The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-24
a just Arrangement.
countries


publish this morning The one which
appears to have been written by gen.
tleman from Missouri requires no COM
ment The severest punishment for the
writer is to print his letter, exactly as it
was received. 1t suggests that possibly
1t might be a good idea to increase pub
lie school facilities in the state OF Mis-
souri, But though education might
teach the author to write letter in
passable English, we fear greatly that
nothing could instruct him in the nobler
art of thinking as loyal American citi-
zen.
The other letter. written by Mr..
James, evades the real question in or
der that II may ask some others to-
tally disconnected with the subject. This
is the true Bryan method. We called
the Democratic candidate to account for
a vile reflection upon American policy
in China. Mr.. James idea of dealing
with that is to ask some questions about
our policy in the Philippines. We have
no objection to answering them; but
first, inasmuch as we do not propose
that public attention shall be diverted
in this way from Mr.. Bryan's offence,
we will set out again exactly what 1t is
of which he is guilty. He said. in
public interview:
For several years European nations
have been threatening TO dismember
China. and 1t is not strange that their am
bilious designs should arouse feeling of
hostility towards foreigners. That feel
ing. however. ought not to be directed
against American citizens, and will not
he IL our nation makes 1t known that it
has no desire to grab land or to trespass
upon the rights Of China.
These words, land will not be-" con-
tain an explicit statement that out
RACES upon American citizens in China
are due to the fact that we have de-
signs upon Chinese territory and that
they would not have occurred If we had
stated a contrary policy. And it Is a
deliberate and atroclous falsehood. The
tanned any idea of aggression toward
China. but It has declared an opposite
policy In the clearest and most emphatic
terms. The note of Secretary Hay. ad-
dressed to our ministers abroad and
communicated to the powers. contains
the following statement:
=, ia - t.,
means of attaining this last result. but
the policy of the United States is TO
seek solution that may bring about
permanent safety and peace to China, pre-
serve Chinese territorial and administra-
tive entity, protect all rights guaranteed
to friendly powers by treaty and internal
tional law, and safeguard for the world
the principle of equal and impartial trade
with all parts OF the Chinese empire.
II Mr. Bryan had not read this note.
he is not ut to discuss foreign relations
or to be a candidate for any Office higher
than justice OF the peace. II he had,
as we must assume. then the slur that
he casts on the government. at such a
time and under such circumstances,
makes him AZ companion for the Box
ers.
The queries Of Mr., James, relating 20
wholly different matters. need not de-
tain us long. His quotation from Sem
ator Lodge merely declares that the
United States desires to develope 20 the
fullest extent its trade with China. It
does not In the remotest way hint at
nythlng but peaceful commercial ac-
tlvity. II any opponent Of the admins
tration wishes TO take the position that
our oriental trade should not be deyel-
oped, We are quite willing to submit
that Issue to the people.
The announcement that our purpose
in the war with Spain was not forcible
annexation was literally true. and has
been adhered to scrupulously. while the
reference at that time was 10 Cuba. the
battle Of Manila not having then oc-
Cured. we have made II good in the
Philippines We are not engaged in
fore.hle annexation there. but In putting
down an insgrrection BY one = the
scores q tribes inhabi,ing the islands
The third hypothetical question con
tains n statement % conditions 80 wide
~ variant from the actual facts that
u !s useless Tor discussion. We never
gave IA lntlmation that the war was
FOR Independence" We never gave the
F,up.nos back into the hands 4 spain.
we never ordered the slaughter 10 boz
gin" To assume what you want To-
prove is easy. but not particularly con-
viuclng.
Lincoln was absolutely right In what
he said, as ne spoke and meant Il Take
the words literally. ard you would open
the door q every prison and reforma-
tory and deny the night u the North
70 nght for the preservation u the
Union.