The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-14
COL. BRYAN
Gives His Reasons for Resign
ing from the Army.

upon leaving his command today, gave
the following interview:
My reason for leaving the army was
set forth in my letter to the adjutant gem
ersl tendorinng my resignation. Now that
the treaty of peace has been concluded.
believe that 1 can bo more usetul to
my country as civilian than o soldier. -
Col Bryan then proceeded to tho dis
cusion OF public questions, saying.
THE people. having 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 ] may be In error, but
in my judgment our 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 foreign idea--the col
onial idea of European nations Hereto
fore greed has prevented the govern
Sc. ANA used its instrumental interfer-
ence for private gain; but now tho very
foundation principles Of our government
are assaulted. The imperiaustc idea IS
directed antagonistic to the idea and IDEAS
which have been cherished by the Ameri-
can people since the signing Of the declar-
alton Of independence. Our nation must
give up any intention of entering upon a
colonial policy Csueh as Is now pursued
by European eountrles) or It must aban-
don the doctrine that governments derive
their just powers from the consent of
the governed. We beleve that govern
ments come up from the people. or We
may believe that governments come down
to the people from those who possess Ine
heaviest cannons and the longest ships,
but we cannot advocate both doctrines.
ALSO LINCOLN's SPEECH.
To borrow a Bible quotation. "a house
divided against itself cannot stand;" pa
raphrasing Linooln's declaration, 1 may
add that this nation cannot endure half
republic and half eolony--half free and
half vassal. Our form OK government,
even traditions, oru present interests and
our future welfare, all forbid our enter
ing upon a career of conquest
jefferson has been quoted in support OF
Imperialism. but our opponents must dis
upguish between expansion In the western
hemisphere and an expansion that In yVlys
f. the quarrel Of Europe and the OrlsL {.
They must stHl further distinguish be-
tween expansion which secures contiguous
territory for future settlement and expau-
sion, and that which secures US allen
races for future sub:ugation.
Jefferson favored the annexation Of nee
essary contiguous territory on the North
American continent but he was opposed
to wars Of conquests and expressly con-
demned the acquiring Of remote terri
tory"
When asked how the colonial policy
could be prevented. Col Bryan said:
Some think that the fight should be
made egg ms ratification of the treaty
but 1 would prefer another plan. If the
treaty is rejected negotiations must De
renewed, and instead Of seuilttgnnnnnnn
renewed, and instead Of settling the aues-
tion according to our ideas, we must
settle it with diplomacy. 1t will be easi-
er. 1 think. to end the war at once by
ratifying the treaty and then deal with
the subject In our own way. The issue
car be presented directly by a resolution
oe congress declaring the policy Of the ma
tion upon this subject. The President, in
hts 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
Congress could reafhrm this purpose in
regard to Cuba and, assert the same pur-
pose in regard to the Philippines and
Porto Rico.
Such resolution would mako a clear
cut issue between the doctrine OF self
kgovernment and the doctrine Of imper-
ialism.
We should reserve harboT and eoaiins
station In Porto Rico. and the Philippines
in return for services rendered, and
think We would be justified In asking the
same concession from Cuba.
IL the case OF Porto Rico, where the
people have as yet expressed no desire
for an independent government, We might
With propriety declare our Willingness tC
enne' the island is the citizens desire an.
nea alton; -put tho Philippine Islands ar'
too far away and their people too diffsr'
ent from ours 70 be annexed to the United
Sta tes, even II they desired It,"