Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-12-15
WILLIAM J. BRYAN
ON THE DOCTRINE OF DESTINY,
IN THE COMMONER.
The Plea that events Have Forced Us IS
Untrue. All Efforts to Secure Declare.
ton of the Purpose Of Congress in the
Philippines Have Failed. Destiny Has
Manufactured Appearance.

President Roosevelt went all Cne way
to Memphis to join in welcoming General
Luke E. Wright upon the latter's return
from the Philippines. While there the
executive took occasion to exploit anew
the convent theory of destiny which has
been urged as an excuse for the perman-
ent retention OF the philippines. He
ssid, among other things: "Whether
we are glad or sorry that events have
forced us to go there is aside from the
question. The point is that, as the in
evitable result OF the war with Spain,
we found ourselves in the Philippines,
and that we could not leave the islands
without discredit."
The statement that "events have fore
ed us" to exercise dominion over tie
Philippine islands is not true. The de-
mand by this government for the islands
was not forced one so far as we were
concerned. 1t was purely voluntary,
and the demand was made because OF
the supposed pecuniary advantage that
the islands would be to us. Immeda-
tely after the victory OF Manila the
president began inquiring about the
resources of the islands and influential
opponents OF the imperialistic doctrine
have constantly paraded the financial
advantage of "our new possessions. -.
The treaty with Spain should have
provided for the independence of the
Philippine islands as it provided for the
independence OF Cuba. The failure to
make provision for independence was
the first mistake on the part of the adj
minstration, but that mistake could
have been cured by declaration OF the
nations purpose to give independence to
the Filipinos. The ratification OF the
treaty did not compel US 70 holi the
islands, and the senate after the ratifica-
ton OF the treaty, came within one vote
of passing a resolution promising inde'
pendence. 1t required the vote of the
republican vice president to defeat this
resolution. Then the McEnery resolu'
ton was supported by nearly all the re-
publicans who voted for the ratification
Of the treaty, and that resolution de-
'clared that the question of disposition
was left to the future determination OF
congress.
Ever since that time the opponents OF
imperialism have been endeavoring to
SECURE a declaration of purpose on the
part of congress, but the republicans
have refused to disclose their plans or to
admit that they had any. Under the
excuse that we were coerced by events,
our government has proceeded to kill
thousands Of Filipinos and to dispose Of
their land. Because they have asserted
the doctrine set forth in their own Dec.
laration of Independence and refused to
recognize a title based upon purchase
or force, they have been called insurrec.
tionists and have been put to the sword.
When Spain, under compulsion, coded
US the Philippine islands she gave US
only quit claim deed; she simply relin'
pushed her claim upon them, but could
no more convey title to them thael the
king of Spain could convey to an Ameri.
can citizen valid title to Spanish sub
ject. When the United States accepted
title it accepted it in trust for the Fill
pinos, just as a man who takes stolen
horse away from thief holds it as trus.
tee for the real owner. If man catches
a horse thief in the act Of leading away
a horse from neighbours b .rn and res.