Iron County register., 1898-12-22
BRYAN TALKS OUT.
The Colonial idea Is ImperiaIistfe
and Contrary to Ame.f-
can Principles.

can FEAEcEp4e8-
Upon forwarding his resignation as
colonel in the United States army a few
days ago, William j. Bryan gave ex-
preston TO his views On the subject of
expansion as follows:
The people of the United States,
having rescued Cuba from foreign con-
troll, may now resume the discussion
of the domestic problems which con-
front this nation and to the considcra-
ton OF the new questions arising out of
he war.
may be in error, but in my judg
ment our nation is in greater danger
Just now than Cuba Our people de-
Tended 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 its instrumental
lnterferences for private gain. but now
the very foundation principles Of our
government are assailed.
The imperiaiistic idea is directly
antagonistic 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
entering upon a colonial policy (such
as is now pursued by European coun-
triesI, or it must abandon the doctrine
that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned.
I'VE may believe that governments
come up from the people or we may be-
iieve that governments come down TO
the people from those who possess the
heaviest cannons and the largest ships,
but we cannot advocate both doctrines.
ITO borrow a Bible quotation: a
house divided against itself cannot
stand Paraphrasing Lincoln's declar-
alton, may add that this nation can
not endure half republic and half
colony-half free and half vassal. Our
form of government, our traditions,
our present interests and our future
welfare, all forbid our entering upon
career of conquest.
Jefferson has been quoted in sup
port of Imperialism, but our opponents
must distinguish between Imperialism
and expansion: they must also dis
tinguish between expansion in the
western hemisphere and an expansion
that involves us in the quarrels of Eu-
rope 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 future
subjuga:ion.
Jefferson favored the annexation of
necessary contiguous territory on the
North American continent, but he was
opposed to wars of conquest, and ex-
pressly condemned the acquiring of re-
mote territory"
When asked how the colonial policy
could be prevented, Col. Bryan said:
'Some think that the fight should be
q made against ratification of the treaty,
but 1 would prefer another plan. If
the treaty is rejected negotiations
must be renewed, and instead of set
Ting the question according to our
Ideas we must settle it by diplomacy.
with the possibility of international
complications. 1t will be easier, 1
think, to end the war at once by ratify-
ing the treaty and then deal with the
subject in our own way. The issue can
be presented directly by resolution OF
congress declaring the policy OF the
nation upon this subject.
1.-The president in his message says
that cur only purpose in taking pos
session of Cuba is to establish a stable
government and then turn that gov
ernment over to the people of Cuba.
Congress could reafhrm this purpose in
regard to Cuba and assert the same
purpose in regard TO the Philippine is
lands and Porto Rico. Such resolu-
ton would make a clear-cut issue be-
tween the doctrine of self-g1vernment
and the doctrine cf Imperialism. We
should reserve a harbor and coaling
station in Porto Rico and in the Philip
pines in return for services rendered; !;
and i think we would be justified IN
asking the same concession from Cuba.
''In the case of Porto Rico, where the
people have as yet expressed no desire
for an independent government, we
might with propriety declare our will
ingness to annex the island If the a. IL
zens desire annexation; but the Philip
pine islands are too far away and their
people too different from ours TO be ar
nexed to the United States, even if
they desired 1t"