The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-14
His Plan of Campaign Already FOr-
muIated. and He VIII Go to WASH
ington and Direct Its Execution.
Mr.. BAILEY ALSO AMBITIOUS
HE WILL. LEAD A CRUSADE AGAINST
SOLDIER CONGREssMEN.
The Texan Questions the Right OF
"Joc,' wheeler and Other officers
to Retain Seats in the House.

SAVANNAH, Ga, Dee. 13.-Col w. ].
Bryan, on leaving his command to-day, the
Third Nebraska Regiment, gave the follow
ing interview
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 concluded, I be-
neve that 1 can be more useful to my coun-
try as civilian than soldier"
Colonel Bryan then proceeded to the dis
cusson of public questions saying: ''The
people of the United States having rescued
Cuba from foreign control, may now resume
discussion of the domestic problems which,
confront this Nation and proceed to consid-
Grafton of the new questions arising out of
the war may be in error, but in my judg-
ment Nation is in greater danger just
now than Cuba. Our people defended Cuba
against foreign arms; now they must defend
themselves and their country against for
eign ideas-the colonial idea of European
nations. Heretofore greed has perverted the
government and used its instrumental inter-
ferences for private gain, but now the very
foundation principles of our government arc
assaulted.
THE imperialstic idea is directly antago-
nistic 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 countries0 or 1t
must abandon the doctrine that govern
ments derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. We may believe that
governments come up from the people, or
we may believe that governments come
down to the people from those who possess
the heaviest cannons and the longest ships,
but we cannot advocate both doctrines. To
borrow a Bible quotation, "A house divided
against itself cannot stand;' paraphrasing
Lincoln's declaration, l may add that this
Nation cannot endure half republic and half
colony-half free and half vassal Our form
of government, even traditions, our present
interests and our future welfare, all forbid
our entering upon a career of conquest
jefferson has been quoted in support of
Imperialism, but our opponents must dis
tinguish setween expansion in the western
hemisphere and an expansion that involves
us in the quarrel of Europe and the Orient
They must still further distinguish between
expansion which secures contiguous terri
tory for future settlement and expansion
which secures us alien races for future sub
iugation. Jefferson favored the annexation
of necessary contiguous territory on the
North American continent, but he was op-
posed to wars of conquest and expressly
condemned the acquiring of remote terri
tory"
When asked how the colonial policy could
be prevented Colonel Bryan said: Some
think that the fight should be made against
ratification of the treaty, but 1 would prefer
another plan. If the treaty is rejected, ne
gotiations must be renewed, and instead of
settling the question according to our ideas
we must settle it by diplomacy. with the
possibility of international complications. 1t
viii be easier, / think, to end the war at
once by ratifying the treaty and then deal
with the subject in our own way. The is
sue can be presented directly by resolution
of Congress declaring the policy of the
Nation upon this subject. The President
in his message says that our only purpose
in taking possession of Cuba is to establish
a stable government and then turn that
government over to the people of Cuba.
Congress could reaffirm this purpose in re-
gard to Cuba and assert the same purpose
in regard to the Philippine islands and Porto
Rico. Such resolution would make clear
cut issue between the doctrine of self-gov-
ernment and the doctrine of imperialism.
We should reserve Il harbor and coalng
station in Porto Rico and the Philippines
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 ex-
pressed no desire for an independent govern
ment, we might with propriety declare our
willingness to annex the island if the citi-
zens desire annexation; but the Philippine
islands are too far away, and their people
too different from ours to be annexed to the
United States even if they desired it,
Colonel Bryan left Savannah tonight for
Washington. and will arrive there Wednes-
day afternoon. He intends 70 enter actively
into the fight against the colonial policy.