The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1899-08-09
AUGUST ., 1899.
eryan Dlseussess Phlllppines.


William jennings Bryan dis
cusses the Philippine question in
this weeks New York Independent.
He says:
"The Philippine question is i'm
portant because fundamental prin-
oiples are involved in its discus
sion. There.are two sources of gov
ernment, force and consent. Mon
arohies are founded upon force, re-
publios upon consent.
"The declaration of indepen-
deflce asserts that governments de-
rive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed and the exact
doctrine to which we have adhered
for more than century. 1t is the
doctrine which has distinguished
us from European countries and
has made our nation the hope of
humanity. The statue in New
York harbor typifies the nations
mission.
eff the doctrine set forth in the
declaration of Independence is
sound, how can we rightfully &C
quire sovereignty over the Filipi-
nos by war of conquest. If the
doctrine set forth in the declara-
ton of independence is sound how
can we rightfully purchase sover-
eighty from Spanish a sovereign
whose title was disputed in Cuba,
and whose rebellious subjects were
armed in the Philippines.
SIN the resolution of interven-
ton Congress declared that the Gu
bans were and of right ought to
be free. Why2 Because govern
eminent derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed,
and Spain had refused to respect
the wishes of the Cubans. If the
Cubans were and of right ought to
be free, why not the Filipinos2
"In the beginning of the Span
ish war Congress denied that our
nation had any thought of extend
ing it's territory by war. If we
then had not thought of securing
by conquest new territory, in the
western hemisphere, why should
we now talk of securing in the cas-,
tern hemisphere new races for sub
jugation?
"An individual may live a dou-
BILE life when only one life is known.
When both lives are known we can
lead only one life and that the
worst. a republic cannot enter
upon colonial policy, 1t cannot
advocate government by consent at
home and government by force
abroad. The declaration of indo-
pendence will lose it's value when
we proclaim the doctrine familiar
to Europe, but detestable here, that
governments are round in shape,
about 10 inches in diameter and
fired out of cannon.
"For more than n century this
country has been travelling along
the pathway which loads from low
domain of might to the lofty realm
of right and its history has been
without parallel in the annals of
recorded time. What will be our
fate if we turn backward and begin
the decent toward force and con-
quest?
at is not sufficient to say that
the forcible acquisition of tho Phil
ippines is benevolent act under
taken for the good of the Filipinos
Lincoln pointed out that this has
always been the argument of kings
To use his words they always be-
strobe the necks of the people, not
that they wanted to do it, but be-
cause the people were better off for
being ridden.
at is surprising that any believ-
or in self government should favor
forcible action, but still more sur
prising that any one who believes
in the Christian religion should
favor the substitution of force for
reason in the extension of our ma
tion's influence.
eff we adopt the gunpowder Cos
pei in the Philippines how long
will it be before that principle will
be transplanted in American soil?
Solong as our arguments, are ad-
dressed to reason and the heart our
progress is sure, but can we, with
out danger to Christianity, resort
to the ancient plan of injecting re-
ligion into the body through bull
let holes2