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The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
ft Vol. 6. No. 15
Lincoln, Nebraska, April 27, 1906
Whole Number 275
CONTENTS
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';'. :
'
'S MX. BbYAW's LeTYEK ' ' "
,
V CfilTIClSlNG TIIE COUBTB r
' ATihhtyDay Campaign "t-
"" TUT r T. ft if
" ' Tun Speaker's Hlnt
" Hacsta's Wak Chest -"
jlifDIVIDTJALlfiM Y3. SOCTAJSM,
-. President's Special Messagh
- Washington City Letteu ,
' 1- - ' ,
Comment on Oitkuunt Topics
Home Department
' Wiietiier Common ok .Not
News of the Week
OUR COMMON HUMANITY
Only for a moment did America staud ap-
Bpalled at the great disaster that has befallen
t an Francisco, uniy a moment, ana men il-
hastened to extend aid to the stricken city", and
Un the work America has shown again the
fctruth of -the. saying, that "one touch of nature
?makes the whole world kin." - Almost before the
telegraph instruments had cliclced the, .first bul
letins of the disaster the people began organizing
tthe work of relief, and before .the full nature
nf the riilnmitv wna known relief train after
relief train was being hurried across the con
tinent with great cargoes of food and clothing.
fcfor the hungry and the homeless. The purse
itrines of the rich and noor alike were un
loosened, and from every quarter of the country
lonev and food were donateu. uonironteu
i
)y such generosity as
mst stand silent, and
isists that the world
oYoTiroiarl liv n lnlllinn
)mmon humanity is more than a sentiment
Mt is a fact. The stranger of yesterday is the
leighbor of today, brought into close communion
rith us by ties of commerce and of common m-
ferests. Great calamities like the one tnai
11 upon San Francisco Chicago, Johns-
vn, Galveston have their bright side, for they
w that the brotherhood of man Is nearer
Snlization today than it was yesterday.
lerica is not too- busy to mourn' with
ofviniron oitv hv fhfi Golden Gate, not too busv
jTglve all that is necessary, or that money can
lit tn nlri Hip unfortunates. And with every con-
Rbution goes a wealth of sympathy more precious
tSan money. San Francisco is m a sau pngnc,
Silt the rest of the country is made better by her
misfortune, for it provided another opportunity
for the exercise of goodwill and brotherly love
that knits men closer together and makes the
old world a better place in which to live.
HE CRITICISES THE COURT!
t.. tni nneaiYQ tn nrmoresa President
Roosevelt keenly criticised Federal Judge Hum
phrey because of his decision in the beef trust
Leases at Chicago. ;,, nwi
Several years go we mm u. i..ui v,.wtt
., L ii..' ,. Tt xvn: nlonc about 1896.
Then the democratic party was arraigned by re
Spublican newspapers because it had undertaken
to criticise the courts. And now comes a presi
dent, elected as a republican, and in a special
message to congress, commits the very offense
. . ,. - nrm irnur imon the nnnrln nf
wnicn, a iew yciuo ub "w". ,7 , T,
Lfalthful democrats the most bitter condemnation
Ruy repuniican euuuia mm vh... .
fc .itiiii. t. iitti i,f cii-nnriilv na mans march
pto the grave" the Chicago platform Is being vin-
imcateu.
this the pessimist
he who constantly
is growing worse
generous acts. Our
m.ih.IUHU ' ' ' ' '. - Wl"""111 ' ' I
FROM THE HEART AND FROM THE HAND
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM
Mr. Bryan's Fifteenth Letter
Having in previous articles discussed the con
ditions as I found them in the Philippines, let us
consider what the United States should do in re
gard to the Filipinos and their- islands.
First, as to the northern group of islands
the islands north of Mindanao. Have the Fili
pinos a right to self government? Do they de
sire self government and independence? Have
they the capacity for self government?
The first question must be answered in the
affirmative if our theory of government Is cor
rect. That governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed, is either true
or falsej if true, we can not deny Its application
' to the Filipinos; if false, we must find some other
foundation for our own government.
To the second question I am able to answer,
yes. My visit to the Philippines has settled this
question in my own mind. I have heard people
in America affirm that the Intelligent Filipinos
preferred American sovereignty to self govern
ment, but this is unqualifiedly false. Captain J.
A. Moss, a member of General Corbin's personal
staff, recently made a trip through the provinces
of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan and
published a journal of his trip in one of the
Manila papers upon his return. He concluded
his observations as follows: "The discharged
soldiers who are married to native women and
who are 'growing up with the country' and are,
therefore, in a most excellent position to feel
the native pulse, all told me the great majority
of the natives have no use for us. Ex-Interpreters
and other Filipinos with whom I, was on
intimate, cordial relations while serving In the
provinces, told me the same thing. I have, there
fore, from the foregoing, come to the "conclusion
Jhat the Filipinos may bo divided into three
classes: (a) The 'precious few,' comprising those
who are really friendly towards the Americans
and think our government beneficial to the Isl
ands, (b) Those who are in some way benefi
ciaries of the government and entertain for us
. what may be termed 'expedient friendship.' (c)
The great majority, who have absolutely no use
for us and to please whom we can not get out of
the islands any too soon."
The conclusion drawn by Captain Mo3s Is
warranted by the facts and the feeling for inde
pendence is stronger in Manila, If possible, than
in the provinces. I talked with Filipinos, official
and unofficial, and while they differed In the de
gree of friendliness which they felt toward the
United States, all expected ultimate independ
ence. The college students of Manila in the
various law schools, medical colleges and engi
neering schools, numbering in all about a thou
sand, prepared and presented to me a memorial
of more than fifty printed page,s. This was pre
pared by sub-committees and afterwards dis
cussed, adopted and signed by the students, tt
presented, an elaborate review of the economic,"
industrial and politipal situation, viewed from
the standpoint of these young men. It criticised
certain acts of the American government thought
to be unjust and set forth arguments In favor or
self government and independence arguments
so fundamental and so consistent with American
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