Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-12-22
BRYAN AND EXPANSION.
He Resigns From One Army to
J0in Another.


Join Another.
Col. w. J. Bryan upon leaving his
the Third Nebraska Regl-
ment, gave the following interview to
the press:
s'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, l believe that l can be more
useful to my country as civilian than
q soldier
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.
IL may he in error, but in my Judg-
ment our nation is in greater danger
lust now than Cuba. Our people de-
Tended Cuba against foreign arms; now
they must defend themselves and their
country against foreign idea-the
colonial idea of European nations.
Heretofore greed has perverted the
government and used its instrumental
interferences for private gain, but now
the very foundation principles OF our
government are assaulted.
1.-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 a colonial policy (such as is now
pursued by European countries) or 1t
must abandon The doctrine that gov
ernments derive their just powers FROM
the consent of the governed.
"We may believe that government
comes up from the people, or we may
believe that governments come down to
the people from those who possess the
heaviest cannons and the largest ships,
but we cannot advocate both doctrines.
To borrow Bible quotation, "A house
divided against itself cannot stand;' par
aphrasing Lincoln's declaration, l may
add that this nation cannot endure hall
republic and half colony-half free and
! half vassal Our form of government
our traditions, our present interests
and our future welfare, all forbid oul
entering upon a career of conquest
Jefferson has been quoted in sup
| port of imperialism, but our opponents
must distinguish between imperialism
and expansion; they must also distin
| guish between expansion in the western
hemisphere and an expansion that in
wolves US in the quarrels of Europe and
the Orient. They must still further
distinguish between expansion which
secures contiguous territory for future
settlement and expansion which secures
us alien races for further subjugation
jefferson favored the annexation of nee
iessary contiguous territory on the Nortl
American continent, but be was op
posed to wars of conquest and ex
pressly condemned the acquiring of re
mote territory.
Some think that the fight should b
made against the ratification of TIN
tire lty, but [ would prefer another plan
If the treaty is rejected negotiation
must be renewed and instead of settle
ing the question according to our idea
We must settle it by diplomacy, wit
the possibility of international compl
cations.
"It will be easier, think, to end til
war at once by ratifying the treaty an
then deal with the subject in our ow
way. The issue can be presented d
fectly by resolution of Congress d.
claring the policy of the nation upo
this subject. The President says in hi
message that our only purpose in tai
ing possession of Cuba is to establish
stable government. and then turn tina
government over to the people of Cub;
Congress should reaffirm this purpos
, in regard TO Cuba, and assert the sam
IpurpOse in regard to the Philippine Il
, lands and Porto Rico Such a resolr
ton would make clear. cut issue b.
tween the doctrine of self-governmen
and the doctrine of imperialism. w
would reserve harbor and coaling st;
ton in the Porto Rico and the Philil
pines in return for services rendered
and | think we would be justified i
asking the same concession from Cubi
TN the case of Porto Rico, where tn
lpeoi l. have as yet expressed no desil
for an independent government, W
might with propriety declare our vii
ingness to annex the island. if the Cit
zens desire annexation, but the Philil
pine Islands are too far away, and the
people too different from our people, I
be annexed to the United States, even
hey desire it,"
Colonel Bryan has left Savannah fc
Washington, and arrived there yeste
lay afternoon. He intends to ent,
actively into the fight against the col
NAL policy. In fact, it is evident th,
this was the main cause that led to h
| resignation.
VIII R Speck, editor of the Ware
County Gazette, Richardsville, Ky