The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-14
BRYAN is FREE.
He is No Longer Afflicted With
Military Lock Jaw
And Will Enter at Once Upon
the Fight Against
EXPANSION SCHEME
He Favors the Retention of
COaIing Stations Only
In the Islands Secured From
Spain by the War.

Savannah, Ga, Dec. 14.-Col. w. J.
Bryan upon leaving his command, the
Third Nebraska, gave the following in
terview:
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 con-
Guided, 1 believe that can be more
useful to my country as a civilian than
as a soldier
Col. Bryan then proceeded to the dis
cussion of public questions, saying:
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.
I 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 col
Onfal idea of European nations. Here
tOfore greed has perVaded the govern
ment and used its instrumental inter-
ference for private gain; but now the
very foundation principles of our gov
eminent are assaulted.
1.-The imperialistfc idea is directly an
tagOnfstic to the idea and ideals which
have been cherished by the American
people since the signing of the declar-
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.
1--WE may believe that governments
come up from the people or we may be-
Heve that governments come down to
the people from those who possess the
heaviest cannonS and the longest ships,
but we cannot advocate both dostrines.
ITO borrow Bible quotation, "A
house divided against itself can not
stand;' paraphrasing Iincoln's declar-
alton I may add this nation can not en-
dure half republic and half coIony-half
free and half vassal. Our form of gov
eminent, even traditions, our present
interests and our future weIfare,a all for
bid our entering upon a career of con-
quest.
Jefferson has been quoted in support
of Imperialism, but our opponents must
distinguish between expansion in the
western hemisphere and an expansion
that involves US IN the quarrelS of Eur
Ope and the Orient. They must still furth-
er distinguish between expansion which
secures contiguous territory for future
settlement and expansion, and that
which secures us alien races for future
subjugation.
Jefferson favored the annexation of
necessary contiguous territory on the
North American continent but he OPP
posed wars of conquest and expressly
condemned the acquiring of remote ter
ritOry."
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, I think, to end the war
at once by ratifying the treaty and we
deal with the subject in our own coun-
try. The issue can be presented direct
ly by a resolution of congress declaring
the policy of the nation upon this sub
ject. The president in his message says
that our only purpose in taking possess
sion Of Cuba is to establish a stable
government and then turn that govern
ment over to the people of Cuba Con-
gress could reaffirn this purpose in re-
gard to Cuba and assert the same pur-
pose in regard to the Philippines and
Porto Rico. Such a resolution would
make a clear cut issue between the doc
trine of seIf-government and the doc
trine of imperialism. We should re-
serve a harbor and coaling station in
Porto Rico and the Philippines in return
for services rendered and I think we
would be justified in asking the same