The Washington herald., 1915-08-28

refuse to develop the resources Of the
islands. build factories. and continue the
marvellous work so auspiciously begun
and continued during the administrations
of Cows. Taft. Wright. Smith, Forbes
and Gilbert
Former Secretary Bryan three years
ago at Baltimore committed the Demo-
ton to the folly OF turning the Philip
pine Islands adrift. In his first campaign
against Mckinley Mr.. Bryan declared
the best thing for America was free
silver" Had his advice been followed
would it have blessed or cursed our coun-
try? There is only one answer. The de-
feat of free silver and the abolition of
slavery are two of our greatest blessings.
and the names of Lincoln and Mckinley
will always be remembered in connection
with these two great deeds.
DR.. Bryan. in his second campaign
against President Mckinley, had another
prescription for the American people,
labeled "anti-imperialism," or turn the
loose. On that, as on the free silver
issue, he was Overwhelmingly defeated.
and the people at the ballot box decided
to retain the Philippine and Hawaiian
islands, Porto Rico, and Guam. After this
decision our government went forward in
spending millions in constructing fortifi-
cations-sl2 O00, 900 in the bay Of Manila,
army posts and barracks. transporting
troops to and from the Philippines for
fifteen years. and in many ways improv-
ing the islands from military and naval
standpoint. Counting this cost. the $2o,-
O0S G00 originally paid Spain. and the
amount necessary to capture and expel
the soldiers of Spain and crush the in
cipient Filipino revolution, We have taken
from the National Treasury-the peoples
money-countless millions in the nature
of our country's investment in the
islands
Would Throw Away Investment.
The pending proposition-the Jones bill
the Bryan Ideals to throw this i'm
ihcilSt d"dy-picScht IL
to the noisy, selfish and ungratefui Fill
pino politicians, and later to Japan. an
unfriendly nation and a strong military
and commercial rival in the Pacific. The
latter will fully develop the islands. and
the wealth they will bring with her other
agra andizements in the Orient will easily
enable that ambitious nation to drive our
commerce out of the Orient-the region
of the worlds greatest future commercial
and industrial development-the great
awakening of 500. o.OoO. 900 people to modern
or western ways, methods and civiliza-
ton.
The American people having decreed
in 1900 that they would retain the Phil
ippines as a part of the United States,
several thousands of our citizens who
obeyed the country's call in going to
Dewey's aid and later in putting down
the rebellion led by Aguinaldo. decided
to remain in the islands. make it their
home, and engage in business. which
they had a perfect right to do.
Last year there were 207 Americans in !
the wholesale business in the islands. 81
in the retail trade, and the amount OF
their annual joint sales was sl7.T1,S30. |
These Americans had invested last year
IS, ,695. 81 in manufacturing lines. If We
add the additional amount in new rail-
roads, street car lines, public utilities, |
sawmills, sugar plantations, mining and
ha,-
high up into the millions.
Business Is Expanded.
A majority of these men have been
from ten to fifteen years in creating.
building up. and extending their busi-
hess enterprises. In many cases all they
possess is invested in their business and
n their new homes, and along with 1t
many of the best years Of their lives
Would it be just, would it be honorable
n the American people to abandon 1000
,r $500 fellowAmericans in the Philip
,ines. cause them to lose their all, haul
iown their fiag-the one they fought to
lrmy, and turn them over to be abso-
utely governed by the very men they
defeated in the trenches around Manila
md at the end of that long. cruel que
lila war inaugurated and prosecuted by
so-called Philippine republic which
rave abundant evidence in its maladmin-
stration and conclusively proved. by its
ficial records left behind, that 1t was
Unworthy of the name it bore and ut
erly incapable of wisely governing either
White or brown men?
| cannot believe the American people
will, when the issue is brought home to
hem, council such an unjust, unpatriotic,
uch a contemplate. cowardly act as to
etray, desert, and abandon the splendid
american men and women who have
nade good in the Philippines, have up
eld high American ideals and princi-
Decries Democratic Platform.
Three years ago the apostle of free
liver, Mr.. Bryan, materially aided in
vriting the platform upon which
resident Wilson was elected, receiv-
lg 100000 less votes than the COM
ined Taft and Roosevelt vote. The
platform carried a plank
svoring ''an immediate declaration by
ongress of our intention to give the
independence"-or. in other
'ords. turn them adrift-but securing