Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-08

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the Creator to say that He denied to
any people the capacity OF self-gov-
eminent. Once admit that some
people are capable of self-govern-
ment, and that others are not, and
that the capable people have right
to seize upon and govern the incaPa-
BILE, and you make force-brute force
the only foundation of government
and invite the reign of the despot.
The principal arguments. however,
advanced by those who enter upon
defense of Imperialism are:
1. That we must improve the
present opportunity to become
world power and enter into interna-
tional politics.
2. That our commercial interests
in the Philippine islands and in the
orient make it necessary for US to
hold the islands permanently.
B. That the spread of the chris
tian religion will be facilitated by
colonial policy.
f. That there is no honorable re-
treat from the position which the ma
ton has taken.
The first argument" said Bryan,
lis addressed to the nations pride and
the second to the nations pocket
b ,ok. The third is intended for the
church member and the fourth for the
partisan. g.
Already 8 World Power.
at is a sufficient answer to the
first argument to say that for more
than century this nation has been
world power. For 10 decades it has
been the most potent influence in the
world. Not only has it been world
power, bat it has done more to affect
the policies of the human race than
all the other nations of the world
combined. Because our declaration
of independence was promulgated,
others have been promulgated. Be-
cause the patriots of 1776 fought for
liberty others have fought for it; bs-
cause our constitution was adopted,
other constitutions have been adopted
TIE growth of the principle of self
government, planted on American
soil, has been the over shadowing po-
litical fact of the 10Th century. 1t
has made this nation conspicuous
among the nations and given it a
place in history such as no other ma
tion has ever enjoyed. Nothing has
been able to check the onward march
of this idea. l am not willing that
this nation shall cast aside the ON
nipotent weapon of truth to seize
again the weapon of physical warfare.
L would not exchange the glory of this
republic for the glory of all the en-
pires that have risen and fallen since
time began"
= Speaking of what would come from
i'm perialism in the way of profit, Mr..
Bryan said: The benefits would fall
upon the army contractors, the ship
holders. who would carry live sol
diers to the Philippines and bring
would seize upon the franchises and
to the officials whose salaries would
be fixed here and paid over there; but
to the vest majority of those engaged
without return. and risk
without reward" Love, not force,
Mr.. Bryan said, was the cardinal doc
trine of christianity. We cannot
civilize with dynamite and proselyte
with the sword.
Mr.. Bryan said the argument made
Dy SOME GnaC IL was uuIOrIuQate IOr
the nation that it had anything to do
with the Philippine Islands, bat that
the naval victory at Manila made the
permanent acquisition of those islands
necessary, is also unsound. The vic
tory at Santiago did not compel US 10
hold Cuba. The shedding of Ameri-
can blood in the Philippine Islands
does not make it imperative that we
should retain possession forever;
blood was shed at San Juan
Hill and FL Caney, aud yet the presi-
dent has promised the Cubaus indie
pendence. The fact that the Ameri-
can flag floats over Manila does not
compel US to exercise perpetual SOW
ereignty over the islands; that flag
waves over Havana TODAY, but the
president has promised to haul it
down when the 1ag Of the Cuban re-
public is ready to rise in its place.
Better a thousand times that our flag
in the orient give way to flag repre-
senting the idea of self-government
than that the flag of this repu bic
should become the flag of an empire.