Willmar tribune., 1900-10-20
EMPIRE 1a@e 1ae ARMY.
Articles From the Pen Of William Jennings Bryaneerso
Not Observation-Disclosures Of a Large Standing
Army to a Republican Government. ~ ;'.'

Cuba was desirable only because OF
the island s.. close proximity to the
United States. Thinking that someone
might use the annexation of Cuba as
precedent for indefinite expansion,
he said in letter to President Madi-
son, dated April p, 1909:
SIT will be objected to our receiving
Cuba that no limit can then be drawn
to our future Acquisitions, but he
added SCUBA can be defended by us
without navy, and this develops the
principle which oug hit to: limit our
views. Nothing should ever be ac-
cepted which would require a navy to
defend it,
In the same letter, speaking of the
acquisition of that island, he said:
81 would immediately erect column
on the southernmost limit Of Cuba, and
inseribe on it a me plus ultra as to US
in that direction" :"
1t may be argued that Jefferson was
wrong in asserting that we should con-
fine our possessions to the North
American continent, but certainly no
one can truthfully quote him as an au-
thority for excursions into the eastern
hemisphere. If he. was unwilling to
go farther south than Cuba, even in
the western hemisphere, would he be
likely to look with favor upon colonies
in the Orient? :; -, ,> -
If the authority of Jefferson cannot
be invoked to support the acquisition
of remote territory, much less can his
great name be used to excuse colonial
policy which denies to the people the
right to govern themselves. When he
suggested en- inscription for his monu-
ment he did not enumerate the honors
which he had received, though no
American had been more highly honor
ed, he only asked to be remembered
for what he he'd done and he named the
writing of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence as the greatest of his deeds. In
that memorable document he declared
it. a self-evident truth that governments
derive their Just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. The defense and
development of that doctrine was his
special care. His writings abound
with expressions showing his devotion
to that doctrine and his solicitude for
it. He preached it in the enthusiasm
of his youth; he reiterated it when he
reached the age of maturity; he crown
ed it with benedictions in his old age
Who will say that, if living, he would
jeopardize it to-day by engrafting
upon it the doctrine of government by
external force. -,
Upon the fourth proposition Jeffer-
son is no less explicit. Now, when
some are suggesting the wisdom of a
military government in the philippines,
or colonial system such"as England
administers in India, it will not be out
of place to refer to the manner in which
Jefferson viewed the inability Of aliens
to prescribe laws and administer
government. In 1917 French society
was formed for the purpose 81: settling
upon a tract of land near the Tombig-
bee River. Jefferson was invited to
formulate laws and regulations for the
society. On the 18th of January of
that year he wrote from Monticello ex-
pressing his high appreciation of the
confidence expressed in him, but. de-
clining TO undertake the task. The
reasons he gave are well worth con-
sidering at this time. After wishing
them great happiness in their under
taking he said: ! ~. 4...., y
"The laws, however, which must ef-
feet this must flow from their own hab.
its, their own feelings, and the re-
sources of their own minds. No
stranger to these could possibly pro-
pose regulations adapted to them.
Every people have their own particular
habits, ways ofthinking, manners; ETC.,
which have grown Up with tkenr from
infancy, are become q. Psrt-of their
nature, and to which, the regulations
which are to make them happy MUST
be accommodated. No member Of y
foreign country csis have sufficient:
sympathy with thsss: The institutions
of Lycurgus, for example would not
have suited Athens, NOR those of Solon,
Lacedaemon. The organizations Of
Locke were impracticle for Carolina,
and those of Rosseau ffors Poland.
Turning inwardly on myself from
these eminent illustra ions Of the truth
of my observation, / feel all the. pre-.
sumption it Nv ould manifest should IL
undertake to do what this respectable
society is alone qua lifted to do suit
ably for itself. .'l' n.
The alien may possess greater sinteES
ligence and greater strength; Y But hss
lacks the ympathy for, and the tiiden-
tification with, the people: have
only to recall the grievances enumer.
ated in the Dec claration Of Inaeep5endt
ence 70 learn how an ocean mas dis dli:s;
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