The Princeton union., 1900-08-09

imperialism and quoted jefferson to
show that conquest is nm American.
What the Democratic party objected to
was the seizing Of distant territory and
Che large standing army necessary to
support an imperial policy.
Future Status Of the Filipino.
Mr.. Bryan said the Republican plat.
form assumed that the Philippine
islands will be retained under Ameri.
can sovereignty and the people had
right to demand whether the Filipino
was to be,a citizen or subject. The
Democratic platform, he said, held that
the Filipinos could not become citizens
without endangering our civilization
and that they could not be made sub.
jects without endangering our form of
government. Continuing, he said:
The Republican platform says that
1.-The largest measure Of self-government
consistent with their welfare and our du-
ties shall be secured to them (the Filipi-
nos) by law" This is strange doctrine
for government which owes it's very ex-
istence to the men who offered their lives
as protest against government without
consent and taxation without representa-
ton. The Republican party has accepted
the European idea and planted itself
upon ground taken by George III, and
by every ruler who distrusts the capacity
of the people for self-government or de-
MES them voice in their own affairs.
Our Title to the Islands.
MIR. Bryan, referring to the payment
to Spain of 20,000.O0O for the islands,
said the United States were not inno-
cent purchasers, we'll knowing Spain
had no title. But even if she had we
could not, under the Constitution, se-
cure title to people, either by force or
purchase. Regarding the Republican
argument of obligation before the world
to maintain government, Mr.. Bryan
declared that no obligation was strong
enough to compel the. abandonment Of
our theory of government and the Sub.
stitution of doctrines against witch
our whole national life has been a pro-
test.
Mr.. Bryan declared that the Repub-
Icon plea that this was an opportunity
to become world power was addressed
to the nations pride; the plea that our
commercial interests demanded our re.
tention of the Philippines appealed to
the nations pocketbook; that the spread
OF Christianity would be facilitated by
a colonial policy was intended for the
church member, and the argument that
1t would be dishonorable to retreat from
our position was plea for the partisan
support.
Democratic Philippine Policy.
In concluding, Mr.. Bryan outlined
the Democratic policy in the Philip
pines as follows:
There is an easy, honest, honorable So
luton of the Philippine question: 1t is
set forth in the Democratic platform and
it is submitted with confidence to the
American people. This plan I unreserv-
edly endorse. If elected I shall convene
congress in extraordinary session as
soon as l am inaugurated, and recon-
mend an Immediate declaration of the
nations purpose-frst, to establish a
stable form Of government in the Philip
pine islands, just as we are now establish
ing stable orm of government in the
island OF Cuba; second, to give independ-
ence to the Filipinos, just as we have
promised to give independence to the
Cubans; third, to protect the Filipinos
from outside interference while they
work out their destiny, just as we have
protected the republics of Central and
South America, and are, by the Monroe
doctrine, pledged to protect Cuba