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The Commoner
VOL. 16, NO. 4
fe
The Commoner
IH81JIBI) MONTHLY
Entered at tho Postofllco at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as bccoikI-cIuhu matter.
WILT JAM J. BIIYAN CHARLES W. BRYAN
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TIIH COMItlOMQIt, LINCOLN, NF.I1.
proBont prospects it can not succeed as a party
measure in the form in which ho asks it. If ho
succeeds in securing tho appropriations which ho
asks, it will in all probability bo by the aid of
tho republicans. Tho democratic party can not,
therefore expect gratitudo from those who look
upon tho policy with favor, or bo held respon
sible for it by thoso who oppose it.
It is too early to measure the advantage or
disadvantage of the program to the party, if tho
democrats in congress secure tho President's
consono a modification of his program.
Tho third elomont of uncertainty can not bo
wolghed until tho republican convention or con
ventions have mot. If tho two wings of the re
publican party unite upon a candidate acceptable
tp both, tho republican chances will bo greatly
improved and it follows that the democratic
prospects will brighten in proportion as there is
discord in tho republican ranks. It nciw looks
as if tho progressives jwore determined to return
to tho ropublican party almost without condition,
although they will, of course, secure as favor
ablo terms as possible. Tho democratic party
has been so progressive that it ought to appeal
strongly to that portion of the progressive party
which, acting upon conviction rather than upon
personal affection for the progressive candidate,
but the number of recruits thus far won from
tho progressive republicans is not encouraging
In fact it is disappointing. The reunion of these
olomonts so 'bitterly hostile to onch other four
years ago illustrates anew the strength of party
ties and tho dlfllouKv of drawing permanently
from ono of tho loading narties any considerable
elemont of its membership.
Man's opinion of what is to be is part wish
and pnrt. environment, and I cnu not claim free
dom from tho influence of oithor wish or en
vironment when I construe the prospects to fa
vor democratic success. Believing that the partv
has earned tho confidence of the public, and
should therefore receive it, I belWo rtomocrntic
success nrobablo. Tho party has dono good
whpro the republicans would hnve done harm
ami wherever it. has failed nt all, tho repub
licans have, failed more signally.
LOOK AT THE DOUGHNUT
"Look at the doughnut not at the hole In
tho center." This maxim when applied to the
President, means: Look at the solid achievement
of his administration a splendid tariff law, an
income tax that relieves the masses of one hun
dred millions of taxation, the best currency law
the nation over had, two anti-trust laws written
upon tho principle that "a private monopoly is
indefensible and intolerable," thirty peace trea
ties between the United States and governments
exercising authority over three-quarters of the
inhabitants of the globe, resistance to the de
mands of a few investors for intervention in
Mexico, and maintainance of neutrality toward
tho belligerent nations in the European war
these constitute the doughnut. Look at these
and you will recognize in them the basis of the
claim which the democratic party makes to con
tinued public confidence.
The hole in the doughnut is made up of errors
of which the republicans can not take advantage
because on these subjects the position taken by
republican leaders is worse than the position
taken by the President. "Look at the dough
nut and not at the hole in the center."
CHINA AGAIN A REPUBLIC
It will be gratifying to the democratic portion
of the United States that means to an over
whelming majority to learn that the Chinese
authorities have decided to, MAINTAIN A RE
PUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND
NOT RETURN TO MONARCHY. Yuan Shi Kai
is convinced that he was mistaken ,in supposing
that the people wanted a monarchy. Tho 'fol
lowing press dispatch tells the story:
"Peking, March 22. A state department man
dato issued tonight announced the abandonment
of the monarchy and resumption of the republic.
"The mandate says the revolution, shows that
the demand for a monarchial form of govern
ment is not unanimous, and therefore Yuan Shi
Kai rejects the emperorship and resumes the
presidency.
"The imperial documents, the mandate adds,
will be returned by Yuan Shi Kai to the state
council, which will reconvene at the senate prep
aratory to the resumption of the republic.
"Hsu Shih Chang, who left the cabinet because
of the monarchial movement, signed the man
date as secretary of state, having re-entered the
cabinet."
This is a signal triumph for the doctrine of
popular government, and tho United States
should be the first to congratulate the Chinese
authorities upon the step just taken.
A DESERVED REBUKE
On another page will be found a severe re
buke administered by the President to tho sen
sational newspapers which are printing fake re
ports from Mexico for the purpose of arousing
a war sp'rit acainst that country. The rebuke
is deserved. Nothing could bo more reprehon!
slblo or unpatriotic, and the country will JS-
MILITARY COMMITTEE'S VICTORY
The house military committee, under the
leadership of Chairman Hay, has won a remark
able victory. It rejected tho continental army
Plan, recommended by tho President and secr
tary of war, and then proceeded to prepare a
BVfSy VpMnfnJ1 reCfiVed thG BUPpTrt of
mviultY DEMOCRAT and EVERY t?fpttt
acheme NE ' S raS
achievement. w j BRYAN y
PRESIDENT TO CONSULT CONGRESS
Press dispatches bring the gratifying news
that the President has aathoritatively an
nounced that ho will consult congress before he
breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany.
