The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-09-11

lle-lOuS bellOc1il- HIS NIllltH IL itA-
ter urging the reelection of President
Mckinley. 1t is entitled ''Bryan's At
titude Toward the Philippines and is
made public by the Republican Ma
tional committee. The letter, in part,
is as follows:
In his speech of April I, 1900, in the
Senate, Mr.. Hoar said he could not for
get that Mr. Bryan, unless he is much
misrepresented, used all his power and
influence with those of his friends who
are ready to listen TO his counsels to Sc
cure the ratification of the treaty,
meaning the Paris treaty.
There were seventeen Democratic
senators who voted for the ratification.
A two thirds majority was necessary.
The treaty was ratified by one vote.
Mr.. Bryan has squarely assumed
the responsibility of the ratification.
We had Manila August 13, 1898. In
December. 1898, Spain had made
treaty ceding the islands to us. We
had occupied them until February >,
war on us. our soldiers having to fight
for their lives. The treaty was ratified
February Z, 1899.
Mr.. Bryan advised his friends in the
Senate to ratify the treaty after the
battle of February 9th had been
fought. He knew that war had begun.
He might readily have foreseen what
complications might possibly occur out
of the existing conditions, Then was
the time to have talked about the CON
sent of the governed, and not now,
when every speech he makes adds ten
names to the roll of our dead and 100
TO the Filipino dead.
Mr.. Bryan having undoubted pow
er to prevent the ratification of the
treaty, actually, by his own confession,
advised the ratification. Neither in
law, nor in morals, can he be permitted
now to secure political advantage
from denouncing n course of conduct
which he himself advised.
Mr.. Bryan gives as his reasons for
advising ratification that he thought
1t safer to trust the American people
to give independence to the Filipinos
than to trust the accomplishment of
that purpose to diplomacy with an un-
friendly nation
This puts Mr.. Bryan in the attitude
of desiring Independence for the Phil
ippines very arden;ly.
"Why should be become so suddenly
imbued with antagonism to the Demo
cratic principle of expansion, as eXem-
plified by all Democratic statesmen
from Jefferson TO Voorhees,? If he could
stand the annexation of Hawaii why
balk at the acquisition of the Philip
pines?
Mr.. Bryan's own explanation is as
follows:
~ believe that we are now in a bet
ter position to wage a successful CON
test against Imperialism than we would
have been had the treaty been reject
ed
Here, then. we have the real reason
for this strange parody of Jekyll and
Hyde. He wanted TO create the bogy of
imperialism in order that he might
fight and overcome the monster. If Mr..
Bryan had opposed the ratification of
the treaty, the Filipinos would have
gone their way, either into the arms of
Spain, or of Germany, or into discord-
ant warning and petty states. At all
events, we would have done with them.
This would not have suited all, be
cause Mr.. Bryan wanted to wage n
successful war against imperialism
And so Imperialism was born, and its
actual father was William j. Bryan.
He is now endeavoring to destroy his
own child Let 1t be remembered that
this extraordinary dread of imperialis-
tic rule comes from gentleman who
has accepted the nomination of the fu-
sion Populists. or Peoples party.
THE Populist platform demands that
the country should own and operate
the railroads in the interest of the peo-
pie. Is not that Imperialism"
Mr.. DENLY then reviews the work of
the first Philippine commission, ap-
pointed in January, 1899. and con-
tinues:
Another commission was sent to es-
tablish a civil government for the Phil
ippines. 1t is now at Manila and the
government it has framed will be put
in operation the LIST of September. 1900.
Is 1t not fair and right to assume that
it be tested in practice before 1t is CON
demned?
ut is believed by the insurgents that
Bryan's election Will insure their indie
pendence, and they are encouraged to
hold out. The success of the Demo
cratic party means success for them.
If the Tagals quit fighting and take the
oath of allegiance, on that moment the
paramount issue is dead and so is the
Democracy. In this contest the Dem
ocrats stake their all on the continu-
ance of the fighting. 1t strikes one as
odd that great party should base its
hopes of success on the killing and
wounding of our troops.
VIII not name OF patrlotlSm rise
up over the land which will testify that
at all hazards we will stand by the
flag, that come what may we will not
turn our backs on the Philippines, n
disgraced and dishonored nation?
What we may do with the Philip
pines ultimately is not the question
now. The Democratic platform favors
an immediate DECLARATION of the ma
tion's purpose TO give to the Filipinos,
first, stable form of government; sec
ond independence; and third, protec-
ton from outside interference such as
has been given for. nearly century to
the republics of Central and South
America
I'm the list of things to be dCIe first,
comes n stable form of government