The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-09-03
The Peoples Forum
From Judge John j. Hunt.

Editor Constitution-The late Judge Cincin-
natus Peoples, whose friends remember as a
man of acute observation. remarked to me when
I was quite young man and just admitted to
the bar that the effect OF an argument often
depended mot so much on what was said as
who said IT,"
Reading Mr.. Bryans speech OF acceptance
and afterwards the many comments II by
both press and people. thought OF what
Judge Peoples said, for IL is singular that all
the favorable comments that have SEEM while
very eulogistic, are In general terms and
none point out why that speech is such a pro-
found one. To me that speech not dis
appointing, for since Mr.. Bryan has been tell
ing people everywhere that country paid
So so ahead for Filipnos, l have not expected
much In the shape of a solid or candid argu-
ment from him. Only few days since. In his
own town Of Lincoln, he made in speech a
statement which he had made before. and which
he haf had time to repent Of. as follows:
THE republican party, which not WILL
ing that black man should be sold for S coo.
now claims that Filipino can be bought for
So SO. The principle is exactly the same"
Great applausc)
That statement of Mr. Bryan's was based on
the payment Of $50 900 600 TO Spain for the
Philippine islands by the treaty Of Paris. lie
further said: This nation has more right.
as a nation, TO claim ownership Of 5000 ~
FilipinOs than one man has the right TO claim
ownership Of another man" This argument
of his means that sovereignty, the right to
maintain law and order carries with II owner
ship of the persons for whom laws are made
and enforced. Hence, 1t follows. all people
subject to government are slaves Mr.. Bryan
knows that the treaty OF Paris was not a
party measure, for It favored by two
thirds Of the senate. and he admits he ad-
vised Its ratification. The policy Of this gov
eminent in dealing with its new dependency is
the outcome Of the treaty OF Paris. That treaty
is the law of the land. and to enforce law Is
the duty OF the American people, regardless
OF party. Opposition to II now means nothing
less than discredit TO American honor and en-
couragement of resistance 10 American effort
to restore order and establish law In legally
acquired American teriltory-territory ac-
quired by treaty. the ratification of which Mr..
Bryan went out of his way to advise. For my
part 1 do not intend to agree, in the face Of
all evidence to the contrary, that the Ameri-
can people, or even any respectable political
party IN America IS capable OF making vassals
and slaves of the Filipinos, or that the Amer
lean people or any respectable political party
in my country are aiders and abettors in any
scheme of conqust i am not apologizing for
the republican party. The Philippine policy is
not the policy of the republican party alone;
Mr.. Bryan does that party entirely too much
honor in giving It so much credit. Yet, on the
strength of what has been done, and wei done.
and on what is about 10 be DONE and ought to
have been done in the Philippines, Mr.. Bryan
bases his speech of acceptance. contending
that the whole thing means conquest. and that
this country is bent a deliberate scheme
tending inevitably toward Imperialism. And
10 Justify this contention, he inquiries: why
do we not treat the Filipinos treat the
Cubans?' II never occurred to him TO ask
''Why do the Filipinos not treat the Ameri-
cans as the Cubans do?" 1t may be doubtful
whether we have a right to remain so long
with an army in Cuba, where peace prevails
but the C;bans seem to have faith in Ameri-
can institutions and believe We will treat them
right They have not turned their delv-
erers with shot and shell, as the Filiplnos did
and are now doing. Mr.. Bryan and his friends
saw II is our promise that contents the Gu
hans and keeps them docile. and that we should
promIse the Filipinos the same. and then the
resurrection will end This is a simple sur
misc notbing more. We all have right to
s,,rmise hut who but Mr.. Bryan would make
n paramount question" out of surmse? A
nerfectlv warranted surmse with regard to the
attitude of confidence displayed by the Cubans
is mat they have faith in our government,
whether II makes any formal pledge not. a
fsr older democrat and ADLER man than Mr..
Rrvan-a man of whom America is proud, re-
pardIess of party, L mean Senator Morgan
believes our country will do right In the ALB
sence of a pledge, for he says:
I'm the absence of pledge such as was in
cornorated in our declaration OF with
Spain respecting Cuba, our government Is
still under a recognized moral obligation 10
guarantee to its dependency the benefits OF re-