Imperialism

By: William Jennings Bryan

Narrated by: George Keller

With this 1890 speech, American politician William Jennings Bryan presents a compelling argument against imperialism. He outlines how maintaining military force over other nations goes against core American values.

The speech highlights specific issues that were current at the time, particularly US relations with Cuba and the Philippines. Though the speech is more than 100 years old, its core points about American democracy ring true in contemporary foreign affairs.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audio Sommelier

Bryan Was Correct - Republic not Empire

Great listen for the historical reader. The problems and issues that Imperialism would create for future USA were foreseen by Bryan, even if his economics were shaky.

The crazy twist is that the ultimate consequence and culmination of Imperialism was World War 1, Bryan was the secretary of state that took the USA to war to protect the British Empire because American Commercial and Political elites owned so much in British bonds. From the World Wars, the USA became the Global Commercial and Political Empire with troops, interest, and entanglements in all regions. Took over from the Brits.

And, Bryan's anti-gold/anti-Private bank position is now universal because it allows an Imperialist state to simply print money and inflate away little peoples savings and earnings via Central banking. No war, intervention, adventure, or pet project is now too expensive because taxation happens invisibly. For $0.10 in paper and ink, the USA can buy $100 in goods from the vassal states.