The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-12-16
AGAINST EXPANSION.
". J. Bryan Interviewed About Re
cent Territorial Acquisitions.
he FlVORS RATIFYIEC TIE TREATY.
Americans Must DIsliaEaIsh Between E1-
PsDsiOn In the Western Hemisphere and
Expansion in the Orient which
Brings Us Allen Races.

Savannah, Ga, Dec 1A-CoL VIII
liam J. Bryan, upon leaving his CON-
mand yesterday, the Third Nebraska,
gave the following interview:
Ny reason for leaving the army was set forth
In ny letter TO the adjutaut general rendering
NY resignation Now that the treaty Of peace
has been concluded. believe that I can be
more useful 20 ny country as a civilian than a
soldier
Col Bryan then proceeded to the dis
cussion Of public questions, saying:
The people OF the United States having res
cued Cuba from foreign control may now re-
sumo the discussion Of the domestic problems
which confront this nation and to the consid-
Grafton 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 for
etgu arms; now they must defend themselves
and their country against foreign idea-the
colonial idea Of European nations. Heretofore
greed has perverted the government and used
ats Instrumental interference for private gain;
but now the very foundation principles Of our
government are assaulted
The imperialistic idea IS directly antago-
nistic 70 the idea and ideals which nave been
cherished by the American people since the
signing Of the declaration Of independence
Our nation must give uD any intention OF en-
tertng upon colonial policy tsuCh as is now
pursued By European countriss). OF it must
abandon the doctrine that governments derive
their Just powers from the consent Of the gov
erned-
We may believe that governments come up
from the people OF we may believe that govern
ments come down to the people from those who
possess the heaviest ca1nOus and the largest
ships, but we cannot advocate both doctrines
To borrow q Bible quotation "A house divided
against Itself cannot stand paraphraS NJ
L1ncOin's declaration. I may add that this ua-
ton cannot endure half republic and half col
ony-haf free ami half va-saL Our form Of
government even traditions. our present in
teresrs and our future welfare all forbid our
entering upon q career Of conquest
Jefferson has been quoted in support Of i'm
perlallSEn- but our opponents must DISTINGUISH
between expansion IN the western hemisphere
and an expansion that involves US in the quar-
rels Of EIrOps and the orient They must
still further distinguish between EXPANSION
which secures contiguous territory for future
settlement and expansion which secures Us
allen races for future subjuEation- Jefferson
favored the annexation Of necessary c0uti-u-
Gus territory on The North American CONT
ne1t but he was opposed 20 wars OF conquest
and expressly condemned the acquiring OF re-
mote territory
When asked how the colonial policy
could be prevented Col Bryan said:
Some think that the fight should be made
against ratification Of the treaty but would
prefer another plan II the treaty is rejected
negotiations must be renewed and instead Of
settling the question according TO our ideas we
must settle IL o. Qlploll1cys Win the posi-
billy OF International complications II viii
be easier. think. to end the war at once By
ratifying the treaty and -hen deal with the sub
Jet IN our own way. The issue can be presented
directly by q resolution o. congress declaring
the policy OF The nation upon this subject The
president, in his mes>gE- says that our only
purpose in taking possession Of Cuba is to es-
tablish q stable government aud then turn that
government over TO the people Of Cuba Con-
Eress could re-afi-u this purpose in regard 70
Cuba and assert the same purpose in regard to
the Philippine Islands and Porto Rico
Such a resolution w5u N .ze clear cut is
sue between the d0Ctr-us Cf seIf-gOvernment
and the doctrine Of inpsria' ism We should
reserve hGrbOr and cOIiin, station in Porto
Rico and the Philippine in return for services
rendered and I think ws would be justified in
asking the same concession from Cuba
In the case Of POr,0 Et5co where the people
have as yet expressed d asire for an indie
pendent government, W. might with prOpriety
declare our WILLINGNESS 20 annex the island II
the citizens desire annexation; but the Phil
fppine Islands are too far away and their peO-
PIE too different from ours 20 be annexed 70 the
United States, even IL they desired it
Col Bryan left Savannah last night
for Washington. He intends to enter
actively into the fight against the
colonial policy.