The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, May 09, 1902, Image 1
t-ivn The Commoner WILLIAH J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. Vol. 2. No. 16. SMITH & HEROD. In a recent issue of The Commoner the editor suggested that Beveridge and JFunstdn would make a good republican ticket, with imperialism as the paramount issue. The reasons then given were sound and they still hold good, but the imperial istic spirit has developed so rapidly that the war like senator from Indiana and the oratorical gen eral from Kansas are passing into inocuous desue tude. The former has allowed a whole month to elapse since he hurled a verbal javelin at the Dec laration of Independence or ridiculed the doctrine of self-government, while the latter has entirely lost caste since he denied administering that benevolent and love-inspiring remedy known as the "water cure." But while the popularity of the Beveridge-Funston ticket has been tin the wane a new combination has been forging to the front, and already the names of Smith and Herod are being mentioned with increasing enthusiasm in imperialistic circles. Smith and Herod! These are names to con jure with, and there is no disguising the fact that they represent the very essence of that bloody, but to some attractive, theory of government by force and violence. General Smith has achieved sudden yet undying fame as the admitted author of an order directing his subordinate officers to kill all the male inhabitants of Samar above ten years of ago, to burn all property found and to leave the country "a howling wilderness," while Herod made Limself conspicuous nineteen hundred years ago by ordering the killing of all infants under two years of; age. Smith and Herod to gether would make almost a clean sweep. To be sure, boys between two and ten years would slip out between the two orders, but if Smith's views are supported by the American people he will doubtless lower the age limit next time and after a while make his murders begin where Herod's left off. History will be searched in vain-for an instance of cold-blooded, heartless and inhuman cruelty equal to that perpetrated by Smith and "his subordinate, Waller, and yet our Philippine com missiQners who draw enormous salaries on the pretense that they are looking after the interests of our Filipino subjects either never knew what was going on or, if they knew, did not care. What a blot on American honor! What a disgrace to the American name! And yet this is a natural out growth of the teaching of imperialism. Every man who justifies the purchase of trade with human blood or estimates the commercial value of human lives is sowing the seed from which such orders grow. When we begin to weigh inalienable rights against money and to speculate on the pillage of towns and the desolation of whole provinces, we are not apt to be squeamish about any means that may be thought necessary to silence protest. By all means let Smith bo the imperialistic candidate... The syndicates organized for the ex-" ploitation of the Philippines ought to furnish the campaign fund, and there will not be wanting men who think they see the hand of Providence in it all. If any one objects to Herod f or vice president on the ground that he is'' dead, it.is a sufficient re ply to say that he is the only character in his- Lincoln, Nebraska, May 9, 1902. Whole No. 68 tory who Is worthy of a place on the ticket with General Smith. And then, too, the republican party will be as dead as Herod when-the Ameri can people thoroughly understand imperialism and pass judgment upon it. JJJ Miles and His Reputation. The Providence Journal, a republican paper, referring to General Miles, says: "His course has not been dignified and It has caused him to lose steadily in reputation." Well, General Miles said the be.ef was bad, and it developed that the beef was bad. Shatter was pursing a waiting policy at Santiago. Miles took the bull by the horns and ordered him to "wade in." Shatter did "wade in," and the result is a matter of history. Miles referred to Sohley as "the hero of Santiago bay." It is true the presi dent and the secretary of war rebuked Miles for the reference, but the fact remains, nevertheless, that In the opinion of nine-tenths of the Ameri can people, Schley was and is "the hero of San tiago bay." Miles said that "the war in the Philippines was being conducted with marked severity." Secre tary of War Root said it was being conducted on "humane lines," rebuked General Miles for his statement, and to the rebuke by the secretary of war was added an even stronger rebuke by Mr. Roosevelt. But within a very few days after, this rebuke was administered to General Miles, revelation, showed not only that the war in the Philippines was being conducted with "marked severity," but that the secretary of war knew that to bo the fact for at least several weeks before he rebuked Gen eral Miles for stating the truth. General Miles may have been altogether too plain and blunt in his statements of fact;" but with all his bluntness he has not lost anything in reputation so far as concerns the opinion of the American people. JJJ A PLEBISCITE IN DANISH ISLANDS. The Danish Rigsdag (diet), composed of both houses, approves of the cession of the islands to the United States on condition that the inhabi tants of these islands declare in favor of annexa tion by a popular vote, to be taken at some date not yet fixed. The Danish legislators are to be congratulated upon the respect they show to the principles of self-government in consulting the wishes of the people. They put our president and republican senators to chame. Now let our senate make amends by accept ing the condition, and then let it insure annexation by promising full citizenship to the inhabitants. If constitutional protection is offered and the islands are guaranteed a territorial government with ultimate statehood or annexation to some other state, the inhabitants will be glad to change their allegiance. The islands will be a valuable acquisition if the people come in as citizens and come in voluntarily. A commission to place before the people of the Islands the advantages. of such, an annexation would be more popular than a com mission to-attend the coronation. :'7- . : WANTED MEN. Tho editor of Tho Commoner receives fre quent inquiries from young men who are inter ested in public affairs, and who desire to preparo themselves for public life. They are anxious to know what they should study and how they should fit themselves for ofilcoholding. There ought to be no such profession as the profession of officeholder. In a country like this, all should understand the principles of government, and should be prepared to apply those principles to each new question as it arises, but no one Bhould expect to bo dependent upon public offlco for hia means of livelihood. Political success may bo described as tho conjunction of preparation and op portunity. When the people need somo one to act for them in a representative capacity, they look about for a person already prepared for tho work, and among those prepared they take tho ono whom they prefer. It Is possible that a man may be prepared for public office and tho opportunity not come, but it is more likely that the opportun ity will come when he Is not prepared to take ad vantage of it. In politics, as in any other business, there are .three characteristics which are of prime import ance.. The first is honesty dishonesty will be exposed in politics quicker than anywhere else, be cause everything that tho politician does is sub ject to scrutiny and discussion. No man can suc ceed in business without honesty, and If he lacks this characteristic he will fail in politics sooner than anywhere else. The second essential Is industry. -There is no place in politics for a lazy man. A man may bo lazy when he is working for himself and be for given, but if he is lazy when he works for other? they will find it out and criticise him. In the long run, a man who spends his time fitting himself for real service to his country will secure the con fidence of his fellow citizens when the loafer Is re jected. When a man is sick, he wants a physi cian, and onewho has studied medicine and un derstands his profession will outstrip the physi cian who is simply a hall-fellow-well-met, but has not studied his profession. When a man has a law suit ho wants a lawyer, and the attorney who knows the statutes and the decisions and can pre sent them clearly and forcibly will grow rich while the lawyer who stands on the street corner grows poor. So in pontics, while personal ac quaintance is valuable, it cannot take the place of preparation for the work on hand. Tho third important element in success is ability and, honesty and Industry being equal, the more able one will win, for as an employer will prefer an employee who can accomplish most, so tho people will prefer the public servant who can with greatest skill and eloquence defend the right and guard the welfare of his constituents. There are many other things that will contribute to a man's success, such as good habits, but honesty, industry and ability are the factors that nave most influence. While the law is a stepping stone to politics, it is not necessary that one should be a lawyer in order to bo successful before the public. A farmer, a merchant, a clerk or a day laborer any one of these can so commend himself to his 1 ,-