The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-31

The great question as 10 which colonel
our OWN Washington colonel or he
Nebraska colonei--has taken water On
the question of expansion is apparently
in pressing need Of authoritative deter
fnination- The Washington colonel In
military contemporary who has igno-
uliniousIy retreatea. using. however.
this most diplomatic language In the
Evening Times:
Since the attitude az Col Bryan or
that question has either been completely
n1ssrepresensed by newspaper reports
which have reached the Coast, or else
Col Bryan himself has come 10 radically
different conclusions with reference 10
tbs matter during the last three months,
IL may not be inappropriate az this mo
meat 70 re-dizeUss this proposition al
some length and state the exact position
which Col. Bryan now occupies with ref
srence 10 this all-!ruportant political sub
Ject.
II is obvious that either the news
papers or Col Bryan are entitled tn
gindicatien, and the Post -Intelligeneer
takes pleasure in performing that office
for both. In the absence Of any specific
charge against the offending journals.
a general denial only may be entered
and bill Of particulars asked for. As
for Col. Bryan. the proof Is at
hand that lie has stood in exactly the
same position not only for three months.
but for eight months. on the issue
OF Imperialism After Col Bryan de-
prived the army OF his distinguished
services. last December, he gave out an
interview al Savannah, Georgia. II was
a solemn warning that the Imperial
istic idea is antagnostic to the ideas and
ideals Of the American people since the
signing If the Declaration Of Indepen-
dence." He pointed out that jefferson
favored the annexation OF contiguous
territory on the North American CON
tinent. but he was opposed To wars of
conquest" lie added:
The president. In his message. saws
that our only purpose in taking posses
sion Of Cuba Is to establish a stable gov
eminent, and then turn that government
over 10 Cuba. Congress could reafflrm
this purpose In regard TO Cuba and assert
the same purpose I'm regard To The Philip
pines and Porto Rico. Such q resolution
would make clear-Cut issue beiween the
doctrine CT self-goyernment and the doc
trine Of imperialism, We should reserve
a harbor and coaling station In Porto
Rico and the Philippines In return for
services rendered. and | think Ne would
bc justified In asking the same concession
from cuba. In the case OF Porto Rico
where the people have as vet EXPRESSED
no desire for independent government We
might with propriety declare our willing
ness 70 annex the island II the citizens
desire annexation. hut the Philippine ISL
anGS are too far away and Their people
too different from ours To he annexed
to the United States, even IL they de-
sired 1T
In that celebrated Chicago symposium
of the two colonels-unequaleei In his
toric Importance and literary value
since the classic dialogues between
Socrates and Plato on the immortality
of the soui-the Nebraska stateman
said that he would thus advise the err
ing Filipiuos:
'At once arrange about your own do
niestir affairs and we VIII protect YOU
against the eucFoachmpnts az all other
nations ana assist you 10 the establish
ment OF q complete republic"
Now is the accepted time. says Col
Bryan, The fighting must stop order
must re restored by the insurgents
We will protect YOU from the greed Of
other nations and assist YOU II form
yoGr own government. We want a
naval station IN exchange for our own
services and trouble and then we'll
haul down eur flag and get out.
This is in substance the whole presen,
Bryan policy. How does it differ from
his December policye