The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-15
HE NOW FAvORs BRYAN
BITTERLY OPPOSES THE WAR IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
HE EXPLAINS HIS CHANGE or VIEWS
The Philippine War a Political Scheme. By |
Mckinley Hopes to Float Back into
Office on a Tide Of
Blood.
Baltimore Sum-

New YGrk. Aug. 13.-Richard Croker.
leader of Tammany Hill, came back
from Europe yesterday on the steamship
St. Paul, apparently converted to the
denomination of Bryan.
Before he sailed away in May h. de
clared that Bryan was one of the ATTEST
men in the United States, but that ne
was not the best man who could ne
found for the Democratic Presidential
nomination. Last night he stated MS
opinion that Bryan is one of the great
est men America has produced, ana that
no American has ever been so close TO
the masses.
Mr.. Croker few months ago SAID
that the United States should not give UP
an inch of the territory won by the
blood of its soldiers. In an interview
yesterday he denounced the imperialists
policy of the Mckinley Administration
and went so far as to practically declare
that the President is willing to destroy
thousands of homes and take thousands
of lives in the Philippines with the pur-
pose of keeping himself and his friends
in office.
Mr.. Croker will 60 to Long Branch to-
morrow to consult former Senator MUIR
3 DHAs lit VIII ~ W k1a1alJSd = dNFtet
and meet the national leaders who are
fhere and others who will be sent for.
Mr.. Croker explained why he had
changed his views as to expansion. Il
was wrong said he, ''in the statement
/ made before went away. based my
belief that we should not give up a foot
of soil our soldiers have wonfon infornra-
ton that was NOT complete. Publicly |
made the statement that | did not believe
we should give up the Philippines. i
am not ashamed now to say to the public
that | was wrong / want to set myself
right"
Il am not playing political game
through this interview. No one man
was responsible for any change of mind.
While | was in Europe | talked with
some Of the best informed men there or
anywhere else on the subject of colonial
conquest | made Investigations for my
self | reached the conclusion that we
have no right at all to keep the Philip
pines.
I'VE were wrong in the first place to
nay $20,000.0 900 for them. In the second
place believe that the war that Is now
costing thousands of lives and millions
of dollars was not started by the Fill
pinos. but by the Americans, under
somebody's orders.
II became absolutely convinced that
the war as it was started was part of q
political plot to put back into power the
discreditable Mckinley Administration
What / have said about the President
being responsible for the loss of thou
sands of lives and thousands OF homes
for the sake Of his political future sounds
harsh, even brutal, but the statement is
not a bit more harsh, brutal or inhuman
than are the facts.
ION A TIDE OF FILIPINO BLOOD
mckinley is seeking to float back IN
to office on a tide of Filipino blood.
.'What should we do with the Philip
pines? / don't know. They are not for rs
or any other white people. The only
people who can live there for any length
of time are those who are now fighting
our troops there. We cam get the islands
by anniInilating the natives, by blowing
them from the lannon's mouth, just as
England has done-but in no other way.
and when we get them they will be OF
no use to us. Our people cannot exist
there. II We want a coaling station in
the Philippines, all right. We can get
that without any trouble at all.
II waLt to be clearly understood in
this matter. | am not against legitimate
expansion. When we can acquire terri
tory honorably, when the advantage OF
acquisition is divided decently between
ourselves and those who take in, or when
we confer a benefit without having first
done an injury, then / am an expan-
sionist.'