The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-17
OPPOSED TO COLONIZATION.
.''ysn Gives His Idea OF Our Dutv n.
gardlng Expansion.

ooHD ~ COLONIZATION.
.'Ssn lives His Idea Of Our Duty RI.
g"rding Expansion.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Dec. 15.-Colonel ".
=. bryan, upon leaving his command
tne Third Nebraska regiment. gave to-
Following interview:
MY reason for leaving the army wal
set 1orth in my letter to the adiutant
general rendering my resignation. Now
tnat the treaty Of peace has been con.
cluded l believe that l can be more use.
u 10 my country as a civilian than a
Colonel Bryan then proceeded to tha
discussion 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
hatlon and to the consideration of the
new questions arising out of the war.
Says the Nation Is in Great Danger.
II may be in error, but in my iude.
ment our nation is in greater danger
just now than Cuba. Our people de-
iended Cuba against foreign arms: low
they must defend themselves and their
country against a foreign idea-the
colon' idea of European nations. Here.
tofore greed has perverted the govern
ment and used its instrumental inlu.
ences Tor private gain; but now the very
foundation principles of our govern
ment are assaulted.
The ~imperialht idea is directly an.
tagonistic to the idea and ideals which
nave 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
q colonial policy (such as is now nj
sued by European countries) or it must
abandon the doctrine that governments
derive their just powers from the n
sent of the governed.
The Two Doctrines A~ntagonistic.
I'VE may believe that governments
come up from the people or we may be-
lieve that governments come down to
the people who possess the heaviest can
o 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-
lion 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 u entering upon a 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 l 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. II
will be easier. l think, TO end the war a
once by ratifying the treaty and ther
deal with the subject in Il own way
The issue can be presented directly by
resolution Of congress declaring the pol
icy of the nation upon this subject. Thu
president in his message says that oul
only purpose in taking possession OF
Cuba is TO establish a stable government
and then turn that government over t.
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 a resolution
would make a clear-cut issue between
the doctrine Of self-government and thu
doctrine Of imperialism.
lin the case Of Porto Rico, where thu
people have as yet expressed no desire
for an independent government, W
might with propriety declare u will
ingpess to annex the island, but thu
Philippine islands are too far away ant
their people too different from ours Il
be annexed. even if they desired it,
Colonel Bryan has left for Washing
ton. He intends to enter actively int
the fight against the colonial policy.
The Deadly Little sessamoid.