The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-09-14


the United States was given to the public
on Monday OF this week. The letter deals
at length with the free silver ideas and
pledges of Bryan and shows what must be
logically expected from him In that regard
in case of his election. II not the para
pount issue raised and cOntended for by
the democratic leader, President Mckinley
points out very clearly that 1t Is at least the
immediate ISSUE" The matter is fully
discussed and In way that can scarcely
leave room for any one, who believes that
Bryan has been sincere In his affirmation Of
his devotion to the free silver policy, to
doubt what course he would pursue
should he be elected. And for this course
the president emphatically points out, he
could easily claim all the Justification he
would wish from the plank In the platform
which demands immediate restoration of
the free and unlimited coinage of silver and
gold at the present ratio of IS to l."
Such language when considered In connec-
ton with Bryan's oft-repeated assertions
of what he would do II he had the power to
put an end to the existence of the gold
standard leaves little room to doubt what
sort of shock the country would expert
ence In It's financial affairs IL 1t made the
mistake of delegating him to occupy the
White House for the next four years. The
silver issue, while 1t Is handled In consid-
cradle detail as Its evident importance de-
serves, and In spite of the apparent lnten-
ton of the democrats to place 1t In the
background as much as possible during the
campaign, is not, however, the issue to
which the most space is given in the presi-
dents letter. Other issues are plainly stat
ed and frankly discussed.
Thus, the financial condition of the
country, the increase In the per capita cir
culation from $21.10 In 1895 to $26.50 in
1900, the part played by this country In
Offering the assistance asked for by the
Beers, as he points out, the only country
which responded to the requests of the
Beers for an offer of Its friendly offices, the
need for handling the ninety-one per cent
of the foreign trade which is now carried
in foreign ships, in American ships, the
necessity which now exists more than ever
for the construction and maintenance of a
water way between the Atlantic and the
Pacific, the suppression of the obnoxious
features of the trusts, and the civil service,
all receive the clear cut attention which
they deserve but even they and the silver
issue combined do not receive as much at
tention as the issue discovered by the anti
imperialistic league and adopted by Mr..
Bryan and the democratic party, the issue
based on our occupation end retention of
the Philippines.
If Bryan or any other democrat had any
idea that In the giving out of Bryan's So
called Philippine policy they were taking a
step which it would puzzle the friends Of
the administration to block they are now
"up against it," to use a popular phrase.
Mr.. Bryan's glib talk about the crushing of
a people struggling to be free, about mill
tarism, and Imperialism, sound very effec-
tive il one stops with them and does not
attempt to see just what course would have
been necessary If the developments which
have raised all this question were to be
avoided. And here Mr.. Mckinley becomes
most interesting and instructive historian.
He not only shows how every step In the
entire course of the acquisition of the Phil
ippines was logical result of the move
ment Immediately preceding 1t, but how all
in turn sprung logically from the very fact
of the existence of the war with Spain.
Incidentally the main theory on which
Bryan based bis so called policy and his
criticism of the course of the President,
was so badly punctured by the most patent
history of the trouble as set forth In the
letter that it is little bit of a conundrum
to know just how Bryan is going to make
any more reference to the matter at all.
AS 1t stands, however, the fact Is clearly
shown that the Tagalogs had begun their
attack on the American troops and had al
of the entire white population of Manila
before the treaty had been ratified by the
senate. The attack itself was made by the
Filipinos while the treaty was still under
discussion, and therefore before the title TO
the islands was clearly ours. The treach-
cry of the Tagalogs, and the entire impOssi-
bilty that any other course which could
possibly be undertaken could have simpli-
fed matters at all are apparent to any one
who reads the history which the President
has placed before the people so clearly In his
letter of acceptance, history which was
taken from such original sources as instruc-
tons to commissioners and officers and
reports made bv them. The letter Is a
masterpiece In every respect. II Mr.. Bryan
had any fears that the questions which he
raised would be ignored or lodged by Mr..
Mckinley, he knows now what sort of a
disappointment has been in store for him
during these weeks, and the more he thinks
of 1t the more likely he is to find that he
himself Is placed in a position where 10 be
consistent and logical he has few ques-
tioDs to answer 1t will probably pUzze
him to tell how he could shave averted the
course OF events, or What justification he
a IL. T. Hall do