The age-herald., 1898-12-14
BRYAN OPPOSES
 IMPERIALISM Philippines Should Be Treated as Cuba
 Is to Be. FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES
PRINCIPLES
or the Government Assaulted by h6H
 Idea of COlOnialiSm.
NO FIGHT AGAINST RATIFICATION
If the Treaty Fails in the Senate, 1t Would Only Cause Renewal of Negotiations, and Possibly
 Foreign Intervention.

Savannah, Ga, December 13.-Colonel WIZ liam J. Bryan, upon leaving his command today. the Third Nebraska regiment, gave the following interview:
 My reason for leaving army was set forth in my letter to the adjutant-general rendering my resignation Now, that the treaty of peace has been concluded, be- lieve that l can be more useful to my country as a civilian than as soldier
 Colonel Bryan then proceeded to the dis cussion of public questions, saying:
 ''rhe people of the United States, having rescued Cuba from foreign control, may now resume the discussion of the domesuc problems which confront this nation and to the consideration of new questions arls- ing out of the war.
 II 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; they must now de- fend themselves and their country aga1nst a foreign idea-the colonial idea of Euro pean nations. Heretofore greed has per- verted the government and used It's instru- mentaities for private gain; but now the very foundation principles of our goyern- ment are assaulted.
 The Imperialistlc Idea
 "The imperialistic idea is entirely antag- onistic to the idea and ideals which have been cherished by the American people since the signing of the declaration of in dependence. Our nation must give up any intention of entering upon colonial policy (such as now pursued by European coun- tries), or it must abandon the doctrine that governments derive their just powers from the consent 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 tn heaviest cannons and +I, lar telf but odt n atl both doctrines.
 "To borrow a Bible quotation, "A house divided against itself cannot stand para phrasing Lincolns declaration, l may add that this nation cannot endure half repub- lie and half colony-half free and half vas sal. Our form of government, our tradi- tions, our present interests and our future welfare all forbid our entering upon a career of conquest.
 Jefferson has been quoted in support or imperialism, but our opponents must dis tinguish between imperialism and expan- sion; they must also distinsSish between expansion in the western hemisphere and an expansion that involves us in the quar- rels of Europe and the orient. They must still further distinguish between expansion which secures contiguous territory for fur ther settlement and expansion which se- cures us alien races for future subjugation.
 Jefferson an Annexationist
 "Jefferson favored the annexation of ne- cessary territory on the North American continent, but he was opposed to wars of conquest and expressly condemned the ac- quiring of remote territory"
 When asked how the colonial policy could be prevented, Colonel Bryan said:
 Some tn nk that the light should be made against the ratification of the treaty, but I would prefer another plan. If the treaty is rejected, negotiations must be re- newed, and instead of settling the question according to our own ideas, we must set tie it by diplomacy, with the possibility Of international complications. It will be easier, think, to settle 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 con- gress declaring the policy of the nation upon this subject. The president says in his message that our only purpose in talk ing possession of Cuba Is to establish a stable government and then turn over that government to the people of Cuba. Con- gress could reaffirm this purpose in regard to Cuba and assert the same policy in re- gard to the Philippines and Porto Rico.
 A Clear Cut Issue
 "Such resolution would make a clear cut issue between the doctrine of self-gov- ernment and the doctrine of imperialism. We should reserve 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 concession from Cuba.
 "In the case of Porto Rico, where the people have as yet exhibited no desire for an independent government, we might with propriety declare our willingness to annex the island If the citizens desire annexation but the Philippine islands arc too far away and their people too different from ours to be annexed to the United States, even if they desired it.''
 Colonel Bryan leaves Savannah tonight for Washington, and will arrive there Wednesday afternoon. He intends to enter actively into the fight against the colonial policy. In fact it is evident that this was the main cause that led to his resignation.