Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-12-12
DEMOCRATIC DUTY
WILLIAM j. BRYAN ON DEMO-
CRATIC DUTY IN CONGRESS

NOngresSl0nai Campaigning OF IyVL is NOW
on.-The Philippine Question Is Paramount.
Republicans in Congress Should be Forced
to Announce Their Policy in Those Islands.
With the opening OF the first session
of the Fifty-seventh congress the con-
gressional campaign OF 1902 begins. The
Philippine question will be the most i'm
portant matter considered by this con-
gress and in all probability the most inn
portant issue in the campaign of 1902.
The democrats not only have an OPP
portunity to make a strong appeal to the
country on this question, but it is their
duty to do so. The republicans do not
dare to meet the issue of imperialism
openly and honestly; they do not dare
to invite judgment upon colonial policy ;
they do not dare to candidly avow their
purpose to hold the Philippine islands
permanently. a large majority of the
rank and file OF the republican party
cherish the belief that their party in
tends ultimate independence for the
Fiipinos. The democrats can remove
this delusion by compelling the republic
cans to accept or reject the democratic
plan OF dealing with the Philippine ques-
ton.
The democratic platform OF 1900 not
only presented plan for the peaceful
and permanent settlement of the Philip
pine question, but it presented the only
complete plan that has been offered to
the American people. threads as follows:
We condemn and denounce the Philip
pine policy of the present administration.
1t has involved the republic in unneces-
sary war, sacrificed the lives of many Of
our noblest sons and placed the United
States. previously known and applauded
throughout the world as the champion
of freedom, in the false and uh- American
position of crushing with military force
the efforts of our former allies to achieve
liberty and self-government, the Fill
pinos cannot be citizens without endan-
gcring our civilization; they cannot be
subjects without imperilling our form of
government, and as we are not willing
to surrender our civilization or to con-
vert the republic into an empire, we
favor an immediate declaration of the
nations purpose to give the FilipinOs,
first, stable form of government ;
second, independence; and, third, pro-
lection from outside interference, such as
has been given for nearly a century to
the republics of Central and South
America.
The democrats can afford to take their
stand upon this platform and challenge
the attack of imperialists. More than Il
year has elapsed since the election of
! 1900, which, according to the republican
prophecy, was to terminate the war in
the Philippines. Every month has
shown more clearly the failure OF repub-
lican arguments and the evils of an i'm
perialistic policy The democratic plat
form charges that imperialism "has in
volved the republic in unnecessary war,
sacrificed the lives of many of our no.
blest sons and placed the Uuited States,
previously known and applauded
throughout the world as the champion
OF freedom, in the false and un-Ameri-
can position of crushing with military
force the efforts Of our allies to achieve
liberty and sclf-government."
The war is unnecessary because the
arms whenever independence is prom.
iscd them. The sacrifice of life has
continued undated and the impcralists
seem as little concerned about the death
OF American soldiers as they do abont
the killing OF the natives. The effect OF
imperialism has manifested Itself in the
failure of republican leaders to express
any sympathy for the Beers, or to fee
an interest in their struggle for liberty
and sclf-government. The indictment
which the democratic party made
against the republican administration
was sufficiently sustained by the events
that had transpired prior to the cOnven'
ton, and the trend of events since that
time has furnished overwhelming evi
dence in support of that Indictment
Let the democratic leaders in the senate
and house present this evidence Ill
their speeches so that it may reach the
entire country through the Congress
slonal Record.
Why do the republicans hesitate t'
outline policy The reason is suggest
ed in a portion OF the platform already
quoted: "The Filipinos cannot be citi
zens without endangering our civilza
ton; they cannot be subjects withou
imperilling our form OF government
The republicans are not willing to ga,
that they intend to make the Filipino
citizens with voice in the conductin:
OF our (and their) federal government
I his would be to propose Il heterogenou