Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-01-10
Bryan Said It.


saw liberal synopsis of it in some
of the papers and regard it as the best
deliverence yet made on the subject
which it discusses. 1t seems to me
those who desire to acquaint them
selves with the precise question in
Volved, and what territorial expansion
means to our republic and what it
threatens our people, cannot possibly
be afforded better means of enlight-
ment than eX-PreSident Harrison has
furnished.
We think it would be difficult to
point to feature of Gen. HarriSon'S
argument that was not fully and ably
covered by Mr.. Bryan in his speech of
acceptance in this city on Aug. 8, 1900.
Gen Harrison Showed how the acquiSi-
tion of the Philippines differed from
any former acquisition of territory by
the United States. So did Mr.. Bryan.
We quote passage that covers it:
Our opponents, conciOus of the
weakness of their cause, seek to con-
fuse imperialism with expansion, and
have even dared to claim Jefferson as
| a supporter of their policy Jefferson
spoke SO freely and used language with
such precision that no one can be ig-
nOrant of his views. On one occasion
| he declared: eff there be one princi-
| pie more deeply rooted than any other
| in the mind OF every American, it is
| that we should have nothing to do
| with conquest" And again he said:
Conquest is not in our principles; it
| is inconsistent with our government. p"
| The fOrclble annexation Of territory
! to be governed by arbitrary power,
differs as much from the acquisition
| of territory to be built up into states
| as a monarchy differs from a democra-
cy. The democratic party does not
oppose expansion, when expansion en-
largeS the area of the republic and
| incorporates land which can be settled
| by American citizens, or adds to our
| population people who are willing to
| become citizens, and are capable of
| discharging their duties as such. The
| acquisition of the Louisiana territory,
] Florida, Texas, and other tracts which
have been secured from time to time,
enlarged the republic, and the con-
Stitution followed the flag into the
new territory. It is now proposed to
seize upon distant territory already
| more denSely populated than our own
country, and to force upon the people
| a government for which there is no
| warrant in our constitution or our
! laws.
| Certainly the distinction was not
made any palmer by Gen. Harrison or
any other man. The other chief point
made by Gen. Harrison was that the
constitution extended wherever the
| United States extended. That was
the position of the democratic party
in the last campaign, and Mr.. Bryan
stated it thus:
Is the sunlight of full citizenship to
be enjoyed by the people of the Unit
ed States and the twilight of semi
citizenship endured by the people of
Porto Rico, while the thick darkness
of perpetual vasSalage covers the
Philippines? The Porto Rico tariff
law asserts the doctrine that the OPP
GRAFTON of the constitution is confined
to the forty-hve states.
| The democratic party disputes this
doctrine and denOunceS it as repug-
nant to both the. letter and spirit of
our organic law. There is no place in
our system of government for the de-
posit of arbitrary and irresponsible
power. That the leaders of a great
party should claim for any president
or congress the right to treat millions
of people as mere possessions" and
deal with them unrestrained by the
constitution OF the bill Of rights,
shows how far we have already de-
| parted from the ancient landmarks,
| and indicates what may be expected
| if this nation deliberately enters upon
a career of empire.
The territorial form of government
is temporary and preparatory, and the
chief security of a citizen OF terri
tory is found in the fact that he en-
| Joys the same constitutional guaran-
| tee and is subject to the same general
laws as a citizen of state. Take
away this security and his rights will
be violated and his interests sacrificed
at the demand of those who have poll
tical influence. This is the evil OF the
colonial system, no matter by what
nation it is applied.
But there was another point made
by Gen. Harrison-that it was ''toC
late" to withdraw honorably from the
Philippines. Mr.. Bryan did not take
that position. On the contrary he
said:
There is an easy, honest, honorable
: solution of the Philippine question
, | 1t is set forth in the democratic plat
| form and it is submitted with conf
dence to the American people. This
: plan / unreServedly indorSe. If elect
s | ed / shall convene congress in extraOr
! binary session as soon as / am indug
, | urated and recommend an immediate
declaration of the nations purpose
first, to establish a stable form Of gov
eminent in the Philippine islands
just as we are now establishing a sta
bic form Of government in the iSlanC
of Cuba; second, to give independence
, to the FilipinoS; third, to protect the
/ | FilipinoS from outside interference