New-York tribune., 1900-08-13
COLONEL BRYAN's FILIPINO HoSTRUM

COLONEL BRYAN'S FILIPINO NOSTRUM.
In his speech of acceptance at Indianapolis
last Wednesday Colonel Bryan put forward
what he called not only an honest and honora.
ble' but also an easy" solution of the Philip
pine problem. If he were elected. the Demo.
cratic Presidential candidate declared. he would
call Congress together in extraordinary session
and recommend declaration by the two houses
of this countrys purpose to guarantee Filipino
independence, 1t has already guaranteed the
independence of Cuba. To sanguine rhetori-
clan who believes frankly Colonel Bryan
in his own inerrancy, all things are. of course.
both possible and easy. But who is to blame
the once bitten voter who remembers with what
confidence the Nebraska leader laid down his
famous axiom of 1896 about the price of wheat
and the price of silver, If he dismsses Colonel
Bryan's newest discovery as another empty
fancy. born in the brain of one of the most
persistent visionaries in American politics?
Colonel Bryan can undoubtedly call spirits
from the Vastly deep, but what assurance has
he or any one else that when he calls them
they will answer him? Assembling Congress
and recommending to the two houses the pro-
gramme outlined at Indianapolis is an alto
gether different thing from securing that retro
cession of title to the Philippines which the
Democratic candidate thinks so easy" What
American Congress has ever voted to alienate
territory acquired by treaty or to turn over in
habitants once enjoying the full and undisputed
protection of our flag to the mercies of half
savage dictatorship? If there is to be Demo
cratic majority next March in either the House
or the Senate, that majority will be composed
largely of Southern Senators and Representa-
tives. But the Southern States, as a whole.
have little or no serious interest in the propa-
n iS XT.lp Oor IN a
the theory that brown men" in the Philippines
and "black men" in the United States have
equal rights to self-government with their
white skinned fellows The South will not ac
cept or tolerate such doctrine at home, and
would be slow to apply it in any practical fash
ion even in distant American dependencies
No man in either house of Congress has
fought the battle for Filipino independence with
greater sincerity. courage and candor than Sena-
tor George F. Hoar. But his practical political
sense condemns as utterly futile and fraudu-
lent Colonel Bryan's "easy" plan to enforce
retrocession of American title to the Philippines
Said Senator Hoar on Thursday at his home IN
Worcester:
When Colonel Bryan says that If he is elected
he will call an extra session at once and pro-
pose to Congress to give up the Philippines to
their own people he must know very we'll that
this talk is the idlest and most ridiculous non
house of Congress to do this thing until the peo-
pie of the Philippine Islands have abandoned
their opposition and have re-esta blished
derly government under our protection.
He knows that if there should be a Demo
cratic majority in the House of Representatives
equal to his widest hopes, and If the Repubi
majority in the Senate should be reduced
or wiped out altogether. there are still earnest
and pledged in1perialists enough in the Demo
cratic party TO prevent any such action.
No, the anti-imperialism of Mr.. Bryan and
that Of his party is but mask-it is mask 10
cover the things they have had most at heart
from the beginning, ii is mask to cover their
purpose to establish the free coinage Of silver,
mask to cover their purpose TO bring in free
trade, a mask to their purpose TO over
throw the banking system mask to cover an
attack upon the Supreme Court and purpose
to reorganize 1t If they can get the opportunity
Senator Hoar is well within the truth in his
estimate Of the futility of Colonel Bryan's ex
ira session programme, and of the sincerity
with which the controlling elements in the
party have embraced the consent Of the gov
erned" issue. Instead of an easy and honest
solution of the Philippine problem the Demo
cratic nominee has presented one Of the empti-
est of the false pretence recipes in his politi