New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-15
RRTAN HELPN HIS COINTRY.

Mr. Bryan is quite right in saying that he can
be of more service to his country In civil life
than in the Army. since peace has come. In war
he did no fighting; in peace he does much talk
ing But that would be Of no service to the
country were he not Democratic leader and
one of the foremost Of those who have led the
Democratic party TO ruin. His gifts as an or
ganizer of defeat have not deserted him. His
first utieranca upon return 10 civil life will help
TO place his party in hostility to public opinion
on great issues Of the future. and without his
intention or understanding will help to break
down opposition 10 the course of the Admins
tration.
Logical necessity EFFORTS from him the adms-
sion that the treaty Of peace should be ratified.
eff it is 10 be rejected he says. negotiations
"must he renewed. and instead Of settling the
question according to our own ideas we must
settle IL by diplomacy. with the possibility Of
international complications" Hence it will be
better 10 lend the war at once by ratifying the
treaty and deal with the subject In our own
sway" As the ratification Is the one thing
which the Administration will now propose, Mr..
Bryan helps 10 prevent any effective opposition
10 1t until that has been accomplished 1t is
also we'll TO note that the same logical necessity
compelled the Administration to demand the
cession of the Philippines in order to end the
war at once. without prolonged negotiations
about other disposition Of the islands which
would certainly have involved international
complications. No other nation had any ground
for objection to a ccssion by Spain II the United
States demanded that, and peace would thus
come with full power ito deal with the subject
In our own way"
So far. then. what the Administration deemed
,ln, ie Int Nfr
Bryan logically justfes and finds 1t necessary
10 ratify. He also clears away objection to the
annexation Of Porto Rico If the inhabitants de-
sire that But as to Cuba and the Philippines,
he would propose TO establish stable govern
ncnt and then turn them over TO their people.
The man Is not shrewd enough to see that this
forces the United States to determine what Is a
stable government and TO hold the property I'M
I'll in it's Judgment such government is posi-
BILE and has been established. But this Is pre-
clsely what the President has stated with regard
tn Cuba In his annual Message. and again the
utterance Of Mr. Bryan Is confession that
there can be no reasonable opposition TO the
President on that score. II is, in fact, though
he perhaps does not know II. necessity i'm
posed by international law upon the nation TAX
ing temporary possession and care Of Cuba, OF
of the Philippines. that il shall see that the gov
ernment TO be established shall be not only
stable and just 10 foreign residents, but able to
fulfil all international obligations
The Philippines only remain, and the Admin
istration has yet proposed nothing about them
But Mr.. Bryan proceeds to affront public opn
ion by arguing that II the people of the United
States are entitled to self-government the saw
ages Of the Philippines are as much entitled
and that the United States Is not capable OF
ruling dependency which is not as yet quah
fed for sclf-rule. lie will find that The Ameri
can Nation thinks better Of Itself. II believes
that Its capacity for self-gOvernment gives 1t Il
right TO govern itself which ignorant savhges
have not and that IL is not the less able to give
good government to people who have yet to b