The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-01
BRIGANDs WOULD BE IN POWER
IF BRYAN COULD CARRY OUT HIS
THREAT AND RECALL ARMY.
Enthusiastic Meeting OF Third Ward
Colored Men Addressed by w. 8.
Taylor, r. E. Matson and others.


the o. p. Morton Club last night. The
hall was filed with veterans and men of
mature age, most of them members of the
club. Mr.. Collins was the first speaker.
and he intelligently discussed the issues
of the campaign from his own standpoint.
that of young man. Lieutenant Boyle.
having just returned from the Philippines,
interest naturally centered in what he had
to say regarding the conditions in those
islands and the subject of expansion.
Lieutenant Boyle said there is now only
a semblance of the organization the Fill
ipinos formerly had. No organized move
ment confronts the soldiers, and what
they have to face is a continual guer-
rilla warfare. In his opinion the Filipinos
are not capable of self-government. and
If it were left to vote of the representa-
tive men of the race, they would have
conditions remain as they are. In part ne
said:
From what 1 have seen of the Filpinos
there is no question in my mind that they
would gladly lay down their arms and
become citizens of the United States had
they the assurance of protection from the
robber bandits that roam over the island.
would be content to remain under our pro-
lection and leave matters unchanged.
NOT PREPARED.
1.-THE Filipinos are not prepared for self
government. I care not what Mr.. Bryan
may say, or any of his followers. Some of
them are educated, while the great masses
are ignorant. There is not enough wisdom
among those people to conduct a govern
ment for themselves. A small amount of
wisdom in entire race is even more
dangerous than If they had none, for the
leaders and educated ones are better able
to take advantage of the ignorant and
weak. Education is not general enough
TO hold these men in check.
Nov would like to say a word regard
ing what Mr.. Bryan says of recognizing
the F'ilipinos and their leaders as indie
PENDENT, and their island nation.
That is something we cannot do under
the circumstances for the same reason
that General Otis refused to confer with
Aguinaldo and his officers as representa-
eminent and the general would not give
them an audience. They came to him as
officials demanding certain concessions
and not to discuss their condition with
due candor, such as would have placed
them on the higher and better plane and
made them real leaders among their peo-
pie. They came as officers of their gov
eminent when they did not have any.
"A word to the attitude of the Demo-
cratic party in this country and it's in
fiuence upon the native belligerents of the
Philippine islands. You all know what
General Lawton once said about the ma
tives getting encouragement from this
country 1t was certainly true. L am
not charging that Bryan aids the FilipinOs
Greet, but this pledging of moral support
has practically the same effect The po-
sition of the papers supporting him is
known in the Philippines and it cannot
but help to give the Filipinos encourage
MOI tn fob n re
all familiar with the statement Bryan IS
quoted as making, If / am elected Pres
ident of the United States the first thing
i will do will be TO call a special session
Of Congress and recall the army and navy
from the Philippines and give them a
government of their own
IF TROOPS WE'RE WITHDRAWN.
''If the troops were withdrawn and the
Filipinos were given their liberty, Aguin-
aldo and his officers would assume control
of the government. What kind of govern
ment could they give? These officials are
not honest; they have no conscience. and
the administration they would give would
be the fruits of Spanish tutelage Yes; it
would be worse than when the islands were
under Spanish rule. The ambition of the
leaders of the insurrection is to get control
of everything on the island, and then they
would carry on the government with a high
hand and tyrannize and browbeat as they
were taught by the Spanish rulers.
while L have been in the islands have
talked with many of the natives, learning
to speak their language. The peaceful ma
tives are at work, prosperous as they never
were before, and recognize the protection
of the American soldiers. These are the
class that have sought protection. The in
surrectos are nothing but brigands and
bandits, and were they TO get control of the
government, which they certainly would If
the troops were withdrawn, they would kill
from us. The good citizens would be at
their mercy, and that mercy is slaughter.
1T has been said the islands are not
worth holding. That depends upon how
you look at ii. / have seen gardens of
vegetables as fine as can be found in this
country, and there is abundance in other
exporting than they ever did. The country
has never known such prosperity and the
natives are accommodating savings they
never before knew"
CORNERED SILVER
Lieutenant Boyle then talked about the
money system in the islands. 1t has been
in a deplorable condition. and he told how
two or three banks in Manila cornered sill
yer, that being the standard money, in a
few days, and deprecated gold cents. The
government officials of this country COM
PEELED them to relinquish this hold, restore
the original ratio. and since then there
nave Deen no SuSn ulfIculIl0S- This Illus
tration he used TO show how easily the
money market can be manipulated when
men are left free to tamper with the stand
ard He said the soldiers in the islands
wanted to come home because il was home,
they would like to sec their relatives and
friends, but they their duty there, and
not one would fOrsake il. To show how
loyal the soldiers in that country have beer
he told OF several volunteer regiments that
had already boarded a transport given ur
their arms and were getting ready 10 sal
when a town of peaceful natives was at
tackled by insurgents and they disembark
and took up the fight again, although they
had been mustered out and were no longer
! soldiers. They held the town until other
| troops arrived, when they again boarded
their transport and sailed for home
General Coburn closed with a character
| istic speech full of points and wit He said
| David =. Hill reminded him of a lawyer al
| the bar arguing demurrer in bad case
| thinking all the time be ought not to get q
| decision his way. but he must stand by hi.
| client
Judge Henry Clay Allen will address tn,
| club tomorrow night upon Voting" HI.
| address will DE i'm the nature OF a lesson on
| how to vote and the Interpretation OF The
! election law.