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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
Vol. 5. No. 43
Lincoln, Nebraska, November 10, 1905
Whole Number 25
CONTENTS
Toe Revolution in Russia
What Abom the Equitable?
Was He S abed In 1904 ?
" If You Have Stolen a Sueep "
Is The Democratic Party Dying ?
Greatest Good to Greatest Number
Oklahoma and the Primary Pledge
"TVno Feel Great Truths and
Tell Thkm"
Cheaper Insurance
Comment on Current Topics
TnE Primary Pledge
News op the Week
WAS HE SCARED IN 1904?
-v.
Testifying before New York's insurance com
mittee John A. McCall of the New York Life
insurance company sought to justify his contribu
tions to the republican campaign fund on the
ground that the country was "threatened" with
bimetallism, and that the policyholders of this
company would suffer a great loss with the estab
lishment of that principle.
But the New Haven (Ct.) Union reminds Mr.
McCall that this does not explain the contribu
tion of the $48,000 in the campaign of 1904. The
Union points out that Mr. Parker was a gold
man, was committed to the gold standard and by
his gold telegram had practically committed the
democratic national convention to the gold stand
ard. While the Union says that Mr. Parker's
gold telegram was one of the powerful factors
that led to his defeat, it insists that that tele
gram "was proof positive for President McCall
that the safety vaults of the treasury department
of the New York Life Insurance company could
remain closed during the national campaign to
all appeals from political leaders for financial
help."
The union adds: "We should think under
the circumstances that the, republicans who are
numbered among the policyholders of the New
York Life should rise in rebellion against this
wastQ of the good cash of the New York Life. It
was like throwing away so much money. Parker
would have protected and have lived up to the
gold standard policy if he had been elected presi
dent just as faithfully as the republican standard
bearer. McCall was actually on Easy street in
the last national campaign, but he apparently
wasn't aware of the fact."
JJJ
PROMISES MADE TO BE BROKEN
Every now and then an administration organ
inadvertently reveals the g. o. p. plans in the
Philippines. The Lincoln, Neb., Star, a republican
organ whose owner is evidently close to the ad
ministration, being ambassador to Brazil, says: "If
as Congressman Payne says, there is nothing for
us to do but to hold the Philippine islands till
the natives are ready for self-government, we
may as well quit fiddling and settle down to gov
erning them permanently." Then all these prom
ises of future independence count for nothing
just like a vast lot of other republican promises.
If the Filipinos can be kept quiet by holding out
promises th.t the administration has no inten
tion of keeping, all right. If they detect the
imposition and emulate the example of the men
who rebelled against government without consent
along about 1776, "burn and kill all over ten."
" is certainly a beautiful example of "liberty,
Jw ?im' self'overnment and national honor,"
mat the Star maps out for this government.
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But Can They Hold Him?
THE REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA
However much the "extremists" of Russia
may seek to minimize thu importance of the re
forms promised in the czar's latest manifesto,
no one will deny that this is tT e nearest ap
proach to effective relief ever suggested in a
Russian proclamation.
The manifesto issued by the czar, under the
inspiration furnished by Premier Witte, must be
interpreted .a connection with the necessities
ai . the temper of the Russian people; and so it
has been interpreted by the civilized world, fn
this view, then, such a revolution in Russian af
fairs has been brought about that October 30,
1905, the day on- which the czar's .now famous
proclamation was issued, will stand as one of the
important milestones on the pathway along which
men struggle to obtain possession of their own.
Indeed, men of peace are almost prepared
to give thanks for the fact of tl.e Japanese-Russian
war, unde. the impression that no influence
other than that great contest with all of its
surprising results could have- shaken tne Russian
throne and aroused its occupa-t from his
slumbers.
Throughout the civilized world men appear
to have confidence in Witte, ana at this moment
Witte appears to be the power behind the throne.
When he visited America as Russia's peace com
missioner, we were told that in t!.e circles where
autocrats most do congregate he was unpopular,
and that in accordance with the rules of Rus
sian aristocracy his good wife wa barred from
what in Russia was regarded ns polite society.
But in the discharge of his duties as peace com
missioner Witte acquitted Tiimself so well, vin
ning for his countrymen unexpected favors, that
upon his return he found that he had secured,
in court circles as well as amoni; the populace, a
prestige which he had not previously or alto
gether enjoyed.
It is not at all surprising that this man who
displayed sucli skill in dealing with the repre
sentatives of Japan, and won the hearts of the
American people, should, upon his return to Rus
sia, employ Lis great talents in behalf of his suf
. fering countrymen and bring his Influence to bear
upon the czar so long surrounded by men who
would not tell him the truth and upon whoso
advice ho could not depend if he were, In fact,
anxious to deal justly with his people.
The seriousness of the reforms promised In
the czar's latest manifesto depends much upon
the activities and the co-operrttloi of the Rus
sian people." If "revolutions never go backwards,"
autocracies do not surrender without a struggle;
and whether it be the autocracies of the court
circles of Europe or the plutocracies in free
America, men who strive for "the greatest good
to the greatest number" must always remember
that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Doubtless Witte understands this thoroughly, yet
while ho is required to meet at every turn the
machinations of the skillful reresentatlves of
autocracy, it will be, indeed, a great surprise if
he is not at the same time embarrassed by the
criticisms and, perhaps, in some instances, the
open antagonism of some of the very men in
whose behalf he Is struggling.
But the man who acquitted himself as Witte
did 'In the peace conference at Portsmouth, the
man who was able to open the eyes of the czar
of Russia, the man who seems to realize that he
has a mission to perform with respect to his
countrymen, is certainly not the man to be de
terred by the schemes of the natural enemy or
discouraged by the embarrassments put upon him
by those who should bo his ardent supporters.
In the czar's latest proclamation a great vic
tory for popular government has been won. Fair
ly Interpreted that proclamation means the de
thronement of the Russian aristocracy, constitu-
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