Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-09

are, according to Mr.. Bryan's pro-
gramme, TO establish stable govern
ment in the Philippine Islands before
we leave there, or establish protect
crate, surely we must first end the |
war; and do not know how the Presi- !
dent can do more in that behalf than |
he has already done by the amnesty !
proclamation which he has issued, |
promising pardon to all who have |
been engaged in the insurrecction who
will surrender and respect our author
| ity. The President has no authority
to go beyond this? Only Congress
can promise independence and abdica-
ton, and Congress has had two years
of opportunity to speak, but has re-
fused, or at least failed to make any
such promise.
Mr.. Bryan recognizes that he would
not have, as President, any power to
promise independence and surrender
the country as an inducement to peace,
and therefore it is that he announces
that he will convene Congress in ex-
ira session as soon as he is inaugural
ed. But what would Mr.. Bryan do if
Congress when thus convened refused
to adopt his recommendation as he
knows beforehand the Senate at least
would do? Would he then haul down
our flag and withdraw our troops any
how or would he go forward with ar
my and navy, as President Mckinley is
doing; and it is fortunate for the
country, if there is the slightest dan
ger of his election that such is the case,
for that policy will stand the test of
the seyerest analysis.
The President has defined that pol
icy in his last annual message better
than any other man can state it.
He says:
i, The future government Of the Phil
ippines rests with the Congress of the
United States Few graver RESPONSE
bilities have ever been confided to us.
If we accept them in a spirit worthy of
our race and our traditions, a great OPP
portunity comes with them. The ISL
ands lie under the shelter Of our flag.
: They are ours by every title of law
and equity They cannot be abard-
oned. If we desert them, we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to
barbarism. We fling them, a golden
apple of discord, among the rival
powers, no enc of which would permit
another to seize them unquestioned.
Their rich plains and valleys would be
the scene of endless strife and blood
shed. The advent of Dewey's fleet in
Manila Bay instead of being, as we
hope, the dawn Of new day of free
dom and progress, will have been the
beginning of an era of misery and vio-
lenec worse than any that has dark
ened their unhappy past. The suggeS-
tion has been made that we could re-
announce our authority ever the ISL
ands and, giving them independence,
could retain prOtectOrate over them.
This proposition will not be found, |
am sure, wCIthy of your serious atten-
ton, Such an arrangement would in
volve at the outset the cruel breach Of
faith. II would place the peaceable
and loyal majority, who ask nothing
better than to accept our authority, at
une mercy OF tne minority OF armed
insurgents. 1t would make us respon-
sible for the acts of the insurgent
leaders and give us no power to con-
troll them. II would charge us with
the task of protecting them against
each other and defending them
against any foreign power with which
they chose to quarrel. In short, it
would take from the Congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous prerog-
ative in the Tagal leader of the hour.
1t does not seem desirable that I
should recommend at this time a sep
arate and final form of government for
these islands. When peace shall be
restored, it shall be the duty of Con-
gress to construct a plan of govern
ment which shall establish and main
tain peace and order in the Philip
pines"
This is the language of a statesman
1t is language befitting the Chief Mag
istrate of a great nation. 1t shows
not a purpose to eXaggerate official
power, but a conscientious desire to
discharge an official duty. 1t is not
the language of a man who would des-
troy the character of his government
and subvert our popular institutions,
but it is calm, deliberate, clear-head-
ed and kind-hearted expression of a
l.