The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-22
ZOE KHAr nRYAN sTANDs.
A ooid Democratic Reasons for Opposing Him
-'Tmperiaiism" aad the Trusts"

9FHN'NbhY AH' 'hT'h Why - " sN
shall vote for Mckinley In November. II ls be-
I caust Of the dominant issue OF the campaign as
made by the nomination OF Mr. Bryan and the
reasscrtion Of his silver policy. Now let me re-
fer to other issues upon which he IL aying
stress. with the special purpose OF forcing us
Gold Democrats INTO supporting him.. In spite OF
his silverisin. They are imperialism" and the
trusts"
'Anti-imperIalsm' II a fine sounding word.
IL Ia sonorous. and 10 many may thus have an
effective force as the paramount" issue. To
fully comprehend It's sig nincance and meaning
II may be well 10 recall 70 mind a few facts Of
recent history.
The war with Spain was largely due to the ef-
forts OF the Democratic minority In Congress
IN the fall Of 1897 and the early part OF 1895.
The suggestion has been made that. with some
honorable exceptions. the Democratic Congress-
men we're animated rather by the desire Of
putting Mckinley In q hole" than by an hon
est purpose OF resouine 'bleeding Cuba" from
Spanish tyranny. This country was not at oil
prepared for fighting. The disastrous conclu-
sion OF a war prematurely brought would have
damned the Administration and furnished the
Democrats with a paramount Issue" A re-
fusal TO carry the matter TO the last extremity
would have been ascribed to the cowardice OF
Mckinley, and the paramount issue might
thus have been the rescue OF Cuba from the
clutches Of Spain. The zeal with which most
OF the Democrats in Congress devoted them
selves 10 the hamperinz Of the Government In
It's conduct OF the war gives some support TO the
foregoing suggestion.
At all events. war was declared. and a. one
OF the necessary moves the Spanish feet In the
Pacific Ocean was annihilated at Manila. This
practically broke the power Of Spain in the
Dbufn,t,a. .nA rtantad H. ,aod out ~ ushtch
q paramount Issue" was 70 grow.
There we're obviously two courses open TO
Admiral Dewey. He might have coaled his
vessels and sailed away, leaving the Spanish
population and their associates and adherents
on the islands to such a fate as they would
probably have met with at the hands OF Agui-
naldo and his Tagalos. or. impressed with the
duty OF conserving such civilization as existed
In those Islands, he might have remained at
Manila. To the credit OF his country. he stayed.
I am not a Roman Catholic, but that Church
has rights and valuable rights in the Philip
pine Islands. and there IA no doubt but that
all that conserved those rights was the fact
that the Americans did not run away. and our
present position Ia all that maintains those
rights to-day. Manila was then occupied by
the Americans in force, and It was so held I'll
Spain, by n treaty, Il which Mr.. Bryan APP
proved PUueu me war anu Ctueu 10 the 7 nllcu
States her authority over the 'slands.
Meanwhile a Spanish half-breed, named
Agulnaldo. who had previously sold out his
compatriots t. Spain for some 100000. came to
Manila. where he conspired with certain other
Mez'iIos and chiefs Of the Tagal tribe to sup
plant the Spanish tyranny with one OF their own,
with this object they gathered together an
army, in character much like that OF the Boxers
In China, and held together by the delectable
prospect OF ruttins 70 the sword all the men
among the Europeans on the islands. looting
all their property and ravishing their women.
To put their precious plans into execution
they impaticntly awaited the evacuation Of
Manila by the American forces. but finally. los
ing patience. they tried to expedite and compel
our departure by a ;reacherous attack, which
was met by forolble and continued resistance.
Now. as / understand. NJ. Bryan and Senator
bale and he other "anti-imperialists." includ-
nag Tammany Hall. fully sympathize with
Aguinaldo and his precious crow in all their
purposes except. perhaps. their Intentions
regarding the women. Their claim Is that IL is
contrary 10 the spirit OF our institutions, con-
trary to our own Declaration Of Independence
20 deprive Aguinaldo and his Tagals OF the
freest liberty in the Philippines. regardless OF
the rights and wishes ~ the other inhabitantS
thereof. that in refusing such license TO Agui-
naldo the Administration has shown a desire to
establish an imperial power founded upon such
military establishment as would endanger our
own liberties.
such is tho paramount issue that the
Bryanites present 10 Americans II il an insult
70 my Americanism! We have in the Philip
pine Islands to-day a commission OF careful,
conservative. honorable men. OF such character
that their selection reflects the highest credit
upon Mr.. Mckinley, clothed with full authority
70 ascertain the facts o; the situation. Their
duty is 10 determine what course is best and
wisest for this country TO pursue in its Just
treatment Of this great question, which has
been thrust upon US as one OF the results OF
the war.
One Of the duties Of government. according TO
the Declaration OF Independence. Is to assure to
every individual living under II a right to life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness. Liberty.
however, as understood by Washington. Jeffer-
son, Franklin, the Adamses and their associates
was not free license TO loot. ravish and Cypress,
but WINS always oircumscribed by the equal
rights OF the rest OF the community, We de-
stroy ed the rule Of Spain in the Philippines. 1t
has become our hard and dinloult duty-but 1t
IS our duty-to give 10 those ISLANDERS such a
government as will insure. so far as human
frailty Will permit. to every one OF them thoes
rights which our fathers ascribed to all men.
This. as fairly shown by the selection Of TIA
Commissioners. Is now the purpose OF the Ad-
mintstIation.
1t Is true that government should exist by the
consent Of the governed. Our fathers reoog-
nized, however. the necessity OF q capacity to
consent. and insisted upon proofs thereof by
those who wished to vote. Before We turn over
the government OF those islands 10 Aauinaldo
and his followers. or to any one else. II must be
with the Intelligent assent OF his fellow
islanders. II the prevailing intelligence among
them Is not yet sufficient 10 admit Of their being
heard, It Ia our duty to ourselves and to the
civilization In the benefits Of which We share to
hold their government In trust until they shall
have become qualified to relieve US OF the
burden.
But | am free TO admit that In the event OF
Mr.. Bryan's election we will have too many
troubles at home TO have either the time. means
OF disposition TO have any care for the Philip
pines. The effort to escape beggary. national
and individual. will claim all our energies.
There Is to-day abroad IN alr country a wide
spread. restless resentment at the increasing
arrogance OF wealth. Mr.. Bryan and his sup
porters are eagerly tanning this sentiment. in
tho honA that ~ NAV aid his chanoe of aleotion.