Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-05-06
FROM THE
Mr.. TAFT AS A CRITIC.
MIR. BRYAN'S PAPER

was directed to Mr.. Bryan's conduct |
In advocating the ratification OF the
treaty. According to Secretary TAFT, |
Mr.. Bryan can not consistently criti- |
else the imperialistic policy of the
government because he favored the
ratification Of the treaty. Secretary
Taft is either misinformed as TO what
Mr.. Bryan did, or he is lacking in the
candor that ought to characterize pub
lie men in speaking of an opponent.
The question before the country was
not whether the treaty was as good a
treaty as might have been made, or
whether It contained provisions that 1t
ought not to have contained. The
treaty was made by the presidents
representatives, and when presented
10 congress-, contained a provision for
the ceding of the Philippine islands
to the United States. The Republicans
had a majority in both senate and
house, and the president was a Re
publican, but as the treaty requires a
two-thirds majority, some OF the OPP
ponents of imperialism thought it pos
sibIe to secure the rejection of the
however, would simply continue the
state of war and furnish an excuse for
a continuance of war taxes and war
expenses. If the Democrats had sue
ceeded in preventing the ratification of
the treaty. they were not, in position
to give Instructions as TO a new treaty.
If they had prevented the ratification
they would have taken upon them
selves the responsibility for anything
that happened while the state of war
continued. If. for instance, they had
refused to ratify the treaty, and in
sisted that Spain should give indepen-
dence to the Filipinos, there was
danger of objection being made by
the European nations which have col
onies in the orient, and none of the
monarchies Of Europe are anxious to
have a republic established in Asia.
With a minority in both houses, the
Democrats could not possibly shape
the policy of the government. but they
could bring upon themselves just
criticism If they involved the country
in further war. This was the situation
that the Democrats had to meet and
Mr.. Bryan proposed a plan for meeting
It, and he has never for a moment re-
GREETED the part he took in that crisis.
He proposed the ratification OF the
treaty and a declaration of our nation S
purpose to recognize the independence
of tho Philippine islands just as the
treaty provided for the recognition of
the independence of Cuba. The treaty
settled the question as far as Spain
was concerned and left the future of
the Filipinos entirely to us. 1t was
ensier for us to act alone than to act
through a treaty, and by acting alone
we relieved ourselves of the dangers
that attend the negotiation of treaty
The plan which Mr.. Bryan proposed
came so near realization that it re
quired the vote Of the vice-president
TO defeat it, for the treaty was rati
fed by n very slender margin, and the
vote on the Bacon resolution promisine
independence was so close that thf
presiding officer, the vice-presdent
turned the scales and decided the
Question in the negative. One NOR,
vote and the promise of independence
would have been given and all subse
quent trouble saved. Now 1t is hardl,
fair to judge Secretary Taft of ignor
ance of the situation at that time. HI
certainly knew that Mr.. Bryan's pla1
included the promise of independence
as well as the ratification of the treaty
How can he. then, discuss the matte
without discussing the entire plan
Why does he speak only of the rati1
cation OF the treaty and ignore tn,
promise of independence? Secretar,
Taft is not the only Republican VIII,
shows this lack of candor Time an,
again Republicans have made the crit
cism that Secretary Taft makes, an
by doing so have been guilty of tn
same unfairness.
Mr.. Bryan has constantly and pei
,Bistently opposed Imperialism: he ha
from the very first insisted upon tn
promise of independence. The rat
fication of the treaty was only mean
of securing independence, and tn
only means in sight. If we could nc
defeat Imperialism when the Baco
proposition was presented. we coul
not defeat it when our fight was en-
barrassed by the prolonging of tn
war and the mourning of dangers inc
dent thereto.
There has never been a time sine
the treaty was ratified but we migt
have settled the question by promis
OF independence, but Republican lea,
ers were willing to surrender the do
trine of selfgovernment in order I
secure trade advantages in the orien
and not being able to defend the
policy, they have tried to lay the rat
fication of the treaty upon Mr.. Bryan
as II the ratification had made it in
possible for them to avoid colonialisn
We have spent more than five hui
dred millions in this foolish attemI
TO ape the monarchism of the oil
world; we have more than doubled OF
army and we are constantly increa