How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
Once admit that some people are capable of self-government and that others are not and that the capable people have a right to seize upon and govern the incapable, and you make force — brute force — the only foundation of government and invite the reign of a despot. (69)
If you follow these five examples in this "Thought and Quotes" section, you'll see what Bryan was doing with this speech. He didn't start off with a religious argument right off the bat. He's too smart for that. He knew that jumping right in to religion would scare off those listeners who believed in the separation of Church and State.
Instead he showed how politics and principles can go together like chicken and waffles (and if you haven't tried chicken and waffles, you need to—like, right now). No American would disagree with that statement.
Hook, line, and sinker. He's got the audience's attention now so he can start pushing in the morality stuff later on. Smooth.
Quote #2
Every one [sic] recognizes the obligation imposed upon individuals to observe both the human and the moral law, but as some deny the application of those laws to nations, it may not be out of place to quote the opinions of others. Jefferson, than whom there is no higher political authority, said:
"I know of but one code of morality for men, whether acting singly or collectively." (59-60)
Bryan "the Great Orator" shows off his mad skills by slowly easing in the "moral law" talk at this point in the speech. He's made a connection between "moral law" and "political authority" and does so with Thomas Jefferson. Again, what good American would argue with Jefferson?
Quote #3
And so with this nation. It is of age and it can do what it pleases; it can spurn the traditions of the past; it can repudiate the principles upon which the nation rests; it can employ force instead of reason; it can substitute might for right; it can conquer weaker people; it can exploit their lands, appropriate their property and kill their people; but it cannot repeal the moral law or escape the punishment decreed for the violation of human rights. (73)
At this point, Bryan has completely inverted the argument he started with. He begins with something that all people can agree with: that politics should be about doing the right thing. He then claims that politics and morality are actually part of the same system.
But here, he's claiming that, politically speaking, Americans can do anything they want as long as it is democratically agreed on. But that doesn't make it right. Right is following the moral code that Bryan so happens to be arguing. Coincidence? We think not. Either way, he completely turned the political/morality argument around in a way that can be rather convincing when listened to.
Quote #4
The command "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" has no Gatling gun attachment. (101)
Here's Bryan's ka-bam moment.
Bryan goes for the religious throat with this one. It's the most famous bit from this speech and for good reason. He's saying that those Christians who believe in imperialism are no Christians at all. He's calling them hypocrites. He's calling them liars. He's calling them a bunch of violent jerks. But he also does it with eloquence.
Quote #5
When our opponents are unable to defend their position by argument they fall back upon the assertion that it is destiny, and insist that we must submit to it, no matter how much it violates our moral percepts and our principles of government. This is a complacent philosophy. It obliterates the distinction between right and wrong and makes individuals and nations the helpless victims of circumstance. (108)
This quote comes in at the end of the speech. And at this point, Bryan has done his job. He successfully turned a political argument into a moral one. He even attacked those Christians that morally disagreed with his political worldview.
At this point in the speech, he's just saying that not only are Republicans politically wrong in their decision-making regarding the Philippines, but they're flat-out morally wrong. And who can argue with that?
Well, pro-imperialism Republicans can, actually…