Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-08-17
BRYBN'S SPEECH.
CONTINUED from first page }


fourth for the partisan.
1t Is sufficient answer to the first
argument 10 say that FOR more than 4
century this nation has been world
power. For ten decades IL has been
the most potent influence in the wcrld.
Not only has IL been a world power,
but il has done more to affect the poll.
tics OF the human race than all the 9th.
Ell nations OF the world combined. Be.
cause our Declaration of Independence
was promulgated others have been pro.
mulgated; because the patriots of 1TT6
fought for liberty others have fought
for it; because our constitution was
adopted other constitutions have been
adopted. The growth OF the principle
of self-government. planted on Ameri
can SOIL has been the over-ShadOwing
political fact of the nineteenth cen
fury.
The permanent chairman of the last
Republican national convention pre-.
scented the pecUuiary argument in all
It's badness, when he said: we make
no hypocritical pretenses OF being
interested in the Philippines solely on
account OF others. While We regard the
welfare OF these people as sacred
trust we regard the welfare OF the
American people first. We see our duty
to ourselves as well as 20 others. We
believe in trade expansion. BY every
legitimate means within the province
of government and constitution we
mean to stimulate the expansion Of
our trade and open new markets"
This is the commercial argument. Ii
is based upon the theory that war
can be rightly waged for pecuniary
advantage, AMI that it is profitable to
purchase trade by force and violence
II. =. 1
sitiOnS.
1 place the philosophy OF Franklin
against the sordid doctrine of these
who would put price upon the life
OF an American soldier and justify
war of conquest upon the ground that
il will pay. The Democratic party is
in favor of the expansion of trade. Ii
would extend our trade by every legit
mate and peaceful means: but il is not
willing to make merchandise of human
blood.
But n war OF conquest is as unwiSe
as il Is unrighteous. \ harbor and
coaling station in the Philippines
would answer every trade and mill
tary necessity and such a concession
could have been secured at any time
without difficulty.
Ii is not necessary to own people in
order to trade with them. We carry
on trade today with every part OF the
world, and our commerce has expand
cd more rapidly than the commerce Of
any European empire. When
trade is secured by force, the cost OF
securing Ii and retaining il must be
taken out of the profits, and the profits
are never large enough to cover the ex-
pense. Such system would never BE-
defended. but for the fact that the ex-
pense is borne by all the people, while
the profits are enjoyed by the few.
Imperialism would be profitable TO
the army contractors; ii would be prof
table to the ship-ownerS. who would
carry live soldiers TO the Philippines
and bring dead soldiers back: il would
lie profitable to those who would seize
upon the franchises. and IL would be-
profitable to the officials whose salaries
would be fixed here and paid over
there; but TO the farmer. to the labor
ing man. and to the vast majority of
those engaged In other occupations. II
would bring expenditure without re-
turn and risk without reward.
Farmers and labOring men have. as
n rule. small incomes and under sys.
TENS which place the tax upon con.
sumption pay more than their falr
share or the expenses Of government
benefit from imperialism will be in
jured most by the military burdens
which accompany IL. II il
not strange. therefore. that the labor
organizations have been quick to note
the approach or these dangers and
prompt to protect against both milltar.
ism and imperialism.
Ihe pecuniary argument. though
more effective with certain classes, IS
not likely 20 DC used so often or pre-
sented with 50 much emphasis rs the
religious argument. II what has been
termed the "gunp0wder gospel were
urgcl against the Filipinos only il
would De sufficient answer To say
that majority OF the Filipinos are
now members OF one branch OF the
Christian church. but the principle in
VOWED Is one OF much wider appllca
ton and challenges ser Gus consideya-
ton.
We cannot approve OF this doctrine
In one place unless we are willing to
apply it everywhere. /. there Is poison
IN the bloodof the hand IL will ultimate
~ reach the heart. IL Is equally true
That forcble Christianity. II planted
under the American nag IN the far
away Orient. viii sooner or later b..
transplanted upon American soil.
Let IL be known that our mis-
sionarles are seeking souls instead OF
sovereignty; let IL be known that IN
stead or being the advance guard OF
conQueriEg armies. they are going
forth 10 help and to uplif.
and the. welcome given II our mission
aries Will be more cordial than the
welcome extended TO the missionaries
OF any other nation.
The argument, made hy some. that
IL was unfortunate for the nation thar
IL had anything 10 do with he Phillip
pine Islands. hut that the naval victory
NJ Manila made The permanent acqn-
sit.'n o. tn s. isl: nds cceSga Y = also
unSound We won Il naval victory nj
Santiago, but that Gid not compel us
TO hold Cuba. The shedding of Ameri-
can blood in the Philippine Islands does
not hake il imperative that we should
retain possession forever.
There is an easy, honest honorable
solution of the Philippine question. 1t
Is set forth In the Democratic platform
and X Is submitted with confidence to
the American people. This plan l un-
reservedly indOrse. If elected, shall
convene congress in extraordinary SEES
sion as soon as | am inaugurated, and
recommend I'M Immediate declaration
or the nations purpoSe-firSt. to eStab-
llsh stable form Of government In the
philippine Islands. just as we are now
establishing Il stable form OF govern
nent In the island OF Cuba; second. to
give independence To the FilipinOs,
Just as we have promised to give indie
pend@nce II the Cubaps: third. 10 pro-
tect The Filpinos from outside inter
ference while they work ont their des-
tiny, just as we have protected the re-
publlcs of Central and South America,
and are. hy the Monroe doctrine,
pledged to protect Cuba.
DESTINY THE FINAL JUsTIFICAYI0g
Offered by the IL spublicans for The SItua-
ton In the Philippines.
When our opponents are unable to
defend their position by argument
they fall back upon the assertion that