Tho dispatch reads as follows:
u "Washington, D. C, March 27. It was au
thoritatively stated late today that the Pres
ident would communicate the situation fully to
congress before taking any definito steps which
might lead to a rupture of diplomatic relations
as a result of the attacks on the steamers Sus
sex and Englishman."
As the right to declare war is vested in con
gress it is only fair that congress should be con-
SiiS? ?GfT e takiPg of an steP which
might involve the nation in an armed conflict.
vZl l8Mnotlli1k?1y to vor going to war to
vindicate the right of Americans to travel
through tho war zone on belligerent ships.
CONGRESS DOES WELL
r.TIl? ho?J?e ?f rePresentatives has done well in
nfnlv lgrphe demand Afor a laree increase in the
army. The continental army idea was rejected
m?nr0VlTi01; m a increase in the' state
militia. Instead of raising the appropriations
for the army from one hundred millions to fivt
hundred millions as demanded by the imy ex
perts, they made a moderate increase --more
than was necessary, but a fair compromise of
extreme views. The democratic party Tgo to
tho country on this record. W. J. BRYAN.
Up to the hour of going to pres. no remiblioan
who has been loudly proclaiming that tSv
ernment would have had plenty of reVfen'ul If"
the democrats had not reduced the tariff ' hif
come forward to explain how a high tarttr n
creases exportation and how, if low PteVVdlf?;
increase importations, higher rates wni,T K
have lessened the amount of imports T V0t
lessened the revenues. lmports and thus
President's Renomina
tion Assured
It Is now certain that President Wilson will
be renominated by acclamation. No other name
will be presented to the convention. The plat
form will endorse his administration and the
record made by the democratic congress. The
differences, such as may exist, between the Pres.
ident and congress, will be compromised and tho
party will present a united front.
It is a remarkable record of achievement,
nothing to compare with it in number and im
portance of reforms accomplished. Where re
publican leaders have been wrong the President
and the democratic congress have been right.
The republican leaders have opposed all that
has been done in favor of lower tariff rates, an
income tax, currency reform and anti-trust
legislation. They have insisted on war with
Mexico and even want to enter the European
war. Where tho President has conceded more
than he should to the scaredness program, the
republican leaders have demanded even more, so
that the President is nearer to the people than
the republican leaders. Let" every democrat get
ready for the campaign and g6 to work.
W, J". BRYAN.
THE WAR'S LOSSES
Senator McCumber has given the ,pubfic a let
ter from General Scott, containing an estimate
of the losses occasioned by the war in Europe.
General Scott estimates the number of men
killed, wounded and missing at 13,033,000. (See
details on another page.) The expenditures are
put at $39,500,000,000, and the" loss of fighting
ships at 67 ships with tonnage of 330,000 for
the Allies and 103 ships with a 'tonnage of 315,
000 for the central powers. AND YET THERE
ARE AMERICANS WHQ WANT THIS' COUN
TRY TO ENTER THIS WAR, AND AMERICANS
CARELESS ENOUGHIF NOT UNPATRIOTIC
TO JEOPARDIZE THE' NATION'S PEACE
BY DELIBERATELY GOING'tNTO THE DAN
GER ZONE ON BELLIGERENT SHIPS!
MONEY BEHIND THE WAR SCARE
The press dispatches report Senator Works
of California as declaring tht big business,
military organizations and politicians are re
sponsible for the war scare in the United States.
He is quoted as saying: "What this country
needs today is not protection from foreign na
tions but defense against the aggressive influ
ences of the power of money in the hands of a
selfish and grasping few of its own citizens'."
Bravo, Senator Works. The nations real en
emies are not the governments or peoples of for
eign lands but the American militarist with his
sham standard of honor and the selfish trafficker
m war materials who would sell his country for
an army contract. The street corner anarchist
is less dangerous.
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000 0 0 0
EASTER SONG -
(Greenwood) S. M.
It is not death to die,
To leavethis weary road,
And midst the brotherhood, on" high
To be at home with, God.
It is not death to close
The eye long dimmed by tears
And wake, in glorious repose- . .
To spend eternal years.
v . '
It is not death to beajr
The wrench that sets us free
wro dungeon chain, to breathe tho air
.Of boundless liberty. .
It is pot death to fling '
Aside this sinful dust, ' '.
And rise, on strong exulting wing,
. To live among the just. ,.',; t
emis" Thou PrI"ce of Life,
Vt i y cnoseu can not die;
Like Thee, they conquer in the strife,. ,
u? reign with Thee on high.
"toSTS1,?- A C(lsar Malan, 18324 ,
TTfneY- George WV Bethune, 184 ,
0 0 0 '000
-"'-' k" i. ,y .,.