Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-09-06


thority OF the United States has been pu,
down. The paramount issues this year are
financial and economic Shall the anti
protection party of IL 10 be put III power
TO advance its principles by the enormous
powers of executive influence in case Mr..
Bryan is elected. and win the first en-
gagement in a campaign the next battle Of
which will be for the control OF both houses
of congress?
The question for the plain people is, do
they wish, with the instructions of a Bit
ter experience fresh and deep in their mem
cries, to change or submit to the change
of that Astounding prosperity which came
with the election of President Mckinley
a prosperity which no democratic platform
or speaker denies nor dare not rejoice in
or even alude TO. Aguinaldo can wait
until the American people take "a bond Of
fate IL necessary by annih!ating for the
preservation Of their own domestic inter-
ests the political combination which is at
the same time their enemy and the alder
and abettor Of the Tagal rebels.
1.-THE immediate duty of this government
as to the Philippines is to maintain its
sovereignty and to crush rebellion against
it. What its constitutional powers and
limitations are can be more proitably dis
cussed and considered after the authority
Of the United States shall have been firm
ly established. ] do not believe that the
constitution contains any disabling in
hbitions which will prevent this gov
eminent from governing those islands as
their best interests may demand ard ac-
cording to the capacities of their people.
No such difficulties interviewed in the adj
mnistration of Louisiana. Florida or the
territory which We acquired from Mexico.
congress legslated at the last session in
regard to the government of Alaska in
some particulars entirely unwarranted by
the constitution, If the disabling construc-
ton placed upon it by our opponents is cor
rect. There are certain large and general
consderati lions. however, which to my mind
demonstrate that the authority to govern
these dependencies is vested in congress,
subject to no dSa bling limitations of GER
tain provisions OF the constitution which.
because they are inapplicable to such
situation, never could have been designed
by the trainers to apply to it.
II believe it never was heard before that
any constitutional government with the
full and complete powers Of a nation was
disabled by the very instrument which
created it from the acquisition Of territory
by the consideration that it would be inn
possible to govern it when acquired.
Speaking my own opinion, | would hold
the Philippines permanently and not pro-
visonally. ! would, from time to time. as
their people demonstrate their capability,
give them the fullest power Of sclf-govern-
ment they are capable Of exercising. /
would do as Great Britain did with race
of the same stock in the Straits settle
ments. where so years ago she found a bar
barous population ruled by three separate
sultans, making war on each other and in
Testing the seas with piracy. Little by lit
tie she has given them self-government. I'M
til their seif-aiminstration is now almost
complete 1t is one OF the most produc-
tive, prosperous and peaceful communities
in the world. 1t is loyal to the mother state
and its soldiers stand ready to be mar
shaded in arms for the protection of her
sovereignty and for civilization in China.
THE conditions and situations as to Cuba
and the Philippines are not the same. We
never had sovereignty over Cuba. We have
sovereignty over the Philippines When
we interviewed as between Cuba and Spain
the Cubans were in arms fighting for their
Independence and We're practically bel
ligerents. When We invaded the Philip
pines the natives We're not in arms. We
never promised to give Independence to
them and they did not demand it at that
time. Before We invaded Cuba. in the
very declaration Of war against Spain. this
government did promise to give ndepenl-
ence to that island. We made no such
promise as ia Porto Rico. Our title to Porto
Rico and the Philippines rest upon the
same incontestable basis and yet l have
not heard that even the democracy pur
poses or wishes to erect Porto Rico into
an independent state.
Elm declaring that we will convene con-
gress for these purposes. MIR. Bryan
shrinks from the logical consequences nf
his own position. II elected president of
the United States he will became the COM
mander in chief of the army and navy.
conducting a war which he and the plat
form upon which he stands asserts to be
criminal aggression against a people who
ought to be Independent. AS such COM
mander In chief. holding to such princi-
pies, HI. would have the right TO withdraw
every man from the Philippines, cause our
squadron to sail out of Manila bay. to en-
tirely evacuate the archipelago. an6-to
use his own language-leave their people
to work out their own destiny. AS presi-
dent he could recognizes the existence and
independence of the Philippine republic a
bold man, holding such views as these
and with such powers would say that
he intended to use them. But there MIR.
Bryan hats and recois. He purposes to
throw the responsibility upon congress,
we'll Knowing that Il republican SEM
ate and house of representatives no such
action as he proposes to recommend would
receive the least sanction
Il shall not detain you with any discus
sion of this bug-oear Of militarism. We
are crippled to-day by the inadequacy Of
our military force in performing our mani
fest duties as to our people in China. The
events in that empire demonstrate, as die
our unprepared condition at the begin
ming of the Spanish war. how suddenly and
Unexpectedly crises may arise which will
call for the exercise OF our military power,
and find it entirely lacking. \ nation of
IS. 900. 800 of free people vast in extent. need
have no fear that an empire will be erected
upon the ruins OF the republic by the scat
tered forces OF an army of 100000 men.
But ii an increased army leads to mill
itarism so does an increased navy, and yet
we hear no word of protest from the demo-
cratic party against that, becaus" such a
protest would be carrying the argument
too far; and yet a navy in the establish
ment of militarism or Imperialism. co I'D
reduce our coast cities, coulc attack Wash
ngton. could hold the arsennlS and stra!..-
sic points on all our shores. and co much
as. and possibly more, than army could
toward the overthrow of this government
or the change of its form. A small Bra
lillian navy did this once as to Brazil. and
attempted it again. The truth is, there
is no danger from either these great arms
of our military service. They are the right
hand and the left hand of our power and
defense at home and abroad. Their officers
and men are as loyal as Grant and Sher-
man and Sheridan and Farragut and Por
ter and Worien and their soldiers and sail
ors were in their time.
eff the existence of the republican par
ty should be closed to-day its history would
h.a ha nft ba Of