The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-02
BY FORCE IN PHILIPPINES
A COLONIAL POLICY NOT FOR A
REPUBLIC. SAYS BRYAN.
II WOULD Be A STEP BACK YARD
If we Adopt the Gunpowder Gospel in
the Philippines How Long viii II be
Before It is Transplantsd to
American Soil ?


New York, Aug. William ]. Bryan
discusses the Philippine question in this
weeks independent He says:
The Philippine question is important
because fundamental principles are in
VOWED IN its discussion. There are two
sources of Government, force and con
sent Monarchies are founded upon force,
republics upon consent.
THE Declaration Of Independence as
serts that Governments derive their just
powers from The consent of the govern
ed. and this is the doctrine to winch
we have adhered for more than a cen
tury. 1t is the doctrine which has dis
tinguished us from European countries,
and has made our Nation the hope OF
humanity The statue in New York
harbor typihes the Nations mission.
IF the doctrine set forth in the De
cIaration Of mdependencc is sound. how
can we rightluily acquire sovereignty
over the pailil3tnes ly a war Of con-
aucst. III the doctrine set forth in the
Declaration of Independence liz sound.
how can we rightfully purchase sover-
eighty from Spanish sovereign whose
title we disputed ilg CHSa and whose re-
hellious subjects we armed in the Philip
pines.
"In the resolution Of intervention Con-
gress declared that the Cuhans were and
Of right ought to be free Why! Be-
cause Governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the govern
ed and Spain had refused TO respect the
wishes Of the Cubans. If the Cuhans
were and Of right ought to be free. why
not the F'ilipinos?
I'm the beginning Of the Spanish war
Congress denied that our Nation had any
thought of extending its territory by
war. If we then had MO thought Of Sc
curing by conquest new territory an the
Western hemisphere why should we now
talk of securing in the Eastern hemI-
sphere new races for subjugation.
"An individual may live double life
when only one life is known. When both
lives are known he can lead only one life
and that the worst. A republic cannot
enter upon a colonial policy. 1t cannot
advocate Government by consent n
home and Government by force abroad.
The Declaration Of Independence will lose
it's value when we proclaim the doctrine
familiar in Europe, but detestable here
that Governments are round an shape.
about thirteen inches in diameter and
fred out of cannon.
''For more than century this Nati-a
has been travelling along the pathway
which leads from the low domain Of might
to the lofty realms of right and its
history has been without Il parallel in
the annals of recorded time What
viii be our fate If we turn backward
and begin the descent toward force and
conquest?
'It is not sufficient to say that the
forcible annexation of the Philippine
Islands is q benevolent undertaking en-
tered upon for the good of the Fibpinos
Lincoln pointed out that this has always
been the argument of kings. To use
his words They always bestrode the
necks Of the people, not that they wanted
to do it, but because the people were
better off for being ridden.
1T is surprising that amy believer in
self-govprnment should favor forcibla
annexation, but still more surprising
than any one who believes in the Chris
tian religion should favor the suhstitu
tion Of force for reason in the extension
Of our Nations influence,
IF we adopt the gunpowder gospel in
the Philippines. now long will 1t he be-
fore that principle will he transplanted
in American soil So long ms our argu-
ments are addressed to the reason and
the heart our progress is sure. but can
we, without danger to Christianity, re-
sort to the ancient plan Of injecting
religion into the body through bullet
holes
'"Ihe question is frequently asked
what can we do? Nearly two months
elapsed between the signing OF the treaty
and the beginning Of h0stilities in the
Philippines. During that time the Pres
ident and CONGRESS- might have given to
the lfilipinos the same assurances of in
dependence that was gwen TO the Gu
bans. Such assurance would have pre-
vented bloodshed If the doctrine of
self-goyernment Is sound the Filipinos
are entitled to govern themselves and
the President can now promise them In
dependence as soon rs stable govern
ment can be established.
IF the President is not willing TO
take the responsibility of enforcing the
doctrine set forth in the Declaration of
independence. he can call Congress to-
gether and let them take the response |
hility. A special session would be less
expensive than the war, not to speak Of |
the pripeinles involved
Our Nation is protecting the republics