The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-12-17
BRYAN CAN TALK FREELY now
The Distinguished Democratic Leader
Declares Against Expanston.
HE SAYS COLONIZATION MEANS DEATH
TO THE REPUBI4lC.

Colonel William J. Bryan upor
leaving his command at Savannah
Ca, Tuesday, gave out the follow
ing statement for the press:
/ MY reason for leaving the army
was set forth in my letter to the ad
ljutant general rendering my resigna
ton. Now that the treaty of peace
has been concluded, | believe | car
be more useful to my country as &
civilian than as q soldier"
Colonel Bryan then proceeded tc
the discussion of public questions
saying:
1.-THE people of the United States
having rescued Cuba from foreign
control, may now resume the dis
cussion of the domestic problems
which confront this nation and tc
the consideration of the new ques
tons arising out of the war.
A NEW DANGER.
II may be in error, but in my
judgment, our nation lis in greater
danger now than Cuba. Our people
defendedCuba against foreign arms
now they must defend themselves
and their country against a foreign
idea-the colonial idea of European
nations. Heretofore greed has per-
verified the government and used its
instrumental interference for pri-
vate gain; but now the very founda-
ton principles of our government
are assaulted.
1.-THE imperialistic idea is directly
antagonistic to the idea and ideals
which have been cherished by the
American people ever since the
signing of the Declaration of indie
pendence. Our nation must give
up any intention of entering upon
colonial policy-such as is now
pursued by European countries
or it must abandon the principle
that governments come up from the
people; or we may believe that gov
ernments come down to the people,
from those who possess the heaviest
cannons and the longest ships. but
we cannot advocate both doctrines
$50 borrow a Bible quotation,
"a house divided against itself can
not stand paraphrasing Lincoln's
declaration, | may add that this
nation cannot endure half republic
and half colony-half free and half
vassals. Our form of government.
even traditions, our present inter
ests and our future welfare, all for
bid our entering upon a career of
conquest.
Jefferson has been quoted in sup
port Of imperialism, but our oppo-
nents must distinguish between ex-
pansion in the western hemisphere
and expansion that involves US in
the quarrel of Europe and the Ori-
ent. They must still further dis
tinguish between expansion which
secures contiguous territory for fu-
ture 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 was opposed to wars of con
quest, and expressly condemned
the acquiring of remote territory
PROPOSES A CURE.
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, ne
gotiations must be renewed and
instead of settling the question ac-
cording to our ideas, we must settle
it by diplomacy with the possibility
of international complications. II
will be easier, think, to end 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 congress, declaring the policy of
the nation upon this subject. The
president in his message says that
our only purpose in taking posses
sion of Cuba is to establish a stable
government and then turn that gov
eminent over to the people of Cuba.
Congress could reaffirm this pur-
pose in regard to Cuba and assert
the same policy in regard to the
Philippines and Porto Rico. Such
a resolution would make a clear
cut issue between the doctrine of
self-government and the doctrine OF
We should reserve a
harbor and coaling station in Porto
Rico and the Philippines in return
for services rendered, and l think
we would be justified in asking the
same concession from Cuba.
sin the case of Porto Rico, where
the people have as yet expressed
no desire for an independent govern
ment, we might with propriety de-
clare our willingness to annex the
island if the citizens desire annexa-
ton, but the Philippine islands are