The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-08-31
COUNTY rlCk ET
DO WE WANT IT2

"If elected | shall convene Congress in
extraordinary session rs soon as inaug-
urated and recommend an immediate de-
claration of the nations purpose first.
TO establish a stable form Of government
in the Philippine Islands, just as we are
now establishing II stable form of govern
ment in Cuba; second. to give independ-
ence to the FilipinoS, Just as we have
promised to give independence to Cuba;
third to protect the Fihpnos from outside
interference while they work out their
destiny just we have protected the
republics of Central and South America,
and are by the Monroe doctrine pledged
to protect Cuba. Mr.. Bryan's speech Of
acceptance.
Mr.. Bryan's unqualified declara
tion, made at Indianapolis, means
that if he is elected the Congress also
chosen this fall will be convened in
extraordinary session by the middle
of the coming March. In all prob
ability the party that elects the presi-
dent will also get the House of Rep
resentatives.
What would it mean to have Mr..
Bryan in the White House and a
Congress, at least in part Democratic,
sitting less than seven months hence !?
That is a possible condition to which
the serious attention of the American
people may well he invited at once.
Mr.. Bryan has raised an issue suf-
fciently momentous to command earn
est thought.
Mr.. Bryan will summon Congress
and ask it to declare our purpose "to
give them the Philippines independ-
ence and guard them against molesta-
tion from without"
That means the withdrawal of our
army and authority from the Philip
pine Islands.
That means the maintenance in
Philippine waters of fleet sufficient
to prevent Germany, France, Great
Britain, Japan, Russia, and any other
nation from interfering with them.
To what international complica-
tions might not such relationship
lead ?
For three-quarters of "A century, "
says Mr.. Bryan, 'the Monroe doct-
rine has been Il shield to neighboring
republics, and yet it has imposed no
pecuniary burden upon us.
The Republics are on the same
hemisphere with us. The other ma
tions are across the ocean. Mr.,
Bryan proposes that we shall cross
the ocean to the hemisphere where the
other nations are at home and where
we shall have no footing whatever
after the recognition of the Philippine
independence; that we shall undertake
to uphold republic there against all
neighboring nations.
And to put this revolutionary policy
in operation the earlier he will cal
an extraordinary session of Congress:
next March.
Can the thoughtful citizen measure
the disturbing influence of Congress:
in session to proclaim such a world
policy as Mr.. Bryan pledges himself
to inaugurate?
What besides this radical interna
tional departure would President
Bryan and his Democratic House pre-
cipitate? Is it probable that the new
administration would stop with the
Philippine declaration Mr., Bryan
and the men around him stand com
mitted to equally radical policies OF
domestic character,
Is it not fair to presume that Con
gress in extraordinary session would
proceed so far as the House was
concerned, with the measures on
which Bryan, Altgeld, Towne, and
the coterie of Democratic and Popu-
listic leaders stand pledged to their
followers Agitation, disorder, dis
turbance of conditions generally,