The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-11
1T is UNDER OUR FLAG
But According to Republicans Not
Under the Constitution.
THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT DoESN'TAPPLY
Mckinley Promises Protection to the Sultan of
Sulu But Declares il Dangerous to Pro-
tect Christian Republic in the
Philippines.
(By the Associated Press.)

Bryan today took cognizance of the let
ter sent to him by Assistant Secretary
of War Meilklejohn which was given out
yesterday and prepared a reply to it,
The reply says:
Il am in receipt of your favor of the
9Th in regard to the Sulu Treaty. 1t is
true that the President two months af-
ter the signing of the treaty sent to
General Otis the instructions which you
quote. You will note that the treaty
or agreement as the President describes
it, was confirmed and approved subject
to the action of Congress, and the only
exception that he made was that in re-
gard to article 10 relating to slavery. You
can but know, however, that since the
President sent those instructions. the
Republican party, with the approval of
the Administration has adopted the theo-
ry that the Constitution does not follow
the flag and, therefore, the 18th amend
ment does not interfere with slavery in
the Sulu archipelago.
THE Porto Rican law asserts the doc
trne that the people of Porto Rico are
beyond the protection Of the Constitution
and can be governed by the arbitrary
anu uHICSlIdIuGu power Oh Iue ITeSlu0Hl
and Congress. If the Constitution itself
cannot reach the West Indies how can
the 18th amendment find it's way across
the Pacific into Asia? The President does
net repudiate article 13 which reads as
follows:
1.-The United States will give full pro-
lection to the Sultan and his subjects if
any foreign nation should attempt to i'm
pose upon them.
I'm view of the fact that the Presi-
dent in his letter of acceptance declares
it dangerous for us to agree to protect
a Christian republic, in the Philippine
Islands, would it not be wise for him
to withdraw the agreement to protect
a Mohammedan island? The agreement
does not repudiate article IA which reads
as follows:
The United States will not sell the
island of Sulu or any other island of
the Sulu archipelago to any foreign ma
tion without the consent of the Sultan or
Sulu.'
'If We buy all the Philippine Islands
from Spain without the consent of the in
habitants. is it fair that we should agree
not to sell any of the Sulu Islands with
out the consent of the Sultan. In other
words is it more important that sui
tan's wishes should be considered than
than the interests of the rest of the
people should be regarded?
Very respectfully yours,
(signed) w. j. BRYAN"
The letter written Mr. Bryan by Mr..
Meiklejohn is as follows:
Washington, Oct. G. 1900.
Dear Sir: In the press reports yes
terday Of your address at Upton, Ind,
in which you referred to the overthrow
of human slavery in the United States
resulting from the success of the ar
mics of the Union, you are reported as
saying in that connection:
We fought then for the adoption OF
a constitutional amendment that pro-
vided that no man could own a slave, and
yet before the Philippine war is ended we
have the Sulu treaty, which recognizes
slavery
Permit me to invite your attention
to the following extract from the letter
of the Secretary of War to Major Gen
eral Otis, commanding the United States
forces in the Philippines, under date of
October 27, 1899:
:" The President instructs me to ad-
wise you that the agreement signed Au-
Aust 20, 1899, between Brigadier Gen.
eral John c. Bates, representing the
United States, of the one part the Sui
tan of Jolo, the Dato Rajah Muda, the
Dato Attix, the Dato Calbi and the Dato
Joakanain, of the other part, is con-
flrmed and approved, subject to the ac-
tion of Congress provided for in that
clause of the treaty of peace between
the United States and Spain which
provides that the civil rights and the
political status of the native inhabit-
ants of the territory hereby ceded to the
United States, shall be determined by
Congress- and with the understanding and
reservation, which should be distinctly
communicated to the Sultan of Jolo that
this agreement is not to be deemed in
any way to authorize or give the consent
OF the United States to the existence of
slavery in the Sulu archipelago, thing
which is made impossible by the thir-
teenth amendment to the Constitution of
the United States
1t is probably unnecessary to call your
attention to the fact that in the absence
of the approval of the President, it is i'm
possible for us to have the Sulu treaty
or any other treaty.
Every resDectfully,
&c. ID. MEIKLEJOHN.
"Hon. w. j. Bryan, Peoria, Ill.