The times., 1899-08-24
THURSDAY, AUGUST "a, 1899.
Nebraska Anti-Expan~ion Logic.

1t is said that Mr.. William J. Bryan die
tated the platform adopted by the Nebras-
ka Democratic Convention at Omaha on
Tuesday Whether he did or not it is in
the main a good one the exception being
that il includes enc plank which is COM
pietely and hopelessIy rotten. whether crit
icised from the viewpoint of its logic, its
sincerity. OF its patriotism. It reads as
follows
But while we commend The soldiers for obe-
dience 70 all orders eFn2nating IRON the Chief
Executive, We condemn the Administrative polcy,
winch has converted > war for humanity into a
for conquest. We believe the Filipinos should
lzxc received the Treatment a the cIhans.
and that, the Cubsns were asslrrd Of ultimate
independence and protection, 50 the FilipiBcs
should Eaye been assured IN the beginning Of
our HHtioH's intention TO give thom independence
seon a stable government should be estab-
lsiied- and protection from outside interference.
such sssur1nce should be given now. If the Gu
bans a i stated N the resolutions OF interven-
tton. and of right ought to be free tile
same be said cf the Fiaipinos and this ma
non would sssTer humiliation IN acknowledging
adherence 10 the doctrine ihaf governments de-
rive their just powers from the consent OF the
governed
The pet proposition of the Atkinsonian
arti-expaIsicnists, with whom we are
sorry TO see Mr. Bryan and Nebraska
Democrats range themselves on this ques-
tiDn, is that. because We thought il Wise.
Just, and expedient to promise independ-
ezce to the Cubans. conditioned uFo1 their
ability to establish a stable government.
therefore we are bound to guarantee as
much 70 the particular Malay tribe no5
in insurrection against the United States
-. rT-l.
too ridiculous for serious consideration.
The cases are not equal, are not even
similar, and present nothing whatever in
common.
II il were otherwise, it would not neees-
sarily follow that, because We had given
a pledge in the one instance. On the rathe-
weak logical ground of generous impulse.
and uncritical sentiment. we should. there
by, be compelled to repeat an action of
questionable prudence, in another OF like
character. For the sake of argument not
otherwise, we may concede that If the con-
ditiOns were the same or approximately
so. in the Antilles and in the Philippines
Il might be proper for our Government to
adopt a policy and course common 10
RoAAs DAN 1O ttAE G4AOedttS O-
independence for our Eastern possessions
ind the basis for identical action, in any
similarity OF their conditions 10 those
which obtain in the West Indies?
After fashion the people Of Cuba con-
etitute homogeneous population, possible
10 consider and treat with as a whole The
iace elements into which the Cuban mass
Is divided compiicate the problem to some
extent, but do not offer any insuperabla
barrier TO the ultimate establishment Of a
civilized government which all will respect.
II is not SO in the Philippines. II We were
to offer Independence 10 the Fiiipinos. as
Messrs. Atkinson. Bryan, Hoar George
Fred Williams. Eliot Norton. and Carl
Schurz insist We ought TO. that would not
in effect be comforting any favor. real or
pretended. upon any class or person in the
Islands, the single Malay tribe Of Tagals
now in revolt alone excepted,
According TO their lights the Cubans.
black, white. and hybrid. are all united in
aspirations for political liberty and demo
cratic elf-goFerHment. The Tsgais, aggre-
eating less than one-esghfh Of the archi-
pelagic population, on the contrary demand
independence" for themselves. and with II
the privilege OF controlling, owning. driv-
ing, and expressing the seyen-eighths who
are not Tagals, but who hate them with a
rancor born OF centuries of bad treatment,
The gift Of Independence" which, the
Nebraska platform holds, should be accom-
panied with guarantee against interfer-
ence by outside nations, would amount
simply TO an American undertaking TO put
Aguinaldo and his tribe in despotic control
OF a great majority of the island people. to
whom the Filipino element has never
dreamed Of extending the least fraction of
the advantages II is fighting 10 gain. Cruel.
trsacherous, rapscious. and unufferabiy
selfish and vicious, these semi harbarians
who have won the admiration and support
OF the Boston treason trust and the Omaha
platform, only want immunity to cnsIave,
abuse. loot, and live upon seven or eight
times their number Of people. all entitled
10 more consideration at our hands than the
nrutinous Tagals. since they have not OPEN
lg rebciied against our authority
DiVested Of its false sentiment and de-
fiance ot facts and conditions, the anti
expansion demand is that the United States
shall abdicate its sovereignty. and surren-
der It's right and determination to extend
20 all the Inhabitants CT the Philippine ISL
snos the blessings OF American civilization