Washington sentinel., 1900-02-24


fathers did not want it. and thel
threw it off. The Filipinos do no
want il, and the American people
will see that it is not forced or
them. Should Mr.. Bryan bt
elected that principle will be vim
dicated. Choose you, Mr.. Hoar
on which side you will be. Devo-
ton to this principle, or personal
allegiance to Mr.. Mckinley, is the
issue before you, and the issue on
which history will Judge you and
your fellow Republicans. "Our de-
iense," said Mr.. Lincoln, els on the
spirit OF liberty, which is the her
itage Of all men, in all lands,
everywhere. Destroy this spirit,
and you have planted the seeds oi
despotism at your own doors"
In conclusion let us give once for
all Mr.. BrYan's reasons, stated at
the time, Tor the ratification of the
treaty, accompanied by declara-
ton Of seli-government for the Fill
ipinos. He says:
I gladly avail myself OF the columns Of
the Journal to suggest a few reasons
why the opponents Of a colonial policy
| ahnuld N, n bo fbair 6orbS l., e,,prnVt ,oF a
resolution declaring the nation purpose
rather than against the ratification OF
the treaty.
The confli:t between the doctrine OF
self government and the doctrine OF
alien government supported by external
force has been thrust upon the American
people as a result of the war. Il is so
important a conflict that Il cannot be
avoided. and since it deals with a ques.
tiOn now before Congress it must be
considered Immediately. It is useless
to ask what effect this new issue will
have upon other Issues. Issues must be
met as they arise; they cannot be moved
about like pawns upon a chessboard.
The opponents Of Imperialism have
an opp ortunIty to choose the ground
upon which the battle is to be fought.
Why not oppose the ratification of the
treaty2
First, because a victory won against
the treaty would prove only temporary,
if the people really favor a colonial
policy. That victory wor against the
treaty would depend for ats value
entirely upon the sentiment OF the
people is evident. A minority can
obstruct action for a time, but minor
ity, so long as it remains minority. can
only delay action and enforce reflection;
it cannot commit the nation to policy,
When there seemed some probability
OF the rejection Of the treaty the friends
OF the Administration began TO suggest
the propriety OF Withholding the treaty
until the rev Senate could be convened
in extra session. As the new Senate will
have considerable Republican major.
itY it would be quite certain 10 ratify the
treaty. Thus an effort to prevent the
ratification OF the treaty would be likely
to fail in the very beginning, But let
us suppose it possible to defeat the rati-
ticatIon in both the present and the next
Senate, what would be the result1
Would the Imperialists abandon the
hope Of annexing the Philippines so long
as they could claim the support of the
President anti a majority Of both houses1
Could a majority OF the Senate prevent
the annexation Of Hawaii AS we are
now IN possession of the Philippine
Islands, the advocates OF a colonial
policy might secure an appropriation
sufficient to paw the twenty millions
agreed upon and leave the rest oi the
treaty for future consideration. In other
words, if the opponents of imperialism
have a majority in both houses, they
can declare the nations policy. II the
Imperialists have a majority in both
houses they cannot be permanently
thwarted by a minority In the Senate.
A resolution declaring the nations
policy recognizes that the destiny OF the
United States is IN the hands of all the
people. and seeks to ascertain at once
TIC VI AlG DEODAC % AEuCEAEd
by their representatives.
fthat decision is in harmony with the
policy which has prevailed in the past,
the question will be settled and the
people will return to the consideration
of domestic problems. II, however, the
advocates Of imperialism either post
pone consideration or control the action
Of Congress, an appeal will be taken to
voters at the next election. So great a
change in our national policy cannot be
made unless the authority therefor
comes directly and unequivocally from
the source Of all power in a republic
the people.
In answer to those who fear that the
question of imperialism, II discussed,
will draw attention away from the other
questions, IL is sufficient to say that the
people cannot be prevented from con-
sidering a question which reaches down
to the foundation principles Of the
republic. Instead Of lvoidIng the issue
it is the part oi wisdom to deal with it
at once and dispose OF it permanently.
Second, the rejection of the treaty
would be unwise because the opponents
OF the treaty would be compelled to
assume responsibility for the continu-
ance OF war conditions and for the risks
which always attend negotiations with
a hostile nation.
The rejection OF the treaty would give
the Administration an excuse for mill
tary expenditures which could not be