Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-08
COLONEL WILLIAM ]. bryan.
Continued from First Page.


supporting the single gold standard.
The Democratic party will not return
to the days of uncertainty and evasion.
When the opponents of 16 to l agree
upon another ratio it will be time
enough to compare the merits of the
new ratio with the merits of the old
ratio. But they will not be permitted
to suspend the party in mid-air. out
Of the reach of 16 to and out of
sight of anything else. To surrender
the ratio is to accept the
GOLD STANDARD AS FINAL.
THE Chicago platform was good
when it was adopted; it grows better
with age. 1t was strong in 1896; it is
stronger now.
But enough of old issues; what of
the new questions? Our party cannot
ignore the issues raised by the war. 1t
must speak out against militarism now
or forever hold its peace. A large
standing army is not only an expense
to the people, but it is a menace to the
nation, and the Democratic party will
be a unit in opposing it.
"a word in regard to imperialism.
Those who advocate the annexation of
the Philippines call themselves expan-
sionists. but they are really imperial
lists. The word expansion would de-
scribe the acquisition of territory to
be populated by homogeneous people
and to be carved into States like those
now in existence. An empire suggests
variety in race and diversity in gov
eminent. The imperialists do not de-
sire to clothe the Filipinos with all
the rights and privileges of American
citizenship; they want to exercise SOW
ereignty over an alien race and they
expect to rule the new subjects upon
a theory entirely at variance with con-
stitutional government. Victoria is
Queen of Great Britain and Empress
of India; shall we change the title of
our Executive and call him the Pres
ident of the United States and Emperor
of the Philippines?
"THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
stood for the money of the constitution
in 1896; it stands for the government
of the constitution now. 1t opposed an
English financial policy in 1896; it OPP
poses an English colonial policy now
Those who in 1896 were in favor of
turning the American people over to
the greed of foreign financiers and do
turn the Filipinos over to the tender
mercies of military governors and car
petbag officials.
Those who in 1896 thought the peo-
pie of the United States too weak to at
tend to their own business may now
think them strong enough to attend to
the business of remote and alien races;
but those who in 1896 fought for indie
pendence for the American people will
now withhold independence from those
who desire it elsewhere.
I'VE are told that the Filipinos are
not capable of self-government; that
has a familiar ring. Only two years
ago | heard the same argument made
against a very respectable minority of
the people OF this country. The money
loanerS, who coerced borrowers did it
upon that theory; the employers who
coerced their employees did it for the
same reason. Self-government in
creases with participation in govern
ment. The F'ilipinos are not far
enough advanced to share in the gov
eminent of the people of the United
States, but they are competent to gov
ern themselves. 1t is not fair to COM
pare them with our own citizens, be-
cause the American people have been
educating themselves in the science of
government for nearly three centuries,
and while we have much to learn, we
have already made great improvent.
The Filipinos will not establish
A PERFECT GOVERNMENT
but they will establish a government as
nearly perfect as they are competent to
enjoy, and the United States can protect
them from molestation from without.
The Republicans of Illinois, of course.
will not expect the Filipinos to select a
Legislature equal to the last Republican
Legislature in fidelity to the public wei
fare. Illinois became a State nearly a
century ago and the Legislature which
enacted the Allen Law was as it were
the ripened fruit of long experience. Give
the Filipinos time and opportunity, and
while they will never catch up with US,
unless we cease to improve, yet they may
some day stand where we stand now.
What excuse can be given for the
adoption of a colonial policy? Secretary
Gage disclosed the secret in his Savannah
speech. l think we might be justified in
calling Mr.. Gage the key hole of the adj
him to learn what is going on within the
executive council chamber. He suggested
that philanthropy and five per cent
would go hand in hand IN the new VEN
ture. These are the two arguments which
are always used in favor of conquest
Philanthropy and five per cent The one
chloroforms the conscience of the con-
queror and the other picks the pockets of
the conquered
Some say that Philanthropy demands
that we govern the Filipinos for their own
good. while others assert that we must
hold the islands because of the pecuniary
profit to be derived from them
DENY THE SOUNDNESS
of both arguments. Forcible annexation
will not only be criminal aggression Uo
borrow Mr. McKinleys language of a year
ago. but it will cost more than it is worth,
and the whole people will pay the cost
while a few will reap all the benefits.
Still weaker is the argument based up
on religious duty. The Christian religion
rests upon the doctrine of vcarous suf-
fering and atonement; the colonial policy
rests upon the doctrine of vicarious en-
joyment.
When the desire to steal becomes I'M
comfortable in an individual, he is de-
clared to be a kleptomaniac and is sent
to an asylum; when the desire to grab
land becomes uncomfortable in a nation
we are told that the currents of destiny