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WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL 15, NO. 10
Lincoln, Nebraska, October, 1915
Whole Number 678
THE PEOPLE VS. THE SPECIAL INTERESTS
To the Readers of The Commoner:
Another fight is on between the people and
the special interests, and the democratic party
is the only party in position to take the people's
side. Ex-President Roosevelt is bellowing lor
war. He wants this nation to enter the present
conflict, and his chief adviser, Geo. W. Perkins,
is identified with, the steel trust whjch is ready
to furnish the preparedness. Ex-President Taft,
who has the support of all the trusts that are
not supporting Mr. Roosevelt, wants to increase
the army and navy appropriations one hundred
and fifty millions (60 per cent) so that we shall
be able to join Europe in future wars that is
the plan of his "League to ENFORCE Peace."
Both Rposevdlt and Taft are protectionists
they believe in taxing the many for the benefit
of the few, arid preparedness gives an excuse for
Now, a now powor has arisen in the land and
demands control of the taxing power. It is
the preparers of preparedness the battleship
builders and the manufacturers of munitions.
They have been making enormous profits sup
plying the belligerent nations with fighting ma
terial, but the European war must end some
time rnot as long as these human vultures can
keep it going but SOME TIME; and what will
these concerns do for watermelon-like dividends
then? There is only one way to insure their
continued prosperity they must lash this coun
try into a state of chronic fear, and then coin
the fear into dollars. They already have their
subsidized organs setting up a false standard of
national honor the duelist's standard; they are
glorifying brute force. They are transplanting
upon American soil tho European tribe of hatred
raising JttfeT The democratic prpy., tpofc which is bearing its bloody fruit across tho At
the side of the people against tho tariff barons? Wntlc. ,..-..
it took the ald&rP' the people against the trust
magnates, and it took the side . of the people
against Wail street the real monoy power back
of both tariff barons and trust magnates.
No time is to be lost; immediate action is
necessary. Congress will soon meet, and when
It "meets this issue will confront it. ' Write to
your congressman write to both your sonators.
Toll them that this nation does not need bur
glars' tools unless it intends to make burglary
its business; it should not be a pistol-toting na-
tion unless it is going to' adopt platol-toters
ideas.
Don't let tho jingoes confuse tho issue. It Is
not a question of defense this country will do
fend itself if It is over attackedand if that
time over comes tho common people will furnish
tho soldiers those who fight when the country
needs fighters, and work when tho country needs
workers tho jingoes will bo too busy making
army contracts and negotiating usurious war
loans to go to the front. Tho preparedness now
demanded will provoke war instead of prevent
ing it. Peaco among nations, as among Individ- -
v uals, rosts upon friendship and good will, not
upon force or fear. Try throats and ultimatums
on your neighbors and see how they work, amd
theh ypu tfilj .understand the diplomacy. ' that,
has reddened the. pages of history and; delayed
the coming of universal brotherhood. 'Writo-and-wrlto
NOW ' '' l - : ' ''
1 W. J. BRYAN. r
A False Philosophy
"Universal peaco is possible, but It will come
only in the perfection of our civilisation and,
measuring the progress of the future by what
has been accomplished inthe past, this ideal
sjiate is a million or two ypars off." This is the
concluding sentence of a recent editorial in the
Memphis Commercial Appeal, and the sentence
quite accurately sets forth the philosophy of the
jingo press, of which the Commercial Appeal is
a conspicuous", representative. It is a complacent
philosophy which justifies moral lethargy and in
vites degeneracy. .The doctrine is advanced by
those who desire to excuse inaction "What is
the use?" they argue "The ideal Is so far off
that we shall -not live to see it realized; why
then should wo concern ourselves about it?" It
is tho philosophy of those who put their ease
above the welfare of the soul. Applied to in
dividual life it would paralyze every lofty pur
pose, and encourage a return to barbarism.
Unless we apply to the nation the moral code
which regulates individual life we "have no rules
for the control of national groups. The Chris
tian religion is based on the theory that we can
"overcome evil with good" that example Is the
most potent influence for good. It is now near
ly two thousand years since the moral code of
Christ was launched upon the world and, al
though it , always been ridiculed-' and der
. nounced by those who, like Demetrius, fear that
it will interfere with their business of Idol-making,
still it has grown, Is growing-, and will grow.
If irthe Christian's duty to do right as he sees
it, without asking whether the millenlum Is near
or far off no one is wiseenough to know when
oilr civilization will bo perfected, but every one
who has learned how to think knows that it will
be hastened most when each one does all hejean
to support the right and suppress the wrong.
So with nations. We can not tell what our
nation can do until it tries. This may be the
THE
CONTENTS
PEOPLE VS. THE SPECIAL
INTERESTS
A FALSE PHILOSOPHY
TAX-PAYERS V3. TAX-EATERS '
LET DEMOCRATS DECIDE
CHRISTIANITY VS. WAR
STRANGE INCONSISTENCY
REFERENDUM ON WAR
THE PEACE MISSION
THE CHURCH AT WORK
PRESDDBNT ADDRESSES VETERANS
HOW THE FEDERAL RESERVE LAW
HAS BENEFITED THE FARMERS
BANK USURY BARSD BY COMP
TROLLER WILLIAMS
NKBR. DRY ORGAWEi FO FIGHT
time of triumph; it Is at least tho time to TRYj
and every citizen who desires universal peace
should by word and deed aid In tho spread of the
doctrine of peace, and in the opposition of any
thing that will delay It. W. J. BRYAN.
THE COLUMBIA TREATY
When tho senate convenes'the Col u mote frosty
will again come up for consideration, and it is to
be hoped that it will be ratified without delay.
It Is tho last thing necessary to tho perfecting
of our relations with Spanish America. Having
refused to arbitrate our differences with Colum
bia wo are in duty bound to propose an adjust
ment that will restore cordiality and good will.
Tho Increased democratIc,mdjorlty In the senate
ought to enable tho president to secure tho rati
fication of this treaty at once. Then Columbia,'
tho last of tho South American countries, can.
be added to the thirty peace treaty nations.
W. J. BRYAN.
THE NICARAGUA TREATY
The Nicaragua treaty will be laid before the
senate when it again convenes, and will withowt
doubt be ratified. It would have been ratified
at the last cession if a vote could hare been
reached. The sum of three millions, the amount
to be paid for the canal option amd for the naval
base At Fonsecs Bay, is a very reasosaele com
pensation for the rights secured, ax4 ft will b
great advantage to Nicaragua to . have uus
United Slates interested la her traaqmility. ' -
W. J. BRYAN.
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