The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-10
BRYAN DISCUSSES THE WAR,
fundamental Principles Involved in
the QuestiOn-A Republic Cannot
Enter Upon a Colonial Policy.

Fundamental Principles Involved 1
Enter Upon a Colonial Policy.
VIM. J. Bryan discusses the Philir
Pine question in the New York Indt
pendent as follows:
The Philippine question is imDol
tant because fundamental principle
are Involved in its discussion. Their
are two SOURCES of government, fore
and consent. MOnarchies are founde
upon force, republics upon consent.
THE Declaration OF independence
asserts that governments derive thei
just powers from the consent of tn,
governed and this is the doctr inc tt
which We have adhered for more thar
u century. 1t is the doctrine which
has distinguished us from European
countries, and has made our nation
the hope Of humanity. The statue in
New York harbor typiiies the nations
mission.
- If the doctrine set forth ia the De-
claration Of independence is sound,
how can We rightfully acquire sovo.
reignty over the Fillplnos by u war Of
conqucst. II the doctrine set forth in
the Declaration Of Independence ia
sound, how can we rightfully purchase
HoVcre1gnty from u Spanish sovereign
whose title VIC disputed in Cuba and
whose rebellious subjects We armed In
the Philippines.
| In tho resolution Of intervention
| Congress declared that tho Cubnns
| were and OF right ought to be free.
Why? Becnuso governments derive
| their just powers from tho consent OF
! the governed and Spain had refused
to respect the wishes Of tho Cubans.
| n IA no nd z f,t,r ~
to be FREQ, why not the Filipinos
In tho beginning Of the Spanish
war Congress denied that our nation
had any thought Of extending It's torri-
| tory by war. II VIC thcn had no
thought Of securing by conquest new
| territory in the western hemisphere,
why should We now talk OF securing In
| the eastern hemisphere new races for
subjugation?
An individual may live double
| life when only one life Is known.
When both lives are known he can
lead only one life and that the worst.
A republic cannot enter upon u colo
| nial policy. 1t cannot advocate gov
crpment by consent at home and gov
ernmcnt by force abroad. The decla-
ration OF independence will lose It's
value when we proclaim tho doctrine
familiar In Europe, but dCtestNble
! here, that governments arc round in
shape, about thirteen Inches in diane
ter and fired out Of cannoI.
! " For more than century this cOun-
try hes been travelling along the path,
way which leads from the low domain
Of might to the lofty realm Of right
and it's history has boen without u par.
allel in tho annals Of recorded time
What will be our fate If VIC turn back
! ward and begin the descent tOwArI
force and conquest.
"lt Is not sufficient to say that the
annexation OF the Philippine islands is
IL benevolent undertaking entered upon
for the good o: the Fiipinos. Lincoln
pointed out that this has always been
the argument OF kings. TO use his
words: They ways bestrodG the
nccks OF the people, not that they
wanted to do 1t, but because the peo.
pie wore b tier or for being ridden
" II Is surprising that aay believer
In sclf-gOvcrnmcnt should favor fOrci-
bic annexation, but still more surpris
ing that any one who believes la the
Christian religion should favor the
substitution 0! force for reason In the
extension Of our nations influence.
II we adopt the gun powder gospe
in the Philippines, how long will it b.
, before that principle will be trans
planted in American soil. So long q
' our argumenta are addressed to tn
reason and the heart our prOgrcss
sure, but can we, without danger
Christianity, resort to the ancient pla
Of injecting religion Into the bod
I through bullet holes :
The question is frequently asked
what can We do? Nearly TWO month
elapsed between the signing Of tn
treaty and the beginning Of hostilitic
, In the Philippines. During that tim
, tho Presidents and congress might hav
, given to the Fiipinos tho Same at
suranccs OF independence that wa
give to the Cubans. Such assuranc
would have prevented bloodshcd.
the doctrine OF self government
+ sound, The Filipinos are entitled t
govern themselves and the Presider
can now promise them independents
as soon as a stable. government can b
established.
III the President is not willing
take the responsibility Of enforcin
the doctrine SGT forth In the declara
lion OF independence, he can call Cor
gross together and let them take tn
responsibility. a special session woul
be less expensive than the war, not t
speak OF the principles involved.
Our nation is protecting the re
puoiiCs VI SOuLn America from Ou'
ward interference while they work ou
their destiny. We can extend tn
same doctrine to the Philippines, and
having rescued the Inhabitants from
foreign yoke, VIC can guard them from
molestation while they develop q re
public In tho Orient. They will b
our friends instead Of our enemies ",
can send school teachcrB to Manila In
stead OF soldiers and the world vii
: know that there is q reality in tn,
theory OF government promulgated u
Independence hnll ana defended by the
blood OF the Revolutionary fathers"