Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-13

| Q'y Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot.)
Chicago, Oct. 12.-Hon. George d.
Meiltlejohn. Assistant Secretary of
War. has mailed the following letter
to Hon. w. J. Bryan, which the latter
will receive to-day:
Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. H. 1900.
Dear Sir1In your communication
to me of the 10th instant you refer 10
the fact that the Republican party
| stitution cannot be extended to now
/ territory acquired by the treaty-mak-
ing power of our government nor by
| the military commanders OF our ar
! mics. You then declare that, therefore,
! the President was not Obliged TO refuse
ms approval TO that portion of the Sulu
| agreement which permitted the tenn
| porary continuance of the alleged sla-
very In the Sulu Islands The point to
| which l called to your attention in my
communication was that the President
| did refuse his approval, and that there
fore the portion of the agreeent is not
existing. j am Srntiiiod that you direct
| attention to the fact that the present
| Administration does not require the
force of constitutional provision to
! prompt 1t TO recognize the rights of
/ men. Permit me. however, to call
! your attention to the concluding words
OF the Amendment to the Constitution.
to which you refer: Neither slavery
nor Involuntary servitude shall exist
within the United States or any place
subject to their Jurisdiction While
amendments to the Constitution are
under consideration. will you give an
explanation of the discrepancy be-
tween your platform this year and the
one on which Tldcn made his can
vass? Your platform declares:
Wc. the representatives of the
Democratic party OF the United States.
assembled in national convention on
the anniversary OF the adoption OF the
Declaration of Independence, do rcaf-
firm our faith in that immortal procla-
nation of the inalienable rights of
man. ana our allegiance to the Consti-
tuition framed in harmony herewith by
the fathers of the republic
AS framed by the fathers of the re-
public the constitution recognized sa-
very and provided that Il slave escap-
ing into free state did not become
free and must be returned to his owner.
Article /. section .. clause 3. The con-
stitution as framed by the fathers did
not contain the guarantees for the
rights of our colored citizens provided
| by the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments:
The Tilden platform declared as fol-
lows:
For the Democracy of the whole
country we do hereby affirm our faith
in the pcrmanence of the Federal
Union, our devotion to the constitution
of the United States with its amend
set Element of the controversies that en-
gendered civil war and do here record
our Steadfast confidence In the perpet-
uity of the republican sclf-govcrnmcnt.'
why does your platform refuse adj
herencc to the amendments to the con-
stitution?
I'm view of your present contention
might l beg to request an explanation
of the concluding words of the Chicago
pla torn of 1896 on admission of terri
tories. which reads:
1--WE recommend that the Territory
of Alaska be granted Il delegate in
Congress and that the general land and
timber laws of the United States be
extended to said territory
Very respectfully.
&C. ID. NEI<LEJOHN.
Hon. w. J. Bryan, Cleveland. Ohio