Mr. Bryan, the candidate of the Democratic party for the
American Presidency, has issued a manifesto announcing the principles upon which he will conduct the contest. He declares against Trusts, and is on the workmen's side in almost all questions between them and capitalists, and he is still for silver at the ratio of sixteen to one, but the main point of his manifesto is his denunciation of Imperialism. Both parties, he says, recognise the independence of Cuba in principle, but he will not trust the Republicans, who are tainted with the colonial idea, to carry the principle out. He believes the matter to be one of urgent importance declaring that the nation will find it a long and laborious task to regain its proud position among the nations if under the stress of temptation it should repudiate self-evident truths proclaimed by its heroic ancestors, sacredly treasured daring a career unparalleled in the annals of time." The "self-evident truth" is of course the right of a people to choose its own Government; but Mr. Bryan, as we are credibly assured, does not propose to restore New Mexico to the Mexicans. The prospects of the election are still dark. In most countries Mr. Bryan, as the chosen candidate of the "have note," would have the best chance by far, but in America, as in Great Britain, the immense army of the " haves " is reinforced by the still larger army of those who wish to have.
Previous page
