The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-02
BRYAN ON THE PHILIPPINES
HE QUESTIONS AMERICAN MORIL
RIGHT TO SOTEREIGNTY.
Declares u Republic Cannot Advocate
Government by Consent ut Home md
by Force Abroad-It is Not Sufficient
to Say That Forcible Annexation is a
benevolent Undertaking.

benevolent Undertaking.
New York, Aug 1-William Jennings
Bryan discusses the Philippine question
in this weeks Independent. In part he
says: "The Declaration of independence
asserts that governments receive their
just powers from the consent OF the
governed, and this Is the doctrine to
which we have adhered for more than
century. 1t is the doctrine which has
distinguished us from European coun-
tries and has made our nation the hope
of humanity. If the doctrine set forth
in the Declaration Of Independence is
sound, how can we rightfully acquire
sovereignty over the Filipinos by war
of conquest? If the doctrine set forth in
the Declaration of Independence is
sound how can we rightfully purchase
sovereignty from a Spanish sovereign
whose title was disputed in Cuba and
whose rebellious subjects were armed in
the Philippines?
"In the resolution of intervention con-
gress declared that the Cubans were
and of right ought to be free. Why?
Because governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the govern
ed, and Spain had refused to respect
the wishes of the Cubans. If the Gu
bans were and of right ought to be free
why not the Filipinos? In the beginning
of the Spanish war congress denied that
our nation had any thought of extend
ing its territory by war If we then
had no thought of securing by conquest
new territory in the western hemi-
sphere why should we now think of Sc
curing in the eastern hemisphere new
races for subjugation? A republic can
not enter upon colonial policy. 1t can
not advocate government by consent at
home and government by force abroad.
The Declaration of Independence will
lose its value when we proclaim the doc
trine familiar in Europe but detestable
here that governments are round in
shape, about thirteen inches in diameter
and fired out of a cannon
For more than a century thie nation
has been travelling along the pathway
which leads from the low domain of
might to the lofty realm of right: and
its history has been without a parallel
in the annals of recorded time. What
will be our fate if we run backward and
begin the descent toward force and con-
quest? 1t is not sufficient to say that
the forcible annexation of the Philip
pine Islands is benevolent undertake
ing entered upon for the good of the
Filipinos. Lincoln pointed out that this
has always been the argument of kings. |
To use his words: They always be-
Strode the necks of the people not that
they wanted to do it, but because the
people were better off for being ridden
''It is surprising that any believer in
government should favor forcible
annexation, but still more surprising
that any one who believes in the Chris |
tian religion should favor the substitu-
ton of force for reason in the extension
of our nations influence. If we adopt |
the gunpowder gospel in the Philippines
how long will it be before that principle
will be transplanted in American soil? |
So long as our arguments are addressed |
to the reason and the heart our prog
ress is sure, but can we, without dan
ger to Christianity, resort to the ancient |
plan of injecting religion into the body |
through the bullet-hoes?
'The question is frequently asked, |
What can we do? Nearly two months
elapsed between the signing of the trea-
ty and the beginning of hostilities in
the Philippines During that time the
president and congress might have CIV
en- to the Filpinos the same assurance
of independence that was given to the
Cubans Such assurance would have
prevented bloodshed. If the doctrine of |
self-eoyernment is sound the FilipinoS
are entitled to govern themselves, and |
the president can now promise them in
as soon as a stable govern
rent can be established. If the presi-
dent is not willing to take the respon-
sibility of enforcing the doctrine set
forth in the Declaration of Independ-
ence he can call congress together and
let it take the responsibility. A spe-
cial session would be less expensive
than the war, not to speak of the prin-
ciples involved.
"Our nation is protecting the republics
cf South America from outward inter-
ference while they work out their des-
tiny We can extend the same doc
trines to the Philippines, and, having
rescued the inhabitants from foreign
woke we can guarantee them from mo-
while they develop republic
in the Orient. They will be our friends
instead of our enemies; we can SEND
school teachers to Manila instead of
soldiers. and the world will know that
there is a reality in the theory OF the
government promulgated at 1ndepend-
ence hall and defended by the blood OF
f,,t how