The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-12-16
COLONEL BRYAN TALKS.
Tells Why He Resigns and
Gives Views on Expansion.
ATTACKS THE COLONIAL SYSTEM.


ATTACKS THE COLONIAL SYSTEM.
Cites Reason. In an Interview Why He Is
Opposed to Expansi"n Policy suggests
q Plan For Government of Philippines
Similar to That Proposed For Cuba.
N+braskan Starts For Washington.
SAVANNAH, Dec. 14.-Colonel William
J. BrA an, upon leaving his command,
the Third Nebraska, gave the following
interview: my reason for leaving tho
army was set forth in my letter to the
adjutant general rendering my resigna-
ton. Now that the treaty of peace has
been concluded, I believe that I can be
more useful to my country as a civilian
than a soldier"
discussion OF public questions. saying:
':The people Of the United States, hay
ing rescued Cuba from foreign control.
may now resume discussion of the do
mestic problems which confront this
nation, and to the new questions arising
out OF the war. may be i'll error, but
in my Judgment our nation is in greater
danger just 10Y than Cuoa. Our people
defended Cuba against foreign arms,
now they must defend themselves
and their country against a foreign idea
the colonial idea of European nations.
Heretofore greed has perverted the
government and used it's instrumental
interference for private gain; but now
the very foundation principles of u
government are assaulted. The i'm
periallstic idea is directly antagonistic
to the idea and ideals which have been
cherished by the American people since
the signing CT the declaration of indie.
pendence, Our nation must give up
any intention of entering INC a colonial
policy (such as is now pursued by Euro
pean countries) or it must abandon the
doctrine that governments receive their
just powers from the consent of the
governed.
Cannot Advocate Goth ID loot rines.
"We may believe that governments
come up from the people, or we may
believe that governments come down to
the people, from those who possess the
AO0VAOoS IAA1oA lAS AO AOuSOSU oAApSS
but we cannot advocate both doctrines.
To borrow d bible quotation, "A house
divided against itself cannot stand;
paraphrasing Lincoln's declaration, I
may add tn IT this nation cannot en-
dure half republic and half colony
half free and half vassal. Our form of
government. even traditions, our pres
emit interests. and our future welfare,
all forbid entering upon q career IF
conquest. jefferson has been quoted
in support OF Imperialism, but our op.
ponents must distinguish between ex-
panslon in the western hemisphere and
an expansion that involves us in the
qrarrels Of Europe and the orient.
They must still further distinguish be-
tween expansion which secures contig-
uou territory for future settlement aud
expansion which secures us alien races
for future subjugation. jefferson IA
vored this annexation of necessary cor-
tiguous territory on The North American
continent, but he was opposed to wars
Of conques', and expressly condemned
the acquiring of remote territory" =
Suggests ~ Plan.
When asked how the colonial policy
could b. prevented, Colonel Bryan SAID:
"Some think the fight should be made
against ratification of the treaty, but I
would prefer another plan. If the
treaty is rejected, negotiations must be
renewed, and instead of settling the
question according to our ideas, we
must settle it by diplomacy, with the
possibility Of international complica-
lions. 1t will be easier, I think, to end
the war at once by ratiiying tue treaty
and then deal with the subject in o r
own way. The issue can be presented
directly by a resolution of congress-, de.
claring the policy OF the nation upon
this subject. The president, in his mes
rage, says that our only purpose in tax
ing possess:o-, of Cuba ia to establish q
stable government and then turu thai
government over to the people of Cuba
Congress could reaffirm this purpose il
regard to Cuba and assert the same pur
pose in regard to the Philippine islands
and Porto Rico. S>ch q resolution
would make a clear cut issue between
the doctrine of self-government and the
doctrine OF imperialism. We should r.
serve a harbor and coaling station IL
Porto Rico and the Philippines, in re
turn Tor services rendered, anu I thu
we would be justified III asking the sane
concession from Cuba. In the case o
D,-,o D;ao v-lp,r, a rs -.~,1o l-.. H.