The record-union., 1898-12-14
People Must Defend Themselves and Coua-
t1 Against a Foreign Idea.
Is Not Opposed to the Ratification
Of the Treaty OF Peace, but I'm
tends to Go to Washington and
Enter Actively Into the Fight
Against a Colonial Policy.


William ]. Bryan, upon leaving his
command to-day, the Third Nebraska,
gave out the following interview:
My reason for leaving the army was
set forth in my letter to the Adjutant
General rendering my resignation. Now
that the treaty of peace has been con-
cluded, I believe that I can be more
useful to my country as a civilian than
as a soldier"
Colonel Bryan then proceeds to the
discussion of public questions, saying:
THE people Of the United States hav-
ing rescued Cuba from foreign control,
may now resume the discussion of the
domestic problems which confront this
nation, and to the consideration Of the
new questions arising out Of the war.
II may be in error, but in my judg-
| ment our nation is in greater danger
just now than Cuba. Our people de-
Tended Cuba against foreign arms; now
they must defend themselves and their
country against foreign idea-the CO.
lonial idea of Europeans. Heretofore
greed has perverted the Government
and used its instrumental interference
for private gain; but now the very
ment are assaulted.
The imperialistic idea is directly an
tagonistic to the idea and ideals which
have been cherished by the American
people since the signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence. Our nation must
give up any intention of entering upon
colonial policy (such as is now pur-
sued by European countries) or it must
abandon the doctrine that Governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed
we may believe that governments
come up from the people, or we may
pelleVe that governments come down to
the people from those who possess the
heaviest cannon and the longest ships,
put we cannot advocate both doctrines
TO borrow Bible quotation, a house
divided against itself cannot stand
Paraphrasing Lincoln's declaration, I
may add that this nation cannot endure
half republican and half colony-half
free and half vassal. Our form Of
government, even traditions, our pres
ent interests and our future welfare, all
forbid our entering upon career Of
conquest.
Jefferson has been quoted in sup
port of imperialism, but our opponents
must distinguish between expansion in
the Western Hemisphere and an expan-
sion that involves in the quarrel of Eu-
rope and the Orient. They must still
further distinguish between expansion
which secures continuous territory for
future settlement and expansion, and
that which secures us alien races for
future subjugation. Jefferson favored
the annexation of necessary contiguous
territory on the North American Con-
tinent, but he was opposed to wars of
conquest, and expressly condemned the
acquiring of remote territory"
When asked how the colonial policy
could be prevented, Colonel Bryan
said: Some think that the fight
should be made against ratification of
the treaty, but I would prefer another
plan. If the treaty Is rejected, nego-
tiations must be renewed, and instead
of settling the question according to
our ideas, we must settle it by dinlo-
macy, with the possibility Of interna-
tional complications. 1t will be cas-
Ter. think, to end the war at once by
ratifying the treaty, and then deal with
the subject in our own way. The issue
can be presented directly by a resolu-
tion Of Congress declaring the policy of
the nation upon this subject
THE President in his message saws
that our only purpose In taking DOS
session of Cuba is to establish a stable
government, and then turn that gov
ernment over to the people Of Cuba.
Congress could reaff1rm this purpose in
regard to Cuba, and assert the same
purpose In regard to the Philippines and
Porto Rico. Such a resolution would
make clear-cut issue between the doc
trine OF self-government and the doc
trine OF imperialism. We should re-
serve a harbor and coaling station in
Porto Rico and the Philippines in re-
turn for services rendered, and I think
we would be justified in asking the
same concessions from Cuba
In the case of Porto Rico, where the
people are expected to express no de-
sire for an independent government, we
might with propriety declare our will
ingness to annex the island if the cit
liens desire annexation, but the Phil
ippines are too far away, and their peo-
pie too different from ours to be an
nexed to the United States, even if they
desired it."
Colonel Bryan leaves Savannah for
Washington, and will arrive there We'd
nesday evening. He intends to enter
actively into the fight against the colo
nial policy.