The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-08-17
TREASoNl
The Consultation Of the United States
Defines the Crime.

Mr.. Bryan, in his speeches, places
himself dangerously near being Trait
,r to his country. The Constitution
lefines Treason. as follows: )
"Treason against the United States,
,hall consist only in levying war against /
them, or In adhering to their enemies,
giving them aid and comfort"
The Philippines made war upon our
Government when they fired upon our
soldiers and our flag. 1t matters not
they had cause, or not, for
believing that the United States was
going to assume control OF the islands.
Their act was war, and they thus made
our enemies.
1t does not change their position to
say they had cause for their action.
BY firing on our soldiers they aban-
doned all purpose to secure their rights
by peaceful means, and chose to settle
their differences with the United States
by the arbitrament of war.
They being our enemies, and at wsr
with our country, whoever gives them
aid and comfort, is certainly guilty of
Treason.
Mr.. Bryan denounces Mr.. Mckinley,
charging that he might have avoided
the war with the Philippines. But he
puts his simple declaration against
these facts:
1. The Peace Commissioners, con-
cluded q peace with Spain, that made
the Philippines as much part of the
United States as Louisiana was made .
part of the United States by the treaty
with Napoleon. Mr.. Bryan favored the
ratification OF the Treaty that gave us
the Philippines.
2. The Treaty was ratified by the act
OF. the President and two thirds Of the
| 3enate-the highest law making power
81 our land.
5. The. Philippines having been made
4 part Of our country, according to the
HORNS OF international law, and by
Treaty ratified by the Senate, are as
surely . part Of our country, as Cali
fornia, which we also got by treaty.
A. Having become part Of our coun-
Ftry by conquest and purchase, and by
international and National law, Prssi-
fdent Mckinley could no more dispose
of them, than he could dispose of New
Mexico. His duty as the Executive Of
our country, was to recognize the
rights acquired by our country in the
Philippines and govern them by mill
tary law till Congress could net up q
form of Government for them. For
him to have withdrawn our armies, and
have left the Philippines to be govern
ed by the Philippines, or captured by
Germany, would, have rendered him
liable to impeachment.
s. BY the Nations Of the Earth, nc
other Nation was recognized - having
any rights in the Philippines, after they
were ceded to us by Spain.
6. The moment, therefore, that the
Philippines disputed our right to the
islands, and our right to govern them,
and fred upon our soldiers to assert
their claim, they made war upon the
United States, and became our enemies
It is not, now, question whether
the United States should have acquired
the Philippines-that Is q matter of the
past-but whether the President Of tht
United States shall put down the rebel
lion in the Philippines, against oul
IGOvernment There can be no peact
made with the Philippinos-ao term
made with them-no concessions made
to them-till they have ceased to shoe
down our soldiers, and ceased to mak'
war on the United States.
The Democrats as we'll as tho Repub
tlicans in Congress have taken this p0
sition, by voting supplies to carry OF
the war against the Philippines.
| Those therefore, who would aid, o
do aid our enemies, are traitors to thei
country.
Mr.. Bryan must either endorse th
, course Of our government in .aefendin
the rights Of our Governments againi
, those who have made war upon US, Q
he must place himself in the list {
those who give aid to our enemies.
For us to try to abandon the PhiliI
pines, and withdraw our arms in fac
of the war made upon our forces. woul
: be cowardly aud humiliating. No tru
: American will advocate hauling dow
! our flag to any foe, or from any foot ,
territory where it rightfully waves.
i Mr. Bryan either would will
1 draw our army, or he would continu
the war. If he would withdraw th
: army he would show himself . poltrool
and would prove himself Q traitor {
= his country. If he would continue
n assert the right of our Nation again
4 armed force, he has no cause for cor
plaint against Mr.. Mckinley, and he
Q only raising the cry Of imperialism
8 catch votes, and is willing to aid Il
+ enemies of his country that he m,
= catch votes for his own political pr
Iferment.
We have always hoped that our Go
3 ernment would, when the proper tin
}, comes, grant the Philippines indepen
l. ence, If they want it; and We believe
It will be done. But there is no cour