The Penn's Grove record., 1899-03-03
BRYAN ANSWERS MCKINLEY
ON IMPERIALISM.
New Notices For Americans.

new Notices FOL Americans
On the fourth page of the RECORD
last week we published President Nc
Kinley's speech before the Home Mark
ct Club, in Boston, on his policy toward
the Filipinos.
On the 18th of February Col. William
j. Bryan made an address before the
faculty, students and citizens of Michi.
gan University, at Ann Arbor, on 'Im-
perialism." He said:
''The President In his Boston speech
has declared that the future of the
Philippines is in the hands of the Amer
lean people. This is all that has been
contended for by the opponents of the
colonial policy outlined by those who
have demanded the forcible and per-
manent annexation of the Philippine
Islands.
'lf the matter is in the hands of the
American people, then it is a subject
for discussion by the American people,
and the only question to be considered
and decided is whether the permanent
retention of the Philippine Islands is
desirable. And in considering what is
desirable, we must consider what is
best for the people of the United States
and what is best for the Philippines.
"ThOse who oppose the colonial policy
deny that the adoption of such a policy
by this nation would be beneficial either
to the United States or to the alien
race over which our sovereignty would
be extended.
1.-THE sooner the question is settled
the better. 1t is putting the cart before
the horse to say that the nation cannot
reveal its purpose until the FiIipinos lay
down their arms. If the nation would
declare its intention to establish a sta
bic and independent government in the
Philippines and then leave that govern
ment in the hands Of the people of The
islands, hostiIities would be suspended
at once and further bloOdshed would be
avoided.
"What would our colonist have
thought of a demand upon the part of
England that we first lay down our arms
and surrender to the king and then
trust to the decision that he would
make?
A CAREER OF CoNQUEsTp
"Now that the treaty has been rati-
fed and Spain eliminated from the ques-
ton, the American people are free TO
take such action as the circumstances
require. Shall our nation enter upon a
career of conquest and substitute the
doctrine of force for the power of ex
ample and the influence of counsel2
Our forefathers fought for independence
under a banner upon which was in
scribed the motto, Millions for defense,
but not u cent for tribute And so
those who to-day n0t>0nly desire Amer;
lean independence, but are willing to
encourage the idea of Independence and
lself-governmenta in: other races, can
|, fight under q, banner upon which is in:
scribed a,similar motto:; Millions for
defense, but not one cent for conquest
- ''Sone ofSthe advocates of a colonial
policy have sought to- lay upon those
. who. opposed %the ratification of the
treaty the responsibility for the blood
shed around Manila. While | believed,
aud'sti!l believe, jthat it was better to
ratifySthe treaty and make the fight for
Philippine independence before the
American peOple2lather than through
diplomatic negotiations with Spain,& l
deny that the Senators who opposed
ratification were in any way responsible
for the commencement. of hostilities.
G%%'gHE ACCUSES TIE PRESIDENT.
The responsibility rests not upon
those who opposed the treaty, but upon
those who refused to disclose the ma
toms purpose and lett the FllipInos to
believe that their fight against Spain,
instead of bringing them independence,
had only brought them a change of
masters.
ut WAS the desire to be independent
that led the Filipinos to resist American
authority, and their desire for indie
pendence was not inspired by any
American opposition to the terms of the
treaty. 1t Will be remembered that
the Filipinos issued a declaration of IN
dependence last summer before the
treaty was negotiated. Opposition to
the treaty therefore could not have
caused a desire for Independence which
was expressed before the treaty was
made.
"lf it is wrong for any II in this
country to inspire in other races a des-
ire for self-government the imperialists
cannot coniine their %reproaches to the
living Lucy hiuot lay tbo bldult upUn
American statesmen long since dead.
Patrick Henry was responsible to some
extent because the sentiments express
ed in his speech have found u Judgment
in the hearts OF all the races. Wash
ington must also be blamed, for when
he drew his sword in defense of the
rights of the colonists he gave iuspira.
tion to all similarly situated. Jeffer-
son was largely to blame, because the
Declaration of Independence, the work
of his pen, has been an inspiration to
the lovers OF liberty in every cline.
Abraham Lincoln eanno escape his
share OF blame, II those are to be blam-
ed who have aroused among the Cypress
ed a desire for participation in the gov
ernment under which they live. When
the great Emancipator delivered his
speech at Gettysburg and appealed Ia
the people of the United States to SC
act that IA government of the people.
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