Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-08-17
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
AN uNANsweRAeLe ARGUMENT.

his public efforts" 1t is a mastery pre-
sentation of the paramount issue of the
campaign and a splendid evidence of real
Intellectual power. 1t combines ardor
without intemperance, argument with
out abuse, and fire without fanatcism.
No greater political speech has been
delivered in this country within the last
decade.
Beginning at the beginning, Mr.. Bryan
truly says that
II the Bacon resolution had been adopted
by the senate and carried out By the pres
ident either at the time of the ratification of
the treaty or at any time afterward, it would
have taken the question of imperialism out
of politics and left the American people free
to deal with their domestic problems
The defeat of this resolution by the
casting vote of the vice-president, and
the practical abdication of congress in
leaving the entire management of this
most important question to the president,
was the beginning of the policy of i'm
perialism. 1t substituted one vacillating
mans judgment or caprice for the will
of the American people.
Mr.. Bryan touches the most vital point
of the discussion in saying that
Those who would have this nation enter
upon Il career of empire must consider not
only the effect of imperialism on the
Filipinos. but they must also calculate It's
effect upon our own nation. We cannot re
pudiate the principle of self-government IN
the Philippines without weakening that prin-
ciple here
And he indicates with uDerrng finger
wherein this departure from our basic
principle has hurt the republic. The
nation Is no longer free to express. as
heretofore, sits sympathy with all those
who are fighting for civil liberty" We
speak of freedom with bated breath.
Not only so, but IF we have an imperial
policy we must have a large standing
army as its natural aud necessary equip
ment" That this is intended by the
Republican leaders, says Mr.. Bryan, "is
not mere matter of conjecture but a
matter of fact"
Concerning the status of the Filipinos,
Mr.. Bryan cites with approval the de-
claraton of the national platform that
"thev cannot be citizens without en-
dangering our civilization, and cannot be
subjects without endangering our form
of government" A republic, he declares,
can have no subjects. Citing the Re
publican promise to secure to the Filipi-
nos "the largest measure of self-govern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
our duties" Mr.. Bryan cogently asks:
IN what respect does the position of the
Republican party diner from the position
taken by the English government in 1905:
Did not the English government promise
good government to the coloni-ts; what
king ever promised a bad COVE rnment to his
people: Did not the English government
promise that the cOiOnsts should have the
largest measure of sclfgOvernmcnt consist
ent with their welfare and English dutie-S
pa not the Spanish government promise to
give the Cuhan~ the largest measure of solt
government cosi>tent with their welfare aud
spanish duties,
There is no true answer to these
questions that does not overthrow the
Republican position in regard to the
Philippines. A. Mr.. Bryan tersely says
The whole difference between monarchy
and a republic may he summed up in one
sentence. In monarchy the king gives to
the people what he believes 70 be good
government; in Il republic the people secure
for themselves what they believe to be q
good government.
Meeting Mr.. Mckinley's claim OF a
duty" and "Obligaton" TO hold the
islands, Mr.. Bryan pointedly says that
duty Is not an argument, it is a con-
cluson," and must be decided upon we'll
settled principles of right Force can
defend a right proclaims this eloquent
apostle of freedom. And he affirms
| that
If it was true. rs declared in the resolutions
of Intervention, that the Cubans "are and of
right ought to be free and independent"
Language taken from the Declaration of
independence. ii is equally true that the
Filipinos care and of light out to be free and
Independent"
As to the "obligation' alleged to have
been put upon US by our conquest of
Spain, Mr.. Bryan replies:
| First, that the highest obligation of this ma.
ton is to be true to itself. No obligation to
any particular nation, or to all nations com
bined, can require the abandonment of our
theory of government and the substitution of
doctrines against which our whole national
| life has been protest. And second, that our
Obligations to the Filipinos who inhabit the
islands are greater than any Obligation
which we can owe to foreigners who have
a temporary residence in the Philippines or
| desire to trade there.
Is there any escape from this argu-
ment? Gould there be anything more
essentially american than this logic?
The assumption that the Filipinos are
not capable of self-government is merci-
lessly rddled. Quoting Henry Clay,
that "it is the doctrine of thrones that
man is toe ignorant to govern himself"
Mr.. Bryan says:
once admit that some people are capable
of self government and that others are not.
and that the capable people have IA right to
| seize upon and govern the incapable and
you make torce-brute force-the only found
| alton of government and invite the reign of
| the despot. am not willing to believe that
| IN all'wise and an all loving God created the
filipinos and left them thousands OF years
| helpless until the islands attracted the atten.
| ton of European nations.
The flimsy plea that we cannot "haul
down the flag where it has once waved"
is CONTEMPORARY brushed aside by the
speaker with conclusive historic pre-
cedents. The commercial argument, as
| BADLY pat by Senator Wolcott, is met by
| the assertion that a war M cnn,uact ic