The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-29
Bryan Denounces Republican Philip
pine Policy.

William Jennings Bryan. in his speech
OF acceptance of the presidential romina
ton IN 1900. arraiSned imperialism in these
words:
What is our title to the Philippine is
laudso Do we hold them by treaty or by
conquest? Did we buy them or did we
take thcm2 Did We purchase the peoplc2
il not. how did we secure Jitlc 20 them?
we're they thrown in with the land? VIII
the Republicans say that inanimate earth
has value, and that when that earth is
nodded by the divine hand and stamped
with the likeness Of the creator il becomes
fixture and passes with the soil? If
governments derive their Just powers
from the consent of the governed, il is
impossible 10 secure title to people either
by force of by purchase. We could ex-
Unguish SPANS title by treaty. out if
We hold title we must hold Il by some
method consistent with our ideas of gov
eminent. When VIC made allies of the
FilipinOs and armed them 10 fight against
Spain. we disputed SPANS title. IL we
buy Spain title, We are not innocent pur-
chaSers. But even ~ we had not disputed
SPANS title. She could transfer - greater
title than she had. and her Jltle was based
on force alone. We cannot defend such a
isle. but as Spain gave us q quit claim
deed. We can honOraOy turn the property
over TO the party I'm possession Whether
any American official gave the FilipinOs
moral assurance Of independence is not
material There can be no doubt that we
accepted and utilized the services Of the
had fun knowledge that tnev we've fight
ing for their own Independence and
submit that history furnishes 10 example
OF turpitude baser than ours If we now
substitute our yoke for the Spanish yoke.
The Argument For Imperialism.
Let MS consider briefly the reasons
which have been given I'm support of the
mpcriaiistic policy Some say that it is
our duty 10 hold the Phinppi-e islands
Tnr- fss
ciusion. To ascertain what our duty Is
I'm any emergency. we must apply well
settled and generally accepted principles
II H. our duty 10 avoid stealing. no mat
ter whether the thing to be stolen is OF
great or little value. II is our cuty 10
avoid killing a human beng. dO matter
where the human being lives o. to what
race or class he belongs. Every one recog-
nizes the obligation imposed upon individ-
Uals 90 observe both the human and moral
law BUT. as some 0eny the application
OF those laws to nations. IL may not be out
of place TO quote the opinion % others.
jefferson. than whom there is no higher
political authority. said; 4 know OF but
one code OF morality for men, whether
acting singly or collectively. franklin,
whose learning wisdom and viruie are
part of the priceless legacy beqUeathed us
from the revolutionary days. expressed
the same idea Ia even stronger language
when ne said: Justice Is as strit tly due
between neighbor nations as between
much a robbeF when ne plumbers in a
gang as when singly; and the nation that
makes an unjust war is only a great
gang
Men may dare TO do IN crowds what
they. would not dare 10 do as individuals
but the neral character of an act is not
determined by the number of those VINO
join in IT, Force can defend "a right. but
force has never yet created right IL
il was true. as declared in the resolu-
ton Of Intervention. that the Cubans
are and or right ought 10 be free and
Independent llangUaee taken from tho
Declaration Of independence. IL is equal
IS true that the Fillpiuos ARE and OF
right out TO be free and independent"
The right OF the Cubans 10 freedom Was
not based upon their proximity TO the
United States. nor upon the language
which they spoke. nor yet upon the race
or races TO which they belonged. Con-
Eress by a practically. unanimous vote
declared that the principles eRunciated at
Philadelphia in l776 we're still alive and
applicable 10 the Cubans.
who will draw a line between the ma
tural rights Of the Cubans and the Fni-
pinCs2 Who viii say that The former
have fight 60 liberty and tho latter have
no rights which We are bound to respect