The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-27

at the antitrust meeting in Chicago,
last fall, and which he has frequently
| discussed since that time. Taking up
the Philippine question he referred to
the Puerto Rico bill, and said:
PUERTO RICAN TARIFF.
"The desire to impose import duties
on goods coming from Puerto Rico
compelled the Republican party to dis
| close its imperialistic tendencies. This
bill has aroused a storm of protest
from Republicans in public and in pri-
vate life. But, why should any Repubi-
can be surprised? Imperialism means
that the people brought under the flag
| are not to share in the guarantees of
| the constitution. 1t is amazing that
| Republicans have contemplated the
permanent acquisition of the Philippine
islands without stopping to consider
the future status of the Filipinos. Are
the Filipinos to be citizens? Are they to
be allowed to come to the nited States
with their Oriental methods Of living to
compete with American labor? What
| good does 1t do to exclude by force a
few Chinese and then bring in by force
100000 of Filipinos? Are the Filipinos
to expect to participate in our elections?
Is presidential contest to be determin-
ed by the returns from the Philippine
islands? Are the questions which con-
cern our own people to be decided some
| day by the senators and representa-
tives in congress, from the Philippine
islands? And, If the F'ilipinos are not
to be citizens are we going to change
our constitution so as to hold them in
a perpetual state of vassalake? Can
we expect anything but their hatred so
long as we rule them through carpet
bag governors? The Republicans have
studiously avoided a discussion of the
Philippine question. They have opposed
the consideration of that question, by
saying nothing could be done until the
insurrection was put down. The Puerto
Rico tariff bill, however gives us some
idea of the treatment which the Fill
pinos may expect, and Prof. Schurman,
one of the presidents commissioners,
says that this bill will arouse suspicion
in the mind of the Filipino as to his
future conditions. He states his fear in
the following language: In the very
moment when we need to inspire conf
dence in the minds of the conquered
Filipinos shall we commit an act which
will confirm their distrust of us, quicken
their suspicious and breed new and
perhaps ineradicable antipathies? God
forbid"
| FILIPINO INDEPENDENCE.
Mr.. Bryan continued: 1.-THE only set
tlement of the Philippine question, con-
sistent with the American interests and
American principles, is the settlement
proposed by the Democrats in the senate
before war broke out in the Philippine
islands, namely; A declaration of the
nations purpose to give the Filipinos
independence as soon as stable gov
ernment is established. When that
declaration is made hostilities will cease
and 1t will be easy to establish a stable
government. To independence should
be added protection from outside inter-
ference. Not protectorate such as
European countries exercise for the
spoliation of the protected, but protec-
ton such as this nation has exercised
over the republics of Central and South
America. 1t will be sufficient for the
United States to announce that any
molestation Of the Philippines will be
considered an unfriendly act. If our
, nation will stand erect and exert its
great influence in behalf of peace and
justice and liberty no nation will disturb
the republics which lie in the south of
u.s."
FRANKLIN ON A TRADE WAR.
Mr.. Bryan devoted some time to the
discussionof a trade argument made in
behalf of the Philippine islands, and
quoted a letter written by Banjamin
Franklin to Lord Howe in June of 1776
The extract from Frankln's letter is
, as follows:
This well-founded esteem and affec-
, ton which shall always have for your
lordship, make it painful to me to sec
you engaged in conducting a war, the
great ground of which as described in
your letter. is the necessity for pre-
venting the American trade from pass.
ing into foreign channels. To me it seems
} that neither the obtaining nor retain.
ing of any trade, how valuable soever
is an object of which men may justly
spill each others blood: that the true
Y and sure means Of extending and Sc.
5 curing commerce are the goodness ant
e cheapness of commodities; and that the
profits of no trade can ever be equal tc
! the expense of compelling it and hold
: ing it by fleets and arms. 1 consider
4 this war against us, therefore, as botf
= unjust and unwise; and 1 am pursuadeC
e that cool and dispassionate posteritJ
e will condemn to infamy those who ad
!, vised it: and even that success will no
= save from some degree of dishonol
e those who have voluntarily engaged t
e conduct it."
r Mr. Bryan commented upon this let
t ter, and said that imperialism had it!
i inspiration in the desire of the syndi
e Gates to extend their commerce by con
1 quest, and he said that he was willing
n to indorse the language of Franklin
4 and say that "Cool and dispassionat'
y posterity will condemn TO infamy thost
= who advised it,"