6 Conservative.
its behalf. He urged the ratification of
the treaty , knowing that it meant war
with the Filipinos ; knowing that it
. meant the acquisition of territory by
conquest.
Senator Money spoke even more pro
phetically than he know when he said ,
"we have already
Prophetic. , * , .
embarked in a war
that will not release the volunteers , and
thousands of the best American youth
will lay their bones upon the plains and
in the jungles of Luzon and in other
parts of the Philippines. " The past year
has more than fulfilled this prophecy.
Mr. Bryan defends his action in sup
porting the treaty by stating that he
also favored the
liacon RcBolutloii.
Bacon resolution
which declared for ultimate inde
pendence. This apology is weak and
trivial. The Bacon resolution , if passed ,
would merely have been a declaration of
the opinion of congress and would not
have been binding upon any future con
gress. As Senator Money said , "these
resolutions are simply the text for dis
cussion in the open sessions of the sen
ate , and they are worth that and little
more. " These resolutions were defeat
ed before the ratification of the treaty.
As they could not be passed before rati
fication there was every reason to believe
they could not be passed afterward. Mr.
Bryan then favored the final ratification
of the treaty , without the Bacon resolu
tion and knowing the futility of at
tempting to pass such a resolution later.
Mr. Bryan also says that he wanted to
end the war with Spain. The power of
Spain was already
ISiirt the War.
broken. She could
not have prolonged the conflict. The
protocol could have been extended until
the treaty was amended and war with
Spain wo old not have been resumed.
Senator Daniel effectively answered this
plea of Mr. Bