The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-19
ABSOLUTELY PURE

men there or anywhere else on the
subject of colonial conquest. made
investigation for myself.
81 reached the conclusion that We
have no right at all to keep the
Philippines. We were wrong in the
first place to pay $2O,0OO,O 900 for
them.
"In the second place believe that
the war that is now costing thousands
of Ives and millions of dollars was
not started by the Filipinos, but by
the Americans, under somebody's
orders, and am strengthened in that
belief by the fact that on the very
day of the outbreak that has now be-
come a slaughter. there landed in San
Francisco Filipino delegation, au-
thorized to discuss with the admins.
trstion the question as to what should
be done with the islands.
81 became absolutely convinced
that the war as it was started then
was part Of political plot to put
back into power the discredited Nc
hlDl6y dumlulclEdllOu'
81 admit that what said to you
Monday to the effect that the Presi-
dent is reponsible for the loss 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 in
human than are the facts.
Mckinley is seeking to float back
into Office on tide Of Filipino blood.
"Whst should we do with the Phil
ippinesl | don't know. They are
not for US or any other white people.
The only people who can live there
for any length of time are those WHO
now are fighting our troops
there. We can get the islands by
annihilating the natives-by blowing
them from the cannon's mouth just
as England has done-but in no
other way, aud when we win them
they will be no use to us. Our peo-
pie cannot exist there. If we want
coaliug station in the PHILIPPINES all
right. We can get that without any
trouble at all.
81 want to be clearly understood
] in this matter. | am not against legit-
innate expansion. When we can ac-
quire tel rtory bonorsbly, when the
advantage Of acquisition is divided
decently between ourselves and those
wetske in, or when we confer a ben
eft without having first done an in
jury, then | am an expansionist.
"But ! am unalterably oppood to
the policy of a President who, to fur
ther his own political ambition, to
keep friends in Office, to give millions
of public money to other friends for
supplies, sacrifices not only the lives
of American citizens, but those OF
thousands of others Of a foreign
race, to capture country that would
be useless to us if we had it.
"0n a question like this there
should be no dividing line between
Democrats and Republicans. Hu-
manity as represented by the votes
of American citizens at the next
Presidential election will record its
horror and execration of the men and
the party who are for private gain
putting bloody pages into history.
HIS STAND AS TO BRYAN.
Believing these things now, 20
straight to the public to which | gave
my other statement and frankly say
that want also to talk of another
matter as to which | have been mis-
understood.
81 said that | believed William J.
Bryan was one of the greatest men
America had produced. | believe
that very thing now. But that does
not mean that ! shall work for the
nomination of Mr.. Bryan or that
think he is the only man fitted
for the nomination. He is as
good a man, as good leader,
as could be found. But | have no
candidate.
at is for the Convention to name
the man, and the Convention will not
meet for at least ten months. Ii
would be- a travesty on popular suf-
frsge to pick the candidate before the
peoples delegates meet, and shall
have no part in making such selec
tion. shall not even try to infiu-
ence the New York State delegation
or the Tammany delegation for any
| body.v