The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-10-02
now BRYAN HELPED
THE FILIPINOS.


den, N. J., Oh September IS, Will
liam Jennings Bryan said; 81 said
in 1898 that the Filipinos ought to
have their independence"
In this, as in pany Of his public
utterances, Mr.. Bryan contents him
self with statement of half-truth.
The facts as to his relations with the
so called independence movement
in the Philippines In 1898 are ex
tremely interesting. The first duty
of the United States after destroying
Spanish power in the Philippines
was to establish American authority
in the islands. That was an essen
tial condition, to which all other
projects were subordinate, for the
reason that until it was established
there could be no durable basis for
The erection of civil government.
Peace, based upon an absolute
recognition of American control,
was indispensable to the restoration
of civil rule, and the United States
government devoted its entire energy
TO the creation of that condition.
Mr.. Bryan, however, contended
that having overthrown Spanish au-
thority, the United States should
Immediately withdraw from the
islands, leaving the Fllpinos to
work out their own destiny-or their
own destruction. He therefore gave
his hearty support to the agitation
for immediate independence for the
Philippines, and his reckless utter
ances helped to incite and prolong
the futileinsurrectlon against Ameri
can authority in which the Filiplnos
subsequently engaged. Bryan's emo
tional expressions of sympathy for
the agitators for independence gave
aid and comfort to the instructors,
and were interpreted by Agwualdo
aad his followers as meaning that a
large proportion of the American
people opposed the policies insti-
tuted by their government in the
islands and favored the immediate
withdrawal of the United States
troops. Aguinaldo and his fellow
leaders in the lnsurrection assured
their ignorant followers that Bryan
was their friend; that if they would
keep on fighting he woald help them
to gair their independence, and that
the : Jvernment in authority in
Washington did not represent the
purpose and dcsice of the American
people.
Mr.. Bryan's reckless talk in favor
Of independence for the Philippines
did more to prclong the insurrection
against American authority than any
other single cause. 1t gave power
tul moral support to lawless move
ment, which not only involved
costly sacrifice of American life and
American treasure, but which also
subjected the misguided Filipinos
themselves to prolonged and need.
less hardship. He deceived them.
His irresponsible talk encouraged
them to continue futile resistance
TO Americs0 authority, when for
humaAity's sake his whole influence
should have been exerted to urge 20
persuade them to accept il.
Bryan poses as the best friend OF
the F.lipinos, while. IN fact, he has
been their wsrst enemy. Instead
of pleading with them TO reconcile
themselves to new conditions and
trust to the American spirit of good
taith to make them independent just
as soon as they kt themselves for it,
he has sought to convince them that
the Americans are their enemies and
oppressors, from whom they must
exact liberty by force. Bryan has
tricked and fooled the islanders. He
mas never given them a word of wise
counsel nor performed a friendly
service for them. His attitude to.
ward the Philippines, like his stti-
iude here IN the United States. is
that of the preacher of unrest, sus-
picion and dIscord-the enemy of