The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-07

o.-COlOnel william
]. Bryan was the
chief speaker at the
Jackson Day ban
quet of the Duck
worth Club to-
night. He said, in
part:
The sentiment Of
the people upon any
great question must
be measured during
the days of delibera-
ton. and not during
the hours of excite
ment. If the Presi-
dent rightly interpret
ed the feelings of the
people when they
were intoxicated by a
military triumph. we
shall appeal from
" Philip drunk to
Philip sober" The
forcible annexation of
the Philippine Islands
would violate a prin-
ciple of American
public law so deeply
imbedded in t b e
American mind that
until a year ago no
public man would
have suggested it. 1t
is difficult to overes-
innate the influence
which such a change
in our national policy
would produce on the
character of our peo-
pie. To defend forci-
bic annexation on the
ground that we are
carrying out a reli-
gious duty is worse
than absurd. The BIZ
BILE teaches US that it
is more blessed to
give than to receive,
while the colonial
policy is based upon
the doctrine that 1t is
more blessed to take
than to leave. I am
afraid that the impe-
rialists have confused
their beatitudes. We
entered the Spanish
war as peacemakers.
Imperialists have an
indistinct recollection
that a blessing has
been promised to the
peacemakerS and also
to the meek, but their
desire for more terri
tory has perverted
their memories so tina.
as they recall the for
mer. 1t reads blessed
are the peacemakers,
for they shall Inherit
the earth"
Annexation cannot
be defended upon the
ground that we shall
find a pecuniary profit
in the policy. The
advantage which may
come to q few indi-
viduals who hold the
offices, or who secure
valuable franchises,
cannot properly be
weighed against the
money expended in
governing the Philip
pines, because the
money expended was
paid by those who pay
the taxes. We are not
yet in a position to
determine whether the
people of the United
States as a whole will
bring back from the
Philippines as much
as they send there.
There is an old say
ing that 1t is not
profitable to buy a
lawsuit. Our nation
may learn by expe-
rience that 1t is not
wise to purchase the
right to conquer a
people. Spain, under
compulsion. gives us
a quitclaim to the
Philippines. in return
for 500, 900, 900. but she
does not agree to war
rant and defend our
title as against the
Philippines. To buy
land is one thing;
to buy people is an
other. Military rule
is antagonistic to our
theory of government.
The arguments which
are used to defend It
in the Philippines
may be used to excuse
1t in the United
States. Under mill
tary rule. much must
be left to the discre-
ton of the military
governor, and this
can only be justified
on the theory that the
Governor knows more
than the people he
governs, Is better ac-
quainted with their
needs than they are
themselves, is entire
ly in sympathy with
them and is thorough
~ honest and unset
fish in his desire to do
them good.
If we enter upon a
colonial policy we
must expect to hear
the command 81
lence" issuing with
increasing emphasis
from the imperialists.
When the discussion
Of fundamental prin-
ciples is attempted in
the United States, if
a member of Con-
gress attempts to
criticize any Injustice
perpetrated by a Gov
eminent o f fl C / al
against a helpless
people, he will be
warned to keep silent
lest his criticism en-
courage resistance to
American authority in
the Orient.
If we adopt a colo
NAL policy and pursue
the course which ex-
cited the revolution
of 1776, we must muf-
file the tones of the
old liberty bell and
commune in whispers
when we praise the
patriotism of our fore
fathers.