The sun., 1908-09-22
BRYAN AND THE PHILIPPINES.

BRYAN AND THE PHILiPfxNES
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir' TIT
following declaration In the Denver plat
form is an illustration Of the superficial
fckle and selfish character Of Bryan'i
political opinions:
| We condemn the experiment In imperialism
as an inexcusable blunder which has involved
US In an en0rmous expense. brought us weakness
instead of strength and laid our nation open
10 the charge OF abandoning fundamental doc
trine Of elf-government.
The young man who will In next No.
vember cast his first vote and Is not quite
familiar with the details Of the circum'
stances under which the treaty Of peace
with Spain WAS ratified by the Senate
nine years ago may think It incredible
that the author Of that declaration ID
responsible for the condemned 'experi-
ment in Imperialism Bryan's indfvid-
ual responsibility may have slipped from
the memory Of much older men who wen
then acquainted with the facts.
The turning point Of the negotiations
at Paris by the American and Spanish
commissioners over the treaty was re-
nunoiation by Spain OF her sovereignty
Of the Philippine Archipelago. Spain
denied that the previous protocol OF ne
gotiations either contemplated or stipu-
lated a cession by her Of the whole group
Of islands. The American commissioners
demanded the cession on payment to
Spain Of twenty millions. They and Bryan
had to right about face On orders from
the President. II Bryan had the fore
sight Of capable statesman. to which
he perpetually lays claim, he should have
discerned that his solicitation and &C
ceptance Of military commission IN that
war was a step toward the imperialism
which came.
Spain finally consented TO the Presi-
dents peremptory ultimatum.
The treaty was signed at Paris on De-
oember 10. 1908: As soon as its con-
tents were known an earnest discussion
began in our newspapers and by the
people as to whether the article oeding
the Philippines ought not to be amended
by declaration Ia favor OF independence,
somewhat after the example OF Cuba,
The discussion made the ratification OF
the treaty. II unamended. very doubtful.
Friends Of the Administration were in de-
spair. During those secritical days In Wash
ineton Bryan suddenly appeared.
The late Senator Hoar Of this Common
wealth. who was a Republican Senator
at the time, resisted to the utmost the
ratification OF the treaty. He had ac-
ourate knowledge OF the way his col
leagues had decided to vote. He wrote
for the North American Reuiew Of Octo-
Der, 1890. that Mr. Bryan came to Wash
ington and stabbed the cause OF anti
imperialism in the back in the hour OF its
assured victory. The treaty would have
been beaten almost by a majority. Mr..
Bryan put forth all his power as a great
political leader-to secure the adoption
OF the treaty"
The treaty was ratified by a vote OF
81 to 81. onlv one more than the requisite
two-thirds.
That power was exerted by Bryan
over the Democratic Senators of the
Populistic type. Those who have made
search for his motive have reported that
it was to make imperialism the pre-
dominant issue in the political campaign
Of 1900 and put the Republican party
in hole AS is usual with him he put
his own party, and what is more serious.
his country. 4in the hole
Had he stood with those who were urging
an amendment OF the treaty and not used
his decisive influence against it the
country would have avoided the 'experi-
ment in imperialism he now condemns.
The Supreme Court had declared no
Howard sas) that:
There is certainly no power giveh by the Con
sutution TO the Federal Government TO establish
or maintain colonies bordering On the United
States or at a distance, 10 be ruled and governed
at Its own pleasure: and II a new State
10 admitted II needs no further legisla ton by
Congress because the Constitution itself defines
the relative nights and powers and duties OF the
State. and the, citizens OF the State and the
Federal Government. But no power Ia given
to acquire a territory 70 be held and governed
permanently In thht character.
In one Of the insular cases-sthe
Downes case'-decided In May, 1901,
the Supreme Court referred without dis
sent to that previous declaration by the
court. Justice White remarked in rela-
ton to 1t in his opinion on the Downes
case. that the Government should never
incorporate islands 1t does not really in
tend to permanently hold, but should
when the unAtness for incorporation has
been demonstrated terminate the occu-
patton. Those judicial opinions gave
solid ground on which the proposed amend
ment could stand. and democratic ground.
but Bryan forsook them.
That is not all Of Bryan's bad con-
duct in this episode Of Imperialism. He
jammed into the Democratic national
platform adopted at Kansas City In 1900
long and furious diatribe against the
very imperialism he had promoted only
seventeen months before. 1t declared
imperialism TO be the paramount issue
and that Imperialism in the Philippines
will beget despotism at home. 1t de-
nounoed the Foraker law enacted for
Porto Rico as unconstitutional, which
II was II 1t made that island part Of the
United States. as are New Mexico and
Arizona. which the Supreme Court said
1t did not. The platform OF 1900 demanded
the final evacuation OF Cuba by our army,
which has not yet taken place. Il oon-
demned as 'orimipal aggression the
resistance by the Mckinley Administra-
ton to the Filipino assaults on our troops
when they advanced to take possession
under the terms OF the treaty whose rat
ifications Bryan accomplished. 1t said
that 'the Flipinos cannot be citizens with
out epdaneering our civilization n faot