The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-24

sons who having deposits in savings
banks, who wish their good dollars,
worth 100 cents each, to be returned to
them in Bryan dollars, worth 45 cents,
will not fail to vote for him. AL per-
sons who work for wages who wish TO
have the purchasing power of their
daily pay cut In two and the price of
the necessaries Of life doubled, will
make haste to vote for Mr.. Bryan. All
manufacturers, men Of business, who
wish to go through a financial crisis
| which will wreck every business and
financial institution in the United
States and as consequence smte trade
death blow, will not fail to vote
for Mr.. Bryan. He is a believer in free
| silver and he is bound by the most
| solemn pledge to coin it without limit
| and If he is as sincere as his devotees
! believe him to he, surely he will not
| fail them, though the fortune of every
plutocrat and the humble home of ev-
cry mechanic should fall as sacrifice.
Finally, Mr.. Bryan demands that he
Ishall be made president because he
says the Republican party contemplate
changing the republic into an empire,
and that they intend to subvert the
liberties of the people by the use of a
standing army, which will be needed
to carry out their policy of imperial.
ism. Having favored the war with
Spain, he did not object to the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet in the
harbor of Manila. Having been in
strumental in ratfying the treaty Of
peace whereby the United States paid
Spain $20,000,000 for the Philippines, he
does not object to establishing a stable
government in the place of that which
we destroyed, but his plan does not
include the use of force. He would
convene congress in an extra session
Immediately after his election and ask
that a stable government be estab-
lished for the Philippines. He would
haul down the Stars and Stripes and
replace it by the flag of the Philip
pine republic.
The only possible right that the con-
gress Of the United States could have
to establish a republican form of gov
ernment in the Philippines rests upon
the fact that the United States is the
owner or the sovereign of the islands.
If We are neither owner nor sovereign
then Mr.. Bryan and congress have no
right to establish any government
stable or otherwise, in the Philippines
If the Philippines are entitled to form
their own government and govern
themselves. they have a right to es-
tablish a monarchy or an oligarchy or
a despotism Perchance Mr.. Bryan's
government would not suit Aguinaldo.
Certainly, with his views concerning
the consent of the governed and the
equality of mankind, Mr.. Bryan could
not presume to force them to accept
thesSorm of government he might pre-
scribe. Logically they must be left to
adopt such a government as they may
deem best suited to their wants. But
Mr.. Bryan's plan promises to defend
the Philippines against all foreign in
: reference.
suppose Mr. Aguinaldo and his army
! should prefer a military despotsm,
which would enable them to murder
all the friars against whom they seem
= to have a deadly hatred break up all
their religious establishments and con-
iiscate all their property. Suppose Mr..
! Aguinaldo, being the military despOt,
should carry out the plan which he
recently formed to loot the city of
| Manila. murder all the Spanish. Eng
lsh, German and French, and take
p possession of their property. Being a
: sincere and honest man Mr.. Bryan
| would be compelled to defend the
| Philippines against all foreign aggres-
' sion; therefore, when the outraged ma
e tions demanded reparation and restitu.
tion and sent their navies to enforce
? their demands, the United States
l would be bound to rally to their de.
l fense. The size of the army and navy
needed to defend the Philippines under
such possible, If not probable, condi.
a tions would so far exceed any force
C needed TO establish a stable govern.
ment under the plan of the admins.
tratiOn that Mr., Bryan's fears of mill.
] tarism might be realized.
1t is fortunate, indeed. that Mr.
Bryan has been frank enough to make
his plan and purpose respecting the
= government of the Philippines knowr
{ in time. Probably there is not another
O man in the United States outside ar
( insane asylum who would ever consent
Y to surrender all authority over these
Z eight millions Of people, mainly bar.
T. barians. and at the same time under.
Y take to defend them and any govern.
= ment they might adopt against all In.
reference by other nations.