The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-23
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less" says the Journal Of Commerce,
'for a great party TO appeal for the
confidence OF the voters Of this country
on simple negative. Imperialism Is
a mere catch word, used to describe
something to which 1t has the slightest
possible relation; but let 1t be assumed
TO cover any form Of outrage on the
Constitution which the people may be
supposed to DO most ready to condemn,
there must be some alternative policy
offered to take its place. 1t Is here
that the weakness Of the antl-imperi-
allst cause is revealed. Mr., Bryan has
had, perforce, to begin the process Of
definition, and, as a sympathetic jour
nalistic Interpreter puts It, the plat
form Of the Democrats Of Nebraska de-
mands careful attention, because it rep
resents his plans and prospects for the
coming presidential campaign. The
platform asserts that the Constitution
follows the flag. which is not true.
either as q question OF law or OF fact,
II 1t be meant, as we must presume 1t
Is, that the moment any portion Of the
earth's surface becomes a possession Of
the United States. all the rights, priv
lleges and immunities guaranteed by
the Constitution are Immediately en-
1oyed by ;he people lnhabltlng 1t. II
this were so, the Filipinos would all
ready be in full possession of all the
attributes Of American citizenship,
which the platform proceeds to declare
they are not. 1t says: THE Filiplnos
cannot BE- citizens without endangering
our civilization; they cannot be sub
iects without endsngering our form of
government" What, then, do Mr..
Bryan and his friends propose? Merely
an immediate declaration Of "the ma
TONS purpose to give the Filiplnos,
first, a stable form Of government; sec
ond, independence. and, third, protec-
ton from outside interference, as 1t has
for nearly century given protection
to the republics OF Central and South
America"
In further discussion Of the Ne
braska platform. which, It is generally
conceded. was inspired by Mr.. Bryan,
the Journal adds:
ut may take long or a short time
to give the TlllplnOs a stable form Of
government; It is certain that for
long time 10 come the maintenance Of
such a government must be quite IN
compatible with the assertion Of their
national independence. There is no
such thing as a Filipino nation, and the
world would regard 1T as a brilliant
triumph Tor American Institutions II
there should be In the life Of the pres
ent generation. Every American who
has studied the question on the spot
with an open mind has been constrained
to admit It's truth. The fact impressed
itself on the mind of DR.. schurman,
who said in his address before the
American Geological Society the other
evening: What would happen IL indie
pendence were given to the Filiplnos2
Wen, either the tribes would get to
quarreiing among Themselves. and that
would lead to chaos. or some subject
Of a European power would discover
some day that his property rights had
been violated, and would ask his gov
eminent to intervene. And you know
what Intervention by European power
means, The islands would be partl-
TONED among the Great Powers. With
us. the Philippines have a future before
them; without US they have none. So
also Bishop Potter who cannot be ac-
cused OF lmperialiStlc leanlngs: One
thing is evident, and that is that the
FlilpInos are as yet in no condition for
self.Eovernmsnt II a civil government
were imposed a large military force
would be needed to maintain IT, Be
tween the institution Of a stable form
OF government among the widely d.
yerslfied tribal groups OF the Philippine
Archipelago, and the concession even Of
modified form Of sef-government, there
must be a considerable interval AS to
the ultimate grant Of virtual indepen-
dence under an American prOtectorate,
that would seem to be question as
purely academic as whether the United
states shall proceed to divest itself Of
the sovereignty which 1t has acquired
over these islands. Mr.. Bryan lacks
the courage OF his convictions by fail
ing to propose immediate cession; he
shows a lack of perception of the prac-
teal common sense Of the American
people by ovadlng any exact statement
Of the conditions under which he would
declare Philippine independence"