The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-07
His Idea as to the Course Which
Should Be Pursued.
CHANGE IN THE NATIONAL POLICY
IL j. Difficult TO Overcstimate, He Said,
the influence Which il Would
Produce on the Character Of
the People-AnncXation
Violation of
Principles.

CINCINNATI. o., Jan 6.-The Duck
worth Club gave its annual Jackson ban
quct tonight The date was early 50
/ as to have Colonel W. J. Bryan present
as he responds to a toast at the Jackson
| banquet I'm Chicago tomorrow night
| This club has given many notable ban
| quets. but the one tonight was the most
distinguished in its history because Of
/ The presence OF Colonel Bryan.
Democratic leaders from an over the
State held conferences with him during
| the day joining I'm the large reception
given Colonel Bryan al the Chamber Of
| Commerce at noon over four hundred
/ plates We're turned at the Gibson House
tonight and the decorations were elabO-
! rate. Colonel Bryan was received with
a storm OF applause
BRYAN'S SPEECH
! After discussing the Chicago platform
/ and emphasizing the slxteen-to-one plank,
/ Colonel Bryan took up the new questions
/ that have grown ont of the war. lie
/ called attention 90 the Presidents recon-
| mendati0n OF o. larger army and insisted
! that the army should be divided into two
] ultiI'llfr- Lllf army loI Nututrilt use lll
tho United States which. he said, did not
need 10 be increased; the army Of occu-
/ patton. which is temporarily necessary
| for use outside Of the United States. He
said that army of occupation should be
recruited at once I'm order 10 relieve the
volunteers. but that the term Of service
should be short. because the nations
policy Is not yet settled Be suggested
that the demand for an increase in the
army might be considered as the first
fruits of that victory which the Repub-
leans pointed 20 with so much pride.
Turning 10 the question OF annexation,
Dee insisted that the nation has not yet
decided what 10 do with the Philippine
Islands He spoke in part as Follows:
COOL REFLECTION NEEDED.
"rhe sentiment of the people upon any
great question must be measured during
tho days Of deliberatlon and not during
the hours Of excitement A good man
will sometimes be engaged I'm a fight, but
n is not reasonable 90 expect a judicial
opinion from him until he has had time
to wash the blood off his face. l have
seen herd OF mild-eyed, gentle kline
Transformed into infuriated beasts by
tho sight md scent Of blood. and / have
seen tho same animals quiet and peace
ful again a few hours after. We have
much Of the animal I'm us I'm spite OF our
civilizing processes. n Is not unnatural
that our people should be more san
culinary Immediately after a battle than
they were before. but IT IS only ques-
fion OF time when reflection will restore
the conditions which existed before the
nation became engaged In the war with
Spain.
when mer are excited. they talk about
what thev can do. when they are calm,
h..f hQrs ID
rr the President rightly interpreted the
feelings Of the people when they were
intoxicated by a military triumph we
shall appeal from Philip drunk 10
pbiUp sober The forcible annexation
of the Philippines would violate prin-
ciple OF American pubic law so deeply
imbeddel IN the American mind that un-
ill a year ago no public man would have
suggested IT, 10 is difficult 10 overesu-
mate the influence which such change
I'm our national policy would produce on
She character Of our people Our oppo-
nents ask. rs our nation not great
enough 10 DO what England, Germany
and Holland are doing2' They inquire
can we not govern colonies as we'll as
they.
THE REAL QUESTION.
whether we can govern colonies as well |
as other countries Is not material; the |
real question is whether We can, IN one |
hemisphere develop the theory that gov !
ernments derive their just power from |
the consent Of the governed and at the |
samc time inaugurate support and de- /
Tend In the other hemisphere a govern
ment which derives its authority entirely
from superior force And II these two !
ideas of government cannot live together |
which one shall we choose To defend |
forcible annexation on the ground that /
we are arrying out a religious duty Is /
worse tian absurd The Bible teaches |
us that II Is more blessed to give than
To receive. while the colonial policy Is /
based unon the doctrine that is IS more /
blessed TO take than TO leave. am
afraid that the imperialists have con-
fused their beatitudes.
81 once heard Of a man who mixed up 1
the parable Of the Good Samaritan with
the parable Of the Sower and in attempt
ing to repeat the former said: a man
went from Jerusalem 30 Jerico and as he
went. he fell among thorns and the
thorns sprang up and choked hlm-
I'VE entered the Spanish war as peace
makers. Imperialists have an indistinct
recollection that a blessing has been
promised 10 the peace-makers and also
10 the meek. but their desire for more
territory has perverted their memories
So that as they greet the former ii reads;
Blessed are the peaoe-makers, for they
shall inherit the earth.
No PECUNIARY PROFIT
Annexation cannot be defined upon
the ground that we shall find a pecu-
mary profit In the policy. The advan-
tage which may come TO few indiyid-
uals who hold the Offices or who secure
valuable franchises cannot properly be
weighed against the money expended in
governing the Philippines because the
money expended would be paid By those
who pay the taxes. We are not yet IN |
position 70 determine whether the people
Of the United States after a while will
bring back from the Philippines as much
as they send there. There is an old say
ing that IL IS not profitable 20 buy law
suit our nation may learn by experience
that It Is not wise to purchase the right
10 conquer people.
spain under compulsion. gives Us
ouit claim 60 the Philippines In return |
for s90. .O0a 400, but she does not agree 90 4
warrant and defend our title as against |