The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-12-15
OPPOSED TO COLONIZATION.
Bryan Gives His Idea of Our Duty r,
.5H ,~,r.1,n., Exnapsi on

Bryan Gives His Idea of Our Duty Re-
garding Expansion.
SAVANNAH, Ca, Dec. Is. Colonel w.
J. Bryan. upon leaving his command,
the Third Nebraska regiment, gave the
following interview: Il,
..1Iy 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 believe that / can be more use
ful TO my country as civilian than a
soldier
Colonel Bryan then proceeded to the
discussion of public questions saying:
s'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.
Says the Nation Is in Great Danger.
Il 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 foreign idea-the
colonial idea of European nations. Here
tofore greed has perverted the govern
ment and used its instrumental inf1u-
ences for private gain; but now the very
foundation principles of our govern
ment are assaulted.
The imperialist idea is directly an
tagonistic to the idea and ideals which
have been cherished by the American
people since the signing of the Declare
ton of Independence. Our nation must
give up any intention OF entering upon
a colonial policy (such as is now pur-
sued by European countries or it must
abandon the doctrine that governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed.
The Two Doctrines Antagonistic.
1--WE may believe that governments
come up from the people or we may be-
iieve that governments come down to
the people who possess the heaviest can
non and best ships, but we cannot advo-
cate both doctrines.
ITO borrow a Bible quotation, "a
house divided against itself cannot
stand Paraphrasing Lincoln's declara-
ton may add that this nation cannot
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 for
bid our entering upon career OF con-
quest
jefferson has been quoted in support
of imperialism. but our opponents must
distinguish between imperialism and
expansions: they must also distinguish
between expansion in the Western hem
isphere and an expansion in the Orient"
His Plan of Settling the Question.
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 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 posi-
bility of international complications. 1t
will be easier, 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 a
resolution of congress declaring the pol
icy of the nation upon this subject. The
president in his message says that our
only purpose in taking possession OF
Cuba is to establish stable government
and then turn that government over to
the people of Cuba.
Would Be Clear-Cut Issue.
Congress could reaffirm this purpose
in regard to Cuba and assert the same
purpose in regard to the Philippine ISL
ands and Porto Rico. Such resolution
would make clear-cut issue between
the doctrine of self-government and the
doctrine of imperialism.
''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
lIgEess tc annex the island, but the
Philippine islands are toe far away and
their people tee different from ours to
be annexed. even if they desired it,"
Colonel Bryan has left for Washing
ton He intends &c enter actively into
the fight against the colonial policy.