The record-union., 1899-09-08
MIR. BRYAN'S SILLYISMS-

SpSSCu went over tue OlQ song dpOuI
Imperialism and what he denominates
its twin, militarism. He fears both,
though he failed to cite a single fact
justifying the fear that we are drifting
towards either. True, he did refer to-
increase in the strength of the army
and the cost of maintaining forces in
it is fact that the cost of whatever
force is maintained in the Philippines
will be far more than returned by our
possessions through legitimate and
justifable revenues.
Indeed, as it stands to-day the Phil
lppines are paying their way. Even
under a condition of war the customs
income is in excess of the expense of
government in the islands But the in
crease of the army, when made, will
really be no increase. Compared with
the extent of the national domain, the
increase Of population, the increase in
the necessary number Of army posts
due to expansion of our interests along
coasts and borders, the augmented
force which Mr.. Bryan assumes to SO
much fear will be proportionally
smaller numerically than was the reg
ular army fifty years ago, when we had
fewer States, narrower borders and not
one-third the present population.
The bogie of mflitarism Mr.. Bryan in
vokes to frighten timid souls is a mere
scarecrow, having neither substance
nor life. Imperialism is but a mouth
ing expression, and he uses it in a
way to prove that it exists only in his
fancy, and is contemplated but by his
imagination. 1t is demagogy of the
lowest order to pretend before intelli-
gent hearers that the American people
are now called upon to choose whether
republican form Of government shall
be maintained or an imperial rule es-
tablished and the republic overthrown
Mr.. Bryan is insincere in this declara-
tion. He knows that the American Re-
public is stronger, more firmly rooted
in the hearts and loves of it's people
to-day than at any other time since
its birth
If he is familiar with the promptings
of the national heart, as he assumes
to be, he knows that there is neither
threat nor thought of imperialism in
this country. That the retention of
the natural fruits of a war for the
overthrow of Spain's oppression and
tyranny in her late colonies neither in
wolves imperial nor monarchical estab-
lishment, nor the COW under which
European peoples live by reason of the
domination Of military class and
power.
But while. the speaker is incapable
of advancing proofs in support of his
declaration that over the American
people impends the sword of imperial
ism, he is simply ridiculous when he
declares that the nation is putting
down the Filipino insurrection in order
to advance the banners of Christianity.
All his sounding phrases about shooting
religion into men, and the expressed
fear that if that is tolerated in the
Philippines it will be undertaken at
home, and that we will have the more
powerful religious sects pistoling their
religious ideas into the bodies of
weaker bands of religionists, is ridicu-
lously silly and unworthy a crossroads
school debater.
we are not warning against the in
surgents in the Philippines for Chris.
tianity's sake, and no one has said SO
for whom the Administration is re-
sponsible. Mr.. Bryan declares that it 'is
said, but he fails to give his author
Ity. The Government of the United
States is fighting the insurgents in the
islands to establish it's authority. main
tain the supremacy of our laws there.
and to protect the interests which have
come under the flag by treaty. pur-
chase and war. We are not Christian
izing in any sense of the word.
But if to open to the Filipino oppor-
tunities for betterment and advance
ment which he can never hope to enjoy
under any other flag is Christianity,
then we are indeed engaged in a holy
mission. If preserving the misguided
Filipino-still moved by fear and sus-
picion of foreigners because of the op-
pressiye methods of Spain under which
the Philippine people suffered for CEN
turies-from becoming the victims of
jealous and grasping European Powers.
ready to pounce upon the islands
should we withdraw, is shooting relig-
ion into the Malay, then indeed we
are engaged in a religious war. If pro-
tecting the people of the Philippines
from themselves, the factional oppres-
sions of their warning tribes, and the
anarchy certain to follow their attempt
to maintain themselves as an independ-
ent nation, is teaching articles of faith
with powder and ball, then America is
promulgating religious belief with
Gatling guns.
II