The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-07
SELF DEFENSE.
At Parkersburg, w. Va, Col.
Bryan Replies to Charges
That He il Responsible for Rat
fffcation Of Spanish Treaty.
DOES NOT SHIRK 1T
But Holds Republicans Respon-
sible For Making It
And For Defeat OF the Bacon
Resolution.
DES NOT SHIRK 1T

!.
concluded with a speech at this place
Mr.. Bryan was greeted at Wheeling
by red bOnhres and firing Of rockets in
the suburbs and the vicinity of the rail-
road station was packed by a mass OF
humanity struggling madly to get q
first glimpse of the candidate. He ap-
peared quite fresh when he assembled
the platform and began to address an
immense multitude which had assembled
to hear him.
In West Virginia Mr.. Bryan has made
all told six set speeches and a number
Of briefer addresses, and has had uni
burg meeting. ex-United States Senator
j.. NJ Camden presided He supported
Palmer and Buckner four year ago. The
speech at Parkersburg was devoted al
most exclusively to the question of inn
perfalism. Discussing the title to the
Philippines, Mr.. Bryan said: who
says the Lord gave them to us?''
To this question a voice in the crowd
responded: Mark Hanna
This response elected a shout, and
Mr. BRYAN replied while am not
prepared to deny that God does speak
through the human voice, I do think
that when He gets ready to speak to
the American people He viii chose some
other mouthpiece than Mr.. Hanna
He contended that under the Repub-
Hcan scheme for the control of the Phil
ippines the people of those islands
must necessarily become subjects, as
they could not be citizens under those
plans, and there was no place under a
republican form of government for a
subject. He charged the Republican
party with lack of sympathy with the
Beers, which was a new experience for
that party, for never before in its his
tory had the party failed to take a DO
sition in favor of a republic struggling
for liberty. The secret of the present
attitude was, Mr.. Bryan said, the fear
that If this country should take a posi-
ton favorable to the Beers. the British
pfnos- In this speech Mr.. Bryan dis
cussed more fully than at any time be-
fore the charge that he had secured the
ratification OF the peace treaty with
SPAIN On this question he said: II
want to call your attention to one argu-
ment that the Republican party seems
more fond Of making than it does Of
making any other in defense of i'm
perialism. The main argument that
have been hearing lately in defense of
imperialism is that I helped to ratify
the treaty. Republicans give me too
much credit when they say I secured
t. me that IL had to help the presi-
de ut secure the ratification of the treaty
that closed the war the Republicans
ought to feel more kindly toward me
than they do. IF your president and
your party in authority in both houses
could not get the treaty ratified with
out my help, I am not such q bad man
as you thought have not yet found
a single senator who has publicly de-
cIared that he voted for the treaty be-
cause T wanted him to, but Senator
Wellington has said he voted for the
treaty because the president asked him
to, and promised that the F1lipinos
should not be held permanently if the
treaty was ratified, SO that If you at
tempt to prove that I am responsible
for the treaty, you can not do 1t, but
you can prove by Senator Wellington
that the treaty would not have been
ratified but for the promise of your
president But will say that If the Re-
publican party will not assume the re-
spOnsibility for the ratification Of the
treaty, will do it myself. Great APP
plause-)
treaty was not senator and did not
have vote i do not know that my voice
to waive all that and am willing TO as
sumo the responsibility for the making
happened since that treaty was ratified
It was a Republican president who ap-
pointed the commission that made the
treaty, and that treaty was made accord
ing to the advice Of the president and
that treaty might have given independ-
pende lo ne to the Cnba Mnsn 6eieva It
should have given Independence to them
when it gave Independence to the Cubans,
and if when 1T was made through the ac- |
ton of the president the treaty had given |
Independence to the Cubans. not one drop |
Of American blood would have been shed |
In the Philippine islands from that time
i responsible for the shedding Of Ameri- |
can blood in the. Philippines and I say |
shedding of blood that was responsible for |
a treaty that made free men of Cubans |
Great AppIause-l When that treaty came /
to the senate it had to be met, and there |
treaty could be ratified; second it could |
be amended if there were votes enough in |
IS reiected r. could not be amended be-
cause there were not votes enough and IL /
. E7epubllcan tells You that that treaty /
want you to remember that when the /
Bacon resolution came before the senate, /
the Republican vice president defeated it. /
did all could to get the Bacon resolu- /
that T could have got the treaty amended /
y men could not get the resolution passed Il
pinos? Great AppIause)
pendence to the Fflipinos after the war 1
had been closed than it would have been /
to secure amendment to the treaty /
which would have to be ratified by Spain. /
challenge any Republican to say that Il
could have secured amendment to the /
treaty when was not able to secure the Il
fore. we were compelled to either accept 1
me treaty or reject it. What did a reJec- |
.W0 things, either the president would have /
To call the new senate together which /
~ the new senate was sworn IN, and then /
secure ratification from the new senate. +
0r else ne would have had to appoint 4
1ew commission to make new treaty If /
+ had been re5ected-
IF on the 4tn day of February the presi-
lent had called the new senate together
1n the 9TH day of March and had the /
treaty ratified by the new senate, then the /
1elay would have done no good But sup
pose ne appointed q commission to make
new treaty. who could tell what COM
1lIcatfon might arise while the new treaty
was being made2 If those who opposed
Imperialism had rejected the treaty, they
would have become responsible for ali
hat might have happened before the new
reaty could have been ratided2 We have
ieen the Republican party in the campaign
II 1888 holding out to the people the
Plea that the nation might be discredfted
while IT dealt with 3 foreign nation, and