The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-13
BRYAN AND The PHILIPPINES.

Bryan and his party want the army
withdrawn from the Philippines so the
natives can kill each cher and destroy
property on the islands" says an Idaho
exchange of Republican persuasion.
That is nonsensfcaL Why should Mr..
Bryan or any Democrat want the ma
tlves TO kill each other or destroy each
others property? No Democrat has
ADVISED the arming of Sulus to fight the
Tasals. No Democrat of any p-omin-
ence has ever asked to have the arm,
withdrawn except when peace is re-
stored. The Democratic policy is out
lined in the platform and there is no
installing its meaning. It should be
read and re-read by every voter.
We condemn and denOunce the PbiIio-
pine policy OF the present administration
IL mas embroiled the republic in ar un-
necessary war. sacrificed the lives of
many OF its noblest sons and placed the
tmJed states, previously known and aD-
plauded throughout the world as the
champion of freedom. in the false and nm
American position of crushing WITT mill
tdrE force the efforts of former allies to
achieve liberty and self-gOvernment. The
FlliOlnoS cannot be citizens without en-
dangering our civilization: thev cannot
De subjects without imDeTiling cur form
OF government, and as we are not willing
10 surrender our civilization or 10 convert
the republic into an empire, we favor an
immediate declaration of the nations
purpose to give the FilipinOs. frSt. a state
OF government; second. independence
and thir1. protection from outside inter-
ference such as has been given for nearly
a century to the republics of Central and
South America
. .fa1
tateS the Philippine policy Of the Repub-
llcan administration attempts to Justify
II with the plea that il will paw bur even
TINS SOrd1d and unworthy Plea fails when
brought to the test of facts. The war
OF criminal aggression" against the Phil
hppines, entailing annually an expense of
many millions, has already cost more than
any possible prOnt that could accrue
from the entire Philippine trade for years
10 come. Furthermore. when trade is
extended at the expense of liberty the
price is always too high.
We are not opposed TO territorial eX-
panSiOn. when il takes desirable terri
tory which can be erected into states in
in the Union and whose people are willing
and fit to become American citizens But
we are unalterably opposed to the seiz-
ing or purchasing of distant islands to
be governed outside of the constitution.
and whose people can never become citi-
Zers.
We are in favor of extending the re-
ruplic's influence among the ations but
believe that influence should be extended
not by force and violence but through
the persuasive power of high and honor
able example
The position of the party was ex-
pressed in the Bacon resolution, which
failed of passage by only one vote. And
the pledge and assurance of the nation.
made by the senate as a part of the
treaty-making power of this govern
ment, and ASA condition upon which
the ratification of the treaty was Sc
cured. was that it was mot intended
to incorporate the inhabitants of the
Philippines into citizenship of the Unit
ed States and that this government
had no design to permanently annex
the islands as a part Of the United
States.
This has been Mr.. Bryan's position
from the first. There has been no need
of misunderstanding him. Nothing can
be gained by misrepresenting him. Long
before the convention met at Kansas
City he was asked his opinion of the
Philippine situation and the best meth
cd of obtaining peace and gaining the
of the inhabitants. He gave
out the following statement for pubu-
cation:
L believe that the rights of the Fill
pinos and the rights of the Cubans are
Identical The recognition of the rights
Of the Cubans by resolution did not
create those rights They existed be-
fore. If the Filipinos have a right to
their Independence the fact that they
fought for it does not justify US in car
rying on a war of conquest. 1t is no
more aHmiliating for nation 10 rec
ognize the rights of an opponent than
Tor an individual to do so. We would /
have had the same trouble in Cuba if |