The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-26
BRYAN SCORED BY WAITE
sTTNGING CRITICISM OF THE COL
ONEL'S ANTI-ExPANsION TALK.
Ex-Governor of Colorado Quotes Law
posed to BryaD's Position.

DENVER, Col, Dec. 20.-DaviS H. Waite,
former Populist Governor of Colorado, in
letter to the American people assails the
anti-imperialistic doctrines of William Jen-
nings Bryan. This is taken by his friends
as an indication of his return to politics as
an active participant in the next presi-
dental campaign. Under his own caption of
Errors of Colonel Bryan he writes:
I'm the late Bryan interview the colonel
says: Our people defended Cuba against
foreign arms; now they must defend them
selves and their country against a foreign
idea-the colonial idea of European nations.
Jefferson has been quoted in support of inn
perialism. but he was opposed to wars of
conquest
The idea that the present war on the
part of the United States is in support of
the colonial idea of European nations,s and
of Imperialism, is purely an assumption
which is not warranted by the fact that our
army and navy are in possession of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines, or that we
demand their cession from Spain to the
United States.
Mr.. Bryan himself admits that the
United States have rescued Cuba from for
eign control This war was begun to pro-
tect the rights of humanity, and if those
rights demand that the captured islands be
not restored to their former owner, then the
United States should hold them till a proper
disposition of their interests can be made.
1T would be horrible injustice to return
the islands to Spain, which for 400 years
has tyrannized over them with an unspeak-
able tyranny, civil, military and religious,
and it would be a cowardly crime to shirk
the national responsibilities we have in
CURED in this righteous war, and abandon
these islands to the tender mercies of the
great despotism of Europe.
Mr.. Bryan says: We should reserve in
all these islands a harbor and coaling sta
ticn, and might annex Cuba and Porto Rico,
If the inhabitants desire, but not the Philip
pines, even if the inhabitants do desire
Mr.. Bryan thinks that all governments do
and should derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed except in the
Philippines. In his opinion the immortal
doctrines of the Declaration of Independ-
ence will not keep in the latitude of the
equator.
Most governments do exist by the con-
sent of the governed, but it is of far greater
Importance and there would be little neces-
sity for rebellion and wars if the existing
governments were so conducted as to 'es-
tablish justice, insure domestic tranquility.
promote the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty to the peope-duties and
responsibilities which Mr.. Bryan wholly ig-
nores.
Mr.. Bryan characterizes the conquest of
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines as
contrary to our form of government and
even tradition, and an abandonment of the
doctrine that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed
the rVla nd
decided by the Supreme Court of the United
States in 1919, Chief Justice Marshall Civ
ing the opinion, it was held that There is
nothing in the Constitution of the United
States similar to the Articles of Confedera-
ton, which excluded incidental and implied
powers II the end be legitimate and within
the scope of the Constitution all the means
which are appropriate, which are adapted to
the end and which are not prohibited may
constltutionally be employed to carry it in
to effect
Under the United States Constitution
(Sec. 8. Art. 1D Congress has the sole right
to declare war, grant letters of marque and
repr1sal and make rules concerning captures
on land and water Congress also has
right to raise armies and the President and
senate have the sole power to make
treaties
THE Constitution, therefore, specifically
empowers Congress to declare war and to
make rules concerning captures on land and
water These powers are indispensable to
national sovereignty and were granted upon
the principle that the United States govern
ment is free and independent. has full power
to levy war and conclude peace, contract
allances, establish commerce and to do all
acts and things which Independent states
may OF right do-that in war it would make
conquests of foreign territory and in
treaties of peace would exercise under the
law OF nations all powers necessary to a
just determination of all questions at issue
THE conquest and holding of Cuba Porto
Rico and the Philippines is specifically con-
stitutional, as above shown, and so far from
being contrary to our form of government
and even our tradition, it is in direct line
with our national policy and practice. In no
case has the United States government
deemed it necessary or proper, in the ac-
quisition of foreign territory, to submit to
the consent of the people thereof the pro-
posed change of government.
The present war has been so just and
legitimate that even Colonel Bryan enlisted
IN the United States army. Our victories,
both on land and water have been as glori-
Gus and perhaps of greater Importance than
any of the wars of the Republic.
1T IS for Congress, and not Colonel Bryan,
to decide what rule shall be made concern
ing the captured islands of Cuba Porto
Rico and the Philippines, and it is the con-
stitutional duty of the President and Senate,
in concluding peace, to determine what are
our Just relations to the people of the cap
tured islands who have surrendered to our
stars end stripes
Our war with Spain has only been with
the Spanish government We have had
war with the people of the Spanish prov
inces. They have been our allies, and to
desert them and withdraw our assistance
and protection for harbor and coaling
station in each of the captured islands,, as
Colonel Bryan suggests, would our part
be the very acme of national infamy.'
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