The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-12
MIR. BRYAN AND THE PHILIP
PINES

In commenting the other day on Mr.
toIEall speech of acceptance, we said that
1t remained TO be seen whether or not the
people OF the United States were willing
to give up the Philippine Islands and give
the Inhabitants of those islands their in
dependence. But whether or not that be
true and however much we may admire
noble sentiments to which Mr.. Bryan gave
utterance in his speech, we say that it is
rash for any candidate at this time to
give a definite expression as TO what he
viii do with the Philippine Islands il he
should be elected President That is an
entirely new problem to the people Of this
country and it is out of the question to
say just now what the solution OF that
problem will be- All sorts of contingencies
may arise in the East. The Chinese Gues
ton is in an unsettled condition and no
man can foresee the result of the fighting
that is now going on there. It may be alb
solutely necessary for the United States
TO hold on to the Philippines indefinitely.
Circumstances may be so changed as 10
make it impossible for this Government to
withdraw its troops from the Philippines
and give the islanders their independence.
Where would we have been in the Chi
uese complication if we had had no ships
and troops at Manila. We would have
been 1850 miles away from the scene of
action with no coalingstation or rallying
point anywhere in the East, and it would
have been impossible for US to have sent
more than a handful of troops to Tien
Tsin, and it would have required a Ions
time TO have landed these. But with ships
and troops at Manila we occupy strong
position and we have been treated by the
European Powers with a respect and con-
sideration that we could not reasonably
have expected had the situation been 9TH
erwse
We are not arguing in favor of holding
on to the Philippine Islands We are sim
ply saying that it is rash for any man or
for any party in this particular crisis to
make definite promise as to what the
United States Government will eventually
DO with these possessions. Mr.. Bryan says
that if he is elected President, he will
at once call Congress together and recon-
mend that we set up stable government
III the Philippines and then give the Fill
pincs their independence. He commits
himself and his party TO this policy, re-
CARELESS of any unforeseen circumstances
that may arise, and he says that he VIII
do this regardless of consequences. rms
SENS TO us to be nothing less than reck-
less. We say that the Government is in
no position at this time to commit itself
absolutely to any policy with reference 10
the Philippines. We must cross the
bridges as we come 10 them, we must
measure up TO our obligations as becomes
an honorable nation, we must treat the
Filipinos with every consideration, we
must do what is best for them and best
for US
For our part, we think that it is ex-
tremely doubtful if the great majority OF
the Filipinos want independence. We have
heard very little about independence in
Cuba since the Spaniards were driven out,
ana there is good reason to believe that
the Cubans will eventually ask that their
island be annexed to the United States.
There are adventures in the Philippine
Islands. who are clamoring for independ-
ence. but we have heard nothing of it
from the great mass OF the Inhabitants OF
those islands. II we should give them
their independence. the probability Is that
the adventures would soon begin to make
trouble for the stable government" that
should be- Established and that the isl
ands would be torn by insurreedon. Sup
pose, therefore. for the sake Of argument.
that Filipinos should say that they did
not want independence that they pre-
ferred to be under the protection of the
United States flag. What would Mr.. Bryan
do in that event? Would he force inde-
,Ia,x,s, ea,, I1yr,i1ld lSe