Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-19
Interest Felt in His Campaigning
Tour There.
WILL FOLLOW The PRESIDEN 7
The Democratic Candidates Utter
ances on the Issues.
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION

coming campaigning tour of Mr. William
Jennings Bryan in Ohio. Following, as he
viii, Immediately in the footsteps of the
President, but singing a far different song
l. will be interesting to observe the effect
upon the people.
After all is said and done, the real ten
sion as to Ohio is over the verdict of the
voters upon the issue of expansion. 1t will
be accepted by many as 4 prophecy of 1900
and thereby draws their attention now
In no uncertain words the President has
laid down the issue in Ohio Several
speeches We're made within the borders of
the state yesterday. along the lines of his
utterances upon the Philippines question
in other states, and a republican policy ex-
plicity declared.
Mr. Bryan in Opposition.
Now comes Mr. Bryan for the opposition.
Before entering Ohio ne has stated his
position upon this question, speaking. it is
assumed, for the regular organization of
bis party. In two or three towns in Ken
lucky. this week, Mr.. Bryan touched upon
the Philippines. 1t is true he but lightly
struck the chord, harping strongest upon
the necessity of democratic unity on local
issues, but enough to announce his opposi-
tion to the republican policy.
Perusal OF the full reports of Mr.. Bryan's s
show that he aroused much enthusiasm
with his anti-Philippines talk Possibly a
democratic explanation would be that the
subject was overshadowed by the local
troubles of the democrats which he was
trying TO compose.
The Issue Drawn.
1t may be of interest to note how Mr.
Bryan dealt with this subject. At Bard
well, Ky, he said:
made speech in Minnesota last week and
for the first time declared the policy of the
republican party far as he can control
1t. He said that these future possessions
will be retained under the benign SOW
ereignty of the United States | do not
permit myself to doubt He announced
there that he expects this nation to perma-
nently hold the Philippine Islands. that
they will prove rich and Invaluable her
tage.' There he announces that he be-
lieves it will pay us to keep them. That
Congress will provide for them a govern
ment which will bring them blessings.
which Will promote their material interests
as we'll as advance their people in the path
of civilization and intelligence, I confident
ly believe. l call your attention to that
last sentence. He says that Congress will
provide for them government that will
bring blessings. If you will take that SEN
tence and change the word Congress to
parliament and then put colonists' where
you would put 'Filipinos in this sentence
it would be exactly the language Of George
III when he confidently believed that par
liament would give the colonists a good
government. If you would take that SEN
tence and in place Of Congress put .'cortes'
and in place of 'Fiipinos' put 'Cubans' you
would have a speech that would have done
credit to the Spanish monarch when in
terfered to protect the people of Cuba.
This is the first time a President of the
United States has openly abandoned the
Declaration of Independence and looked to
force or to purchase as foundation for
title. They tell us we have a good title to
the Philippines by buying 1t from Spain. Ah
my friends you can't buy a title to eight
million F'ilpinos. You can't buy 1t from
discredited monarch after we ourselves,
armed the Filipinos to fight against that
monarch.
Question of Imperialism.
At Litchfield, KY, he said: There Is an
other question, the question Of Imperialism,
which has been forced upon the country
by the action of the republican party. There
was no necessity for the intrusion of this
issue into American politics. There can be
no excuse for an imperial policy. If you
tell me that circumstances have pushed us
into war of conquest, l tell you there are
no cirCums tances that have pushed us into
war of conquest. l ask you why we
should retain the Philippine Islands as u
part of American territory. You tell me
1t is because Dewey destroyed a Spanish
fleet at Manila. l reply that Schley de-
stroyed fleet at Santiago, and yet we
promised to give Cuba her independence.
II you tell me we must keep the Philippine
Islands because the blood of American SOL
diers has stained the soil Of the Philip
pines. l tell you that the blood of the
American soldiers stained the soil of Cuba
at the battle OF San Juan and FL Caney,
and yet we have promised to make Cuba
Independent. Tell me we must retain the
Philippines because the American flag has
bee been raised over Philippine soil. re-
hnt
flag over MORO Castle and Havana on
the hrst day of this year, and yet we have
to haul it down when Cuba is ready to
raise the nag of stable government in
STEAD. Ihere Is not a circumstance that
can be pointed to as reason for the per-
manent possession of the Philippine Islands
mat would not justify US in holding Cuba
permanently. The only trouble Is that
the republican leaders have seen the Phil
ippinc Islands and have made up their
minds that those islands are rich in op-
portunlues for exploiters, and rather than
10 give the Philippines the right to govern
themselves, the republican party is will
ing to abandon the doctrine set forth in
the Declaration of Independence and en-
ter upon colonial policy Our plan was
SET tofth In the Bacon resolution. We
are IN favor of establishing law and order
In the Philippine Islands but we are in
favor OF notifying the Filipinos and the
~orid tnat our purpose Is not permanent
DOMINATION or sovereignty, but that it is
when established shall be turned over to
the Philippine government and shall be
their government, and not ours We say
10 the Filipinos, We have driven the Span
lafd out; stand up free; and to all the
world we say. Hands off. and let the re-
pupilc live and work out its destiny"
Interest in the Revolt.
with these ideas to exploit, Mr.. Bryan
enters Ohio, where the President has pre-
ceded him with the republican proposition
for handling the Philippines, and which
received enthusiastic Endorsement. The re-
sponse OF the people to Mr. Bryan's plans
Will De watched with close attention.