Imperialism Theme of Principles

William Jennings Bryan was the guy who argued that evolution should stay out of the public school systems in the Scopes Trial. He was also a firm supporter of Prohibition since he thought drinking led to moral decay. On top of his political speeches, he also spoke on the topics of morality, religion, and the separation of Church and State (that there should be no separation, that is).

In other words, Bryan was a deeply religious man and you better bet your bible that he brought Christian morality into his "Imperialism" speech.

His whole point was that Americans not only have a political obligation to stay away from empire, but a moral obligation as well. That, for Bryan, would indicate the highest form of principles.

1. What does religion have to do with empire? Was Bryan way off the religious mark with this one?
2. Is this just a cheap shot? How can someone argue with divine authority? Was Bryan just exploiting religion to get his way?
3. Using the text, how did Bryan mix ideas about political ethics and religious morality?
4. What about that whole separation of Church and State thing? Was it even appropriate to bring religion into the debate at all?
5. Do you think it mattered to either pro or anti-imperialists that the Philippines were a primarily Catholic nation post-Spanish Empire? Do you think they ever gave any thought to the local/indigenous religions?

Sure, part of Bryan's "Imperialism" speech criticized what he called the "gun-powder gospel" (97), but his Christian Crusader rhetoric put him in the same category as the other imperialists of his era. He became a hypocrite by praising moralist and principled intervention over that of the military. Religious imperialism is still a form of imperialism.

William Jennings Bryan was a religious man. But he was also an American. As an American who argued for compassionate moralism, he was doing the world a favor by mixing ethics, morality, and politics. He was right then, that the U.S. should be "as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day," (112) and his words are still right to this day.