The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-20


The Republican national campaign
committee has already discovered that
among the mass Of the voters through
out the country no interest whatever is
taken In the matter of so-called 'im-
perialism," which Mr. Bryan and his
managers are sedulously attempting to
make not only the paramount but the
sole issue in the campaign. No one
wants any literature on the subject, and
the people in general care as little to
have the matter discussed as they do
at this time about the free coinage OF
silver.
While this may be the condition of
affairs in the East and Middle West,
where the Democrats are making the
most strenuous efforts to force their
anti-imperialistic issue to the front, 1t is
not the case out In this section of the
country. The people OF the state of
Washington are for expansion. No
talk about Imperialism win frighten
them into support Of the Democratic
programme. as outlined by Mr.. Bryan.
which contemplates surrender TO the
Tagal insurrectos of territory which has
been baptized In the blood of washing
ton boys. fighting that the American
flag should remain over territory ac-
quired by the war with Spain.
Even the Democratic leaders and
Democratic newspapers dare not, or at
least they do not. openly advocate the
surrender OF the islands. They pretend
to believe that their party programme
does not contemplate any such action;
that II Is not the retention of the is
lands. but the manner OF their govern
ment. to which the Democratic party
objects. Mr.. Bryan has settled that
proposition. however. He has advanc-
ed sufficiently far in support Of the Re-
publican programme now to advocate
the restoration Of order and the institu-
'tion Of settled government before the
troops are to be withdrawn. but he In
sists in the most unqualified terms that
the United States shall pledge itself 10
guarantee to the Ffllpinos, Immediately
thereafter. complete and absolute In
dependence. while the government
should assume the duty Of protecting
the Philippines from any outside ag-
gressions. even n such asgressions are
the result of disorders IN and rnisgov-
eminent of the islands.
The retention u the Philippine Is
lands and their government IN any form
under the authority OF congress ls what
constitutes imperialism. according to
the Democratic idea on that subject.
elnclda,ed by Mr.. Bryan. Anil-Imperiai-
ism. according % the same authority.
consists in willingness 20 surrender
those islands to the Tagaio government
OF Asuinalao and bis gang Of guerrillas
and hushwhackers Bryan has rendered
the issues and made the definitions, and
there can be no successful attempt 10
disguise them. no matter how much the
Democratic leaders IN this state may
sttemp, the impossible task
The Democrats IN their national plat
form have Insisted that this Is the par
amour; issue Of the campaign. ana Mr..
Bryan. IN his speech % acceptance, has
shown II TO be his desire that II shalt
be the sole issue. for Il was the only
matter which he elected to discuss. The
people OF the state q Washington are
willing and anxious 70 70 on record In
this matter. Tiers is nothing which
would suit them better than 20 have II
distinctly understood that their votes in
the November election can be taken as
showing. without any equivocauon or
side complications. exactly how they
stand on the question OF retaining the
Philippines.
II Imperialism consists. as the Demo-
Gratis define 1t. in advocating q reten-