The Conservative *
The Kansas City
. . .
convention sought
to emphasize the importance of their
imperialistic plank by placing it as the
loader in the platform. People who
honestly fear imperialism cannot con
sistently support the nominee of that
convention. No medisoval monarch
ruled more despotically than did Bryan
at Kansas City. No imperial dictator
was ever clothed in greater power than
that assumed by the Nebraska boss.
His will was supreme. Instead of the
platform reflecting the combined wis
dom of the convention it was framed to
suit the wishes of this one man. That
it was not in accord with the will of the
majority is evident from the poll made
by Senator Money of Mississippi. This
showed that only 171 out of 982 dele
gates were in favor of the adoption of
the 1C to 1 plank. But in spite of this
overwhelming sentiment , tno Nebraska
boss forced the adoption of a 10 to 1
resolution. Gould there be anything
more despotically tyrannical than this
imperial dictation ? Is it possible to
conceive of a more oppressive imperial
ism than this ? If wo must have im
perialism THE CONSERVATIVE would
have it as far away as possible. Imperi
alism in the Philippines is preferable to
the imperialism of Bryan at home.
THE CONSEUVA-
CLUHBING LIST.
TIVE calls atten
tion to its special subscription offer
which appears in the advertising col
umns of this issue. We trust that
many will avail themselves of this op
portunity to secure the paper at a re
duction of one-third from the regular
price.
THE CONSERVATIVE is an independent
paper , and is not bound by the lim
itations of any political party. It is
unwavering in its opposition to dis
honest schemes of finance and unfalter
ing in its denunciation of demagogues
who would make people rich by legisla
tive enactment. It is opposed to the
American boss , which is the only kind
of imperialism endangering this re
public.
THE CONSERVATIVE invites all who
want a fearless , independent paper to
avail themselves of its clubbing offer.
Henry Waiter-
THEODORE
son in the Courier
ROOSEVELT.
Journal ( dem. )
pays the following tribute to the repub
lican vice presidential nominee :
"Theodore Roosevelt !
"He brings to the ticket just the
things that MoKinley cannot give it.
He is in every way MoKinley's comple
ment in age , in temperament , in record
and in influence. He will supply the
magnetism and inspire the ardor neces
sary to a hurrah compaign. He will
light the torches and wave the flags.
But he will do much more than that.
Ho will attract a large element of the
independent vote , which thinks for
itself , which rebels against boss rule ,
which recognizes and admires brains ,
courage and integrity. There is no
man in the country who has a larger
following among this class than Roosevelt
velt , and it is a class which is daily
growing stronger and more assertive in
the affairs of government.
"But Roosevelt's strength will be
even greater among the young men ,
among the full-blooded Americans of
action and progress , who believe in
fighting when fighting is necessary , and
who , however proudly they may look
back on their country's past , look for
ward to its future even more proudly.
"Truly the republicans are fortunate
in having such a man to stand by Mc-
. Kinley at this
A Man of Letters. , , ,
time , to hold up
his bauds when they most need support ,
and to assume , when he drops the reins ,
party leadership in the widening horizon
of the new century. It is a bold and pic
turesque figure the young governor
makes as he advances to the side of the
chieftain who is closing his public ca
reer. Youthful , well-balanced ; a gen
tleman , a cow-puncher ; a man of let
ters , a man of action ; a clear-headed
politician , a dashing soldier , he has the
respect of those to whom ability , both
mental and physical , appeals , and he
has the admiration of those whom ac
complishment , whether in the field of
politics , arms or literature , impresses.
He is today the most hopeful figure in
the republican party. He has the confi
dence of the anti-machine men , and yet
he bosses the bosses. Better than all , he
has shown throughout his public work
that he has a deep insight into the vital
elements of democracy , that he has a
firm grip on the principles which must
guide an enduring republic , that he is
through and through a sound , self-reli
ant and vigorous American. "
The adoption of
THE ANTI-UK-
an
PEBIAOSTS.an
resolution by the
Kansas City convention will , not rally
the anti-imperialists to the support of
Bryan. The declaration of the conven
tion is not consistent with the record of
the nominee. Bryan's responsibility for
imperialism is not forgotten. The treaty
of peace with Spain made imperialism
possible. By the terms of this treaty
sovereignty over the Philippines passed
from Spain to the United States.
Because of this clause in the treaty
anti-imperialists opposed its ratification
by the senate. So effective was the op
position among senators that a majority
was secured to vote against the treaty.
Had not the plans of the anti-imperi
alists been interfered with the treaty
would not have been ratified. It would
have been returned for amendment and
we would have escaped the responsibil
ities that now confront us. But un
happily for the opponents of the treaty ,
Bryan resigned his commission in the
army , hastened to Washington and
whipped unwilling democratic senators
into line and secured the ratification of
the treaty. In thus favoring ratifica
tion Bryan endowed everything the
treaty contained and must bear the
responsibility of all that has resulted
from it. Anti-imperialists who vote for
Bryan would bo voting for the original
imperialist.
There was method in the action of
Bryan in favoring ratification. He
wished to remove the Philippine prob
lem from the department of state where
it belonged to the field of partisan dis
cussion thereby giving him a subject for
declamation in 1900. The motive is
even more reprehensible than the act.
Will the voters eive their endorsement
to such childish politics ? Will they
commend conduct so contemptibly dem
agogic ?
KAILUOAHS. .
against railway
corporations , at Ripley , Aug. 31 , 1896 ,
Mr. Bryan thus portrayed their oppres
sion of the farmer :
"Freight rates have not fallen , Some
one told me that for some reason or
other freight rates had risen in this
country. And it is true that there has
been no fall in freight rates com
mensurate with the fall in prices in
property. "
This paragraph , of but three asser
tions , contains three distinct falsehoods.
It is an excellent exhibition of Mr.
Bryan's superior ability to condense
error. Whether these misstatements
were through ignorance or a willful at
tempt to distort the truth , THE CON
SERVATIVE is unable to determine.
Either construction is possible and either
is equally probable.
To show that freight rates have fallen
we publish the following table of rates
, for both
tower Bates. , . . passenger \ , ,
and freight traffic
upon all the roads of the United States
for five-year periods , from 1870 to 1898 :
Year. Rates in cents per mile per
Passenger. Ton of freight.
Not only are the rates lower today
than ever before , but the train service
is better. The cars are better built.
Passengers may now ride in veritable
palaces on wheels. The facilities for
transporting freight have been remark
ably improved. The road beds are
better constructed and the accominodr
tions for both passenger and freight
traffic better than ever before. Mr.
