New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-17
SOME PRECEDENTs FOR BRYAN.
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. RESIDENTS OF
WASHINGTON AND LOUISIANA, AND THE
INSTRUCTIONS IN NEw-MEX-
ICO AND FLORIDA.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. Bryans reputation for political honesty
of purpose and honest methods in presenting his
peculiar views will he subjected to severe strain
in the light OF his speech Of acceptance In ex-
tolling the wisdom of founders of the Republic
and that of their early successors, and their al
legged remarkable regard for the rights of others
to their native soil and to sefgovernment. he per
verts and ignores certain salient facts connected
with the early expansion of the United States.
1t is commonly known that the Northwest Terri
tory NOW the States Of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois.
Michigan and part of Wisconsin, was acquired
from Great Britain by conquest, so claimed
by the United States and transferred. AT the
time of this transfer there were no American citi-
in all that great expanse of country
The Americans proceeded to settle the new &C
QUESTION and. incidentally, to drive out the Indians
who objected and who Were according to the
Bryanistic idea. the lords Of the soil, and who
should have been allowed self-government
The present policy of America in the Philippine
Islands is to furnish their inhabitants with stable
government. equitable laws, protection TO life ana
property and the introduction of the arts Of ctvlza-
ton. The policy Of our forefathers. Of whom Mr..
Bryan seems so enamoured, was TO seize the lands
natives and. If they objected, TO kill them or
drive them away.
Bryan states for fact that "a republic can have
no subjects" In view of this assertion it might
interest some three hundred thousand Indians in
the United States 20 have him define their political
status. might interest other people TO have him
show whether the Indians consent to being gov
erned, and. II their consent Is not always asked
their wishes regarded, whether he, when a
member Of Congress. caused any peTCepuDle
vibration of the atmosphere in denunClation OF the
deprivation Of the ''inalenable rights of the red
men.
The more than two hundred thousand inhabitants
of District of Columbia consider themselves
subjects OF the United States, yet none Of them
seem TO remember that Mr.. Bryan when a Repre-
sentative from Nebraska concerned himself
about their being governed absolutely by congress,
has he yet issued "A prOnunCldmento IN their
favor. However the campaign IS just beginning
and their condition may receive attention yet The
wholesale of disfranC niSement in North Carolina
seems have been overlooked by the Democratic
candidate in his pathetic appeal for the rights of
American citizens. ike the silver question cannot
become a paramount issue"
1t is reasonable to expect of Mr.. Bryan That he
explain the status Of the residents of Louisiana
when the soil and souls of that immense domain
transferred 10y France TO the United States,
thereof their future form Of government. and
whether they were disseminated against In the
tariff laws Of the Republic to which they had been
uRWillngly annexed. He may also revert to the
insured lions in NeWMeNiCO and in Florida against
American rule. instructions which were quelled by
just in the manner that the Republican Ad-
n.nistration is QUelllnE the in the Philippine
Islands. In each Of the foregoing instances Of eN
pansiOn, the territory first acquired from the
de factO sovereign powers and the natives who
objected by force of arms were subjugated. and II
will not be strange if. taking into connection the
wide divergence between Bryan's assertions and
accepted history, many who have heretofore given
him credit political honesty will change their
views and conclude that the temptation to secure
office has been too strong for him TO resist
Jy-asbinr+On Aug