The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-15
BRYAN ON EXPANSION.

Many leading men Of both parties are
opposing territorial expansion. New
England Republicans are doing so be-
cause they are unwilling to surrender
the monopoly enjoyed by the Atlantic
coast for a century in shipping and
shipbuilding. Prominent Democrats
are against the acquisition Of new ter
ritory, being moved by that conservat-
ism which has been a characteristic Of
the Democratic party. Most protection
lists are afraid of the outcome and the
influence it is destined to WELD in fu-
ture tariff legislation.
Colonel Bryan was opposed to war
of conquest, although he favored war
for humanity He is still opposed to
the retention of any territory acquired
in the prosecution of the war with
Spain But the colonel does not advo-
cate a reputation of the work of the
peace commissioners. He does not de-
sire to embarrass the administration or
the agents of this government. This is
the point The Herald has tried to make
clear time and again. Let US stand by
the men who represented this republic
at Paris. Let us back up every demand
they made just as the army and navy
and as congress backed up the ulti-
matum of the president when war was
declared.
In every battle, whether of death or
diplomacy, every American should
stand by the government. AS Colonel
Bryan suggests, we can take the is
lands and quarrel among ourselves af-
forwards concerning their final dispo-
sition. It is bad policy and bad man
ners to dispute while yet negotiating
with foreigners. We should finish with
them. After they retire we can fight
it out in our own way and good time.
Here is where Colonel Bryan is wiser
than the majority who oppose expan-
sion. He says:
Some think that the fight should be
made against ratification Of the treaty,
but 1 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, 1 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 resolution of congress, de-
claring the policy of the nation upon
this subject. The president, in his mes
sage says that our only purpose in
taking possession Of Cuba is to estab-
lish a stable government, and then turn
that government over to the people of
Cuba Congress could reaffirm this
purpose in regard to Cuba, and assert
the same purpose in regard to the Phil
ippines and Puerto Rico. Such a reso-
luton would make a clear-cut issue be
tween the doctrine Of self government
and the doctrine of imperialism. We
should reserve harbor and coaling
station in Puerto Rico and the Philip
pines in return for services rer a-e
and I think we would be justified IN
asking the same concession from
Cuba"
BY all means the treaty should be
ratified. These agents have acted in
good faith. They knew that the senti-
ment of the American people was
against returning any of the islands to
Spain They felt it their duty to com
pei Spain to relinquish all claim and
control of the islands taken. They did
their duty as they understood it, and
to refuse to ratify their work is to open
up the whole international dispute
again, and to accomplish nothing of any
benefit either to the people freed or
to their liberators.
That Colonel Bryan is not altogether
opposed to expansion, save for eco
homie reasons, may be inferred from
the following:
In the case Of Puerto Rico, where
the people have as yet expressed no
desire for an independent government,
we might, with propriety, declare our
willingness to annex the island if the
citizens desire annexation, but the Phil
ippine islands are too far away, and
their people too different from ours to
be annexed to the United States, even
if they desired it,
He favors the annexation of terrific
ries where there is a chance to con-
struct states, in preference to the policy
of holding dependencies with no such
object in view.