The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-27
IT rs BRYAN'S CHILD.
Concluded FROM FIRST PAGE,

SUT1t OHt TIUICdTt Whit 1T ITVSTUtTIt Hdo
done that he ought not to have done, or
what he has failed to do that he ought to
have done.
In January. 1899. he appointed a COM
mission to go to the Philippines with in
structions ito secure with the least posi-
BILE delay the benefits of a wise and gen
erous protection of life and property to
the inhabitants" The commission was in
structed to make every effort Ito alleviate
the burden of taxation, to establish indus
trial and commercial prosperity. and to
provide for the safety of persons and of
property, by such means as may be found
conducive to these ends
The commissioners were instructed ito
ascertain what amelioration in the condi-
ton of the Inhabitants and what improve
mentS in public order may be practicable
and for this purpose they were directed to
study attentively the existing social and
political status of the various populations.
In the instructions to the commission the
President expressed the desire that in all
their relations with the inhabitants of the
island the commissioners exercise due re-
spect for all the ideals, customs and in
situations of the tribes which compose the
population, emphasizing upon all occasions
the Just and beneficent intentions of the
government of the United States
Upon arriving at Manila the commission
issued a proclamation. which was signed
by the three civil members and by Admiral
| Dewey and General Otis, in which every
guarantee of civil and religious freedom
was offered. The proclamation stated that
1.-The most ample liberty OF self-govern-
ment will be granted to the Philippine peo-
| ple which is reconcilable with the mainte-
nance OF a wise, just, stable. effective and
| economical administrator of public affairs
and compatible with the sovereign and in
ternational rights and obligations of the
| United States" 1t stated that 1.-The civil
| rights of the Philippine people will be
| guaranteed and protected to the fullest
extent, religious freedom assured and all
| persons shall have an equal standing be-
fore the law" 1t denounced any exploita-
ton of the islands and guaranteed to the
PEOPLE on honest and effective civil service
IL h;a fn tho fullest ayfnnt 49, ctfoaI a.
natives should be employed. 1t promised
reforms of education and the effective adj
ministration or justice, and it announced
ment is the welfare and advancement of
the Philippine people"
In issuing this proclamation the COM
mission was acting under the orders and
Instructions OF the President. There was
not a hint OF imperialism" bat on the
contrary local seh-govern.nent in all re-
spects as'complete as we enjoy was offered.
Al these good offers fell idly on the ear of
Aguinaldo- He insisted on independence.
The commission could not promise that
because the President. for whom il acted.
had no power to give away the territory
of the United States.
Another commission was sent to establish
a civil government for the Philippines. 1t
is now at Manila, and the government it
has framed will be put i'm operation the 1st
of September. 1900. 1t cannot be treated of
here, because this article had to be pre-
pared before the text of the new govern
ment could reach the writer. Is it not fair
i anu IlSnl u dSh that Il Dt ttSltu III DTdC-
tice before ii is
/ suppose that it is idle in the present
excited state of public feeling to argue with
the Democrats that their avowed policy is
enhancing ten-fold the difficulties which
confront us in pacifying the islands. One
cannot, however, avoid regretting that SO
many of our people are encouraging and in
flaming the Tagalos to resistance.
Resistance means death to many of our
soldiers and to many Tagalos as we'll
A HAZARDOUS STAKE.
1t is believed " the insurgents that Bry-
ans election will insure their independence
anu they are encouraged to hold out. The
success of the Democratic party means sue
cess for them. If the Tagalos quit fighting
and take the oath of allegiance, on the mo-
ment the paramount issue" is dead, and
so is the Democracy In this contest the
Democrats stake their all on the %continu-
ance of fighting. 1t strikes one as odd that
a great party should base it's hopes of sue
cess on the killing and wounding of our
troops. Will not a flame of patriotism rise
up over the land which will testify that at
all hazards we will stand by the flag, that
come what may we will not turn our backs
On the Philippines, a disgraced and dishon-
ored nation?
hat we may do with the Philippines ul-
timately is not the question now. If a man
believes that they should be Independent,
this is not the time to urge that solution.
AS well might the dissolution of the ties
l htA ttAo Do NV o0StA w
vanced as a remedy when the massacre of
Cawnpore took place. AS well might our
troops have been withdrawn from china
while our Minister was imprisoned. The
Democratic platform on this subject reads
as follows:
1--WE favor an immediate declaration OF
the nations purpose to give TO the Fill
pinos. first, a stable form of government,
second, independence; and third. protection
from outside interference such as has been
given for nearly a century to the Republics
on Central and South America
In the list of things to he done first comes
"a stable form of government. We are
trying to give them that now. If We re-
tain them, the third clause, protection.
will necessarily follow. Why. If We do not
retain them. we should burden ourselves
with protecting them is not clearly per-
ceptible. The modern doctrine seems to be
that we may not take any foreign territory
for our own, but that whenever a republic
is born We must stand as its protector.
We must run amuck for the mere love OF
running IL. We must pay taxes to support
warships and armies in order that some
obscure nation may play at government
1t is understood why we have an interes,
in the South American republics-the Mon
should become the Don Quixote of the
world cannot be satisfactorily explained
Let us at least be honest, and when we
say that the Philippines shall be indie
pendent let us say so meaning what the
word implies. Let them go their way and
We ours-enemies in war. and in peace
lTlenUS. Let US nave no tntdnennR al
liances nor stand sponsor for people whc
are aliens and whose abiding place is re.
mote from our continent.
The Democratic platform does not SAY
how long it will be before the stable gov
eminent il favors will be established. II
may be a hundred years, or even longer
The difference between holding the Philip
pines until a stable government" is es
tablished and holding them forever. is. a.
far as practical right goes. the difference
between tweedle dunn and tweedle dee
We have no more right to hold them fol
a term of years than we have to hold then
forever. The people would become con
fused III considering this question. 1t show.
how uncertain the Democrats were of theil
ground when they adopted this uncertain
hating policy.
Disguise il as you may. the real question
before the people is whether the armies o.
the United States should be withdraw
at once. now and forever. and the island,
turned over to the Tagalos. Mr.. Bryan
would, as have tn,
power TO recall the armies. and IL he did
he would let loose the horrors of a terrible
revolution. AS nobody advocates tina
course openly, it is hardly necessary TO at
tack it-still Mr.. Bryan in some othel
speech may even reach that altitude o
recklessness.
OBLIGATIONS TO FULFILL
We should not grant the Philippines i'm
E mediate independence. because we hav,
assumed by the treaty obligations to tn
5 world which We must comply with. w,