Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-03

press to the effect that he ever. coun-
seized the cruel and cold blooded aban-
donment of the Philippines in calm dis
regard OF national obligations formally
undertaken not q year ago. It may be
safely predicted that when Congress
meets and the Administration develops
Its policy the Democratic party will be
found united In hearty support of 1t, II
by any strange chance 1t shall prove to
be an American territorial policy, and
In inleXible opposition to It, If, as there
Is too much reason to fear, 1t shall
prove to be q foreign colonial policy.
No Democrat desires to see this repub-
lican Government attempt to hold an
unwilling people in perpetual subjec-
ton. Despotism at one place means ul-
Innate despotism in all places. We cans
not exist part slave and part free. 1t
lis question between the American ter
ritorlal plan and the European colonial
system, which has Just now rotted
down and sunk away under the blind
Spaniard. When order shall be re-
stored in the islands; when armed dis
turner's shall have disappeared, and
when the protecting authority OF the
United States shall be disputed by none
as 1t now is by few only the real
voice of the Philippine people can be
heard and may be needed. But untn
then no man has warrant to say tina,
they are reluctant to Join their fortunes
with the republic which has swept out
their oppressors. which offers them the
rich gift of liberty regulated by law
and whose touch In all It's Territories
previously acquired has evoked Derma-
nent peace, order and unexampled pros
perity.
To those timid souls who conceive
that American institutions are to suffer
some peculiar strain by TERRITORIAL
int H.
cessive interpretations of vast reg,-.'
in mighty blocks inhabi by ST.
iards and savnges, when Inhabited
all, and in which no greater evil than
the growth of rich and refined common
wealths or of contcnted and prosperous
territories has resulted. Are these in
situations so fragile that they will not
bear transplanting? Are they never
to be shared beyond boundaries immo-
vably fixed? Is Republican govern
ment to be confined within these limits
forever? And is our contention that
1t is the best and only natural estate
of man pretense and deluson? If
we-S0 ,000.0 of free, enlightened peo-
ple-cannot undertake to insure peace:
full self-rule, such MS has existed In
all the territories of the Union until
they became States. to the islands
which events place under our Drotec-
ton. without danger to our own insti-
tutions. what in fact, are those insti-
tutions worth? If they are to he
subverted, they will be subvertcd not
in the Philippines, but in the States;
not In the China seas, but here nj
home, by the practical denial OF the
right of popular election, through
universal corruption and coercion in
behalf of the British trust party, or
moneyed oligarchy which took power
by those means In 1896, and intends
to keep it in like manner. Would any
human being imagine there could he any
the least-prospect of abuses In the
Philippines, or In any of the new terri
tories If MIR. Bryan, or any other dis
cipline of Jefferson. the original Demo-
cratic expansionist, were President.
and a Democratic or anti trust ma
jorty in Congress? There WILL in the
humble opinion of the writer. be no
more dissensions among the Demo-
cratic and other friends of Mr.. Bryan
on the questions relating to the Phil
ippines than on any other Issue in the
campaign.
Mr.. Bryan will be nominated with
out dissent All efforts to engineer n
reaction since 1896 have signally failed
The people refuse to know any other
leader. 1t Is clear that he only can
poll the full opposition vote. and that
the substitution of any other name for
his would cost millions OF votes. Who
ever proposes another proclaims him
self an ally of the trusts. and is
taken for what he really is. If, under
all the circumstances. Mr.. Bryan can
not be elected on the antitrust issue
so distinctly and ominously developed
the days Of this Republic are num-
bered.