The Commoner
VOL. 16, NO. 7
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American Interests
in Mexico
On anothor page will bo found an editorial
entitled "Enhancing Values," which recently ap
peared In the Chicago Tribune. It states with
unblushing candor tho creed of "dollar diplo
macy." Exploiters aro to go Into undeveloped
countrlos, buy up property at a price which
takes all risks and uncertainties Into considera
tion, and thon tho government is asked to stop
in and mako tho investment profitable. Tho
farmer's boys and tho laborer's boys aro to fur
nish tho blood and the taxpayors aro to furnish
tho money and tho exploiters aro to reap tho
.profits. This Is "patriotism" as tho Tribune
l?iaoMq U aml thls Is why "PREPARED
NESS . is supifoaod to bo necessary.
W. J, BRYAN.
A RICH WOMAN'S EXAMPLE
Ono of tho eastern papers complains that
Mrs. Hettio Green, recently deceased, "made
thrift unattractive." Well, her example Is a
good deal more helpful than the example of
thoso who, by lavish personal expenditure and
vulgar display encourago extravagance among
their imitators and excito bitterness among tho
destitute.
Thero Is, however, good ground for criticis
ing Mrs. Green's will. Tho last will and testa
mont of persons of great wealth is tho best
photograph that tho world gets of tho real per
son. When tho possessor of millions loaves
nothing for education, charity or philanthropy
, it is proof concluslvo that tho life has not sympa
thetically attached itself to an altruistic enterprise.-
Tho family tie, whllo a strong one, is
not nearly so strong not so indicativo of high
thought and lofty ideals as tho tio that binds
tho heart to tho needy and unfortunate. Tho
avonuos of bonovolenco aro innumerable, and
tho soul that can wine its flieht from tho prtHi
with no auxious thought of tho unfortunate is
not tho kind of soul that challenges admiration.
,Mrs. Groon's charities may have boon numerous,
but that they wore not sufficient to keep paco
with her growing incomo Is proved by tho
amount loft to members of her family. Her
frugality could be more easily excused if she
xiaa Biiown a more generous spirit in tho final
distribution of her enormous wealth.
THE TRIBUNE'S ANXIETY
The Chicago Tribune is again on a nervous
strain. It was enougli to havo tho American
prisoners in Mexico returned without interven
tion. Tho blow "almost killed father," but right
' on tho heols of that it suffers another shock.
- A movlo company has had tho temerity to put
on an anti-war picture without asking tho con
. sent of tho Tribune. So it feels moved to devote
a large amount of editorial space to a criticism
of it. It is alright for tho Battle Cry of Peace to
scare dollars into the pockets of munition man
ufacturers, and it praises "How Great Britain
. Propared," but it ridicules, in its most ponder
ous style, the idoa of picturing the horrors of
war with a view to promoting a peace senti
ment. Poor old Tribune.
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THE INDIANA FORUM
Tho Commoner welcomes The Indiana Forum
to tho field of journalism. It is owned by pub
lic spirited progressive democrats, and edited
by Horace H. Herr, whoso experience, ability
and loyalty to tho people's interests fully qual
ify him for tho important work which he has
undertaken. Tho Commoner cordially commends
.Tho Forum to tho democrats of Indiana. There
ought to be a weekly paper like Tho Forum in
every state. Tho weekly paper is not an ex
pensive business proposition and is, therefore
within the means of tho average democrat
Success and influence tp The Forum: may its
iriba increaso. . J
THE MEXICAN SITUATION
The mothers whoso sons have been summoned
to the border and tho mothers whoso boys
would ,be needed 1n case of intervention, have
reason to be grateful to tho President for re
fusing to yield to pressure of republican leaders
and tho republican press. "He has kept us on?
of war," is still tho slogan, and is popular be
cause we have been close enough to war to an
jreciat its horrors. Thera is no humiliation
In withdrawing our troops now that Carranza
promises to preserve order in northern Mexico
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THE ROAD TO PEACE
Tho people of nearly all the belliger
ent nations are professed followers of
tho Princo of Peace, and can not there
fore approve of war except as a last re
sort and when no other settlement is
possible, and the same rule applies with
even more force to the continuing of
war. Those responsible for the begin
ning of this war could not foresee the
results that have followed, while thoso
-who assume the responsibility for con
tinuing it must do so with full knowl
edge of its unspeakable horrors. The
rulers of the belligerent countries deny
the responsibility for this war. As they
all declare that they neither began nor
desired it, we must assume that they do
not desire to continue it. After an unpar
alleled expenditure of money and an un
precedented sacrifice of the lives of the
best and bravest of their subjects, they .
must earnestly desire the war to end.
Why then, do they not definitely state tho
terms upon which the restoration of
peace is possible? Why do they, by de
lay take upon themselves tho responsi
bility for prolonging this carnival of
blood and pAssion? They must know
what they are fighting for, and the ends
which they have in mind must be ends
which they are not ashamed to make
known to the world. Why do they not
Inform the public? A clear and detailed
statement of the ends which they expect
to secure by force of arms will be equiv
alent to a statement of the terms upon
which they are willing to agree to peace.
Honesty and frankness are virtues
which are appreciated in international
affairs as well as among individuals, and
the rulers at war should be willing to
mako a simultaneous statement of tho
terms of peace, but if any of them re
fuse to join in a simultaneous 'statement,
those who are willing to 'state terms will
deserve the greater credit. A statement
by ono sdo would In all probability com
pel a statement by the other side, and
these statements, when made, would
doubtless result in a discussion which
would lead to an agreement. The terms
of peace must be stated eventually; why
not now? As all the rulers engaged in
this war shrink from the responsibility
for beginning it. each should de
sire the honor of bringing it to an end.
The world is praying for peace. May
tho Heavenly Father inspiro tho sover
eigns of the belligerent nations to vie
with each other for the undying fame
which thoso will win who lead the world
out of this dark nght of force and hatred
into the light of that day when enduring
peace can bo built upon love and brother-hood-
. W.J.BRYAN.
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THE RURAL CREDITS SYSTEM
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The Logic of
Conquest
A recent issue of The Independent illustrates
how impossible it ia for the annexationists tn
conceal their interest. Tho Independent is a
high class publication ono of the fairest in tha
country. It is supporting Hughes, but it is do
lng it in a candid, -clean and honorable way
In Its issue of July 3d page 3 it disclaims
for the nation any desire for territory: "Tho
United States has no hunger for Mexican terri
tory, no thirst for selfish aggrandizement."
On page 4, however, It protests against any
"binding of our hands." "We have no purpose
of conquest or aggression," but "BUT we do not
Tmdw what the future will bring forth. We can
not know what our DUTY will be when our im
mediate task in Mexico is done."
And then, on page 6, we read, under head of
"Essentials of National Independence," "Wo
need no more room for expansion, though we
need to have control of more tropical territory
for the raw materials that it alone can furnish."
Here we have it. The logic of conquest is
very plain "We need it," but, of course, we
don't want it. Needing it, they say we should
not bind ourselves not to take it if "duty" com
pels it.
It is the old story of lust for land, which leads
to conquest, excused on the ground of duty. If
this country hao any duty it is to suppress the
doctrine of conquest and to. -teach love and
brotherhood.
W. J. BRYAN.
,Ji ona?tmoilt of the law establishing a rural
credits SyStem is a real triumph for thl farmer
This system for the agriculturist and tno ?
rency system for the commercial world taken
f heV?,nstitut6 a evolution in The fihancia"
affairs of the nation. They ought to draw to
the support of the democratic party an over
whelming majority of the voters. And these ?e-
THE PARTY'S QREATEST NEED
The greatest need of the democratic nartv to
a national bulletin, issued by the eovnrn 1
2SU2iZfrta th imP0Eta"t govmSTews
and editorial comment thereon by represent
tives of all parties. This would enable the vo?'
to pass an intelligent Judgment on nf a J ?B
The corporation controlled press ?B aa nit??'
democratic party. against the
The jingoes have had three sad davs t
?h? itf?0p!.were ithd'awn from VeralU2
the day the Gorman note silenced hTii i
war, and the day Mexico releaspTkn a inlk, of
prisoners. How dryXy are? UlG Americ
Tho President has a new reason tn 't
to keep out of war, namely thaf pi ,dairinS
velt may be kept ont'oY Meco. RSe-
"OUR FRIENDTHE ENEMY"
Mr. Roosevelt denounces the democratic
party violently no one' assails it more bitterly,
and yet who has ever rendered the party more
service? In 1912 he gave victory to the democ
racy by splitting the republican party, and now
he is helping the President, w.hile he condemns
him in most undignified language. r , The Pres
ident's greatest weakness, liesj iniie alienation
of the German-American vote, and this weak
ness is being reduced to a minimum, by the
speeches which Colonel Roosevelt is making
against this same element. It will be easier
for them to support the President than to sup
port a man supported by Mr. Roosevelt.
The critics who objec to the withdrawal of
the troops from Mexico on the ground that it
would look like a compliance with Carranza's
wishes, are like the man whe,' when .asked how
he received his bruises, replied "I was coming
down stairs and my wife said 'be careful,' and
I won't be dictated to by any woman."
The preparedness parades came at an inoppor
tune time. The marchers exhausted their patri
otism in one day they have not been conspicu
ous at the recruiting stations.
OPPORTUNITY
By Walter Malone -
Poem which Mr. Bryan read to the prisoners
at Sing Sing penitentiary, July'4, 1916.
They do mo wrong who say Income no more
When once I knock and fail to find you in;
For every day I stand without your door,
And bid you work, and rise to fight and win.
Wail not for precious chances passed away,
Weep not for golden ages on the wane!
Each night I burn tho records of tho day
At sunrise every soul is horn again!
Laugh like a boy at splendors that have fled
To vanished joys be blind and deaf and dumb;
My Judgments seal the dead past with its dead,
But never bind a moment yet to come. .
Though deep in mire, wring not your hands and
weep;
I lend my arm to all who say "I can";
No shame-faced outcast ever sanlc so deep
But ho might rise and bo again a man!
Do'st thou behold thy lost youth all aghast?
Do'st reel from righteous retribution's blow?
Then turn from blotted archives of the past,
And nnd tho futuro pages whito as snow.
Art thou a mourner? Rouse tnee from thy spell;
Art thou a sinner? Sins may be forgiven;
Each morning gives thee wrings to flee from hell,
JSach night a star to uide .thy feet feet t
Heaven.
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