supportod than it would bo if foreign
missionary stations wore abandoned.
'Akin to tho first objection is the second, that
"we ought to correct tho evils at home before
we attempt to give instruction abroad." No
ono will deny that we have a great deal to do
at homo, but when shall we begin to help others
If wo must bo perfect ourselves before wo at
tempt to extend aid? If an Individual refuses
to give advice to others, or to lend assistance
in the reformation of others until he is himself
perfect, ho will never render any service to
others, for none of us aro perfect. Our nation
will in like manner, postpone forever the ren
dering of service to other nations if it waits
until there is nothing more to be done at home.
No matter how much progress wo make, there
will always bo room for Improvement; tho
higher we rise, tho larger tho area of our vision
and the moro we see that needs to bo done. If
wo are ever going to be helpful, wo must bo
helpful while we are still imperfect. Tho com
mand is not, "Let him that is perfect help tho
Imperfect," but rather, "let him that is strong
help the weak." Every effort that wo put forth
to help others strengthens us. I remember
hearing, in my youth, the story of two travelers
in me mountains. One was overcome by cold
and sank down discouraged; the other, Instead
of leaving him to perish, stayed, and by rubbing
him sought to prolong his life. Tho effort kept
both alive until help came. And so I am satis
fied that the work done in the foreign field
strengthens us for the work to be done at home,
and that the evidence which the missionaries
bring us of the triumphant march of Christian
ity inspires us to greater activity, both at homo
and abroad.
Some complain that the missionaries make but
few conversions. It is a matter of regret that
progress is not more ranid, and ?yet that is no
reason why weftshould give up the task. The
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