The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-14
RRYAN'STONGUE UNLOoSED
orT OF THE ARMY, HE STARTS OUT
TO DEMOLISH COLONIES.

49,. w. Can't Have Colonies and Stick to
The Old LandmRrks-Favors RntifyinE
tho Treaty and Then Giving Up Our Now
Lands, Retaining CoalinE Stations.
SAVANNAH. Ga. Dec. l3.-Col. William Jen-
,irrs Bryan, until last night In nina OF
,be Third Nebraska Regiment. Infantry. left
savannah tonight. for Washington. He will
s,ov here a few days before going West. Col.
pryan has been very popular in Savannah. He
was escorted to the station by quite q number
oitho officers OF his late command,
The silence which has made Col. Bryan as
rotel since entering the army as his readiness
10 talk upon any public question before that
event was broken this afternoon for the second
limo since he was commissioned. He said. in
connection with his resignation:
"My reason for leaving the army was act
forth in my letter to the Acknowledgement ten
daring my resignation. Now that the treaty Of
reoce has been concluded. / believe that l can
he more useful to my country as a civilian than
as a soldier
col. Bryan then proceeded to the discussion
Of public questions. saying:
.'Tbe people OF the United States. having
,.srned Cuba from foreign control. may now
resume the discussion OF the domestic prob
lens which confront this nation and to the
consideration OF the new questions arising out
Of the war. ] may be in error. but In my Judg-
msnt our nation is In greater danger just now
than is Cuba. The people defended Cuba
again. foreign arms; now they must defend
themselves and their country against a foreign
dca-thei colonial idea OF. European nations.
Heretofore greed has perverted the Govern
ment and used its instrumentalities for private
gain. but now the very foundation PRINCIPLES Of
our Government are assaulted.
THE imperialistic idea is directly antago-
nis,ic to the idea and ideals which have been
cherished by the American people since the
signing Of the Declaration OF Independence.
Our nation must give up any intention OF enter
ing upon n colonial policy such as is now pur-
sued by European countries. or 1t must aban-
don the doctrine that governments derive their
lust powers from the consent OF the governed.
We may believe that governments come up
from the people, or we may believe that gov
ernments come down to the people from those
who possess the heaviest cannon and the larg-
trines. 10 borrow a Bible quotation. A house
divided against itself cannot stand
'"Paraphrasing Lincoln's declaration, I may
add that this nation cannot endure half repub-
lie and half colony. half free and half vassal.
Our form Of government. our traditions. our
forbid our entering upon a career Of conquest.
Jefferson has been quoted in support Of i'm
p DeIh nj w but our ,mns S9p2Iia am sn5 %9 aInS dlsfln-
pansion nun in the he western Hemisphere and
rels OF Europe and the. Orient. They must
still further distinguish between expan-
sion which secures contiguous territory for
us alien races for future. subjugation. Jeffer-
son favored the annexation OF necessary con-
tiguous territory on the North American con-
tinent. but he was opposed TO wars OF conquest
and expressly condemned the acquiring OF re-
mote territory"
When asked how the colonial policy could be
prevented. Col, Bryan said:
against the ratif1 cation of the treaty. but l
would prefer another plan. II the treaty is re-
Jected, negotiations must, be renewed, and In
own ideas we must settle it by diplomacy. with
the possibility Of international complications
1t will be easier. / think, to end the war at once
BY r~atifying the treaty. and deal with the sub
""The issue can be presented directly, by a
resolution OF Congress declaring the policy Of
the nation upon this subject. The President
taking possession of Cuba is to establish a
stable government and then turn the govern
ment over to the people Of Cuba. Congress
could reaffirm this purpose in regard to Cuba
and assert the same purpose in regard to the
Philippine Islands and Porto Rico, Such a
resolution would make a clear-cut issue, be-
doctrine OF imperialism: We should reserve q
harhor and coaling stations in Porto Rico and
the, Philippines in return for services rendered.
same concession from Cuba.
I'm the case Of Porto Rico, where the people
have as yetexpressed no desire for an indie
pendent goyernment.1we might with propriety
declare our Willingness to annex the island. II
the citizens desire annexation, but the Philip
pine islands are too far away and their people
United States, even il they desired it,
Col. Bryan intends to enter actively In the
fight against the colonial policy. In fact. II is
evident that this was the main cause that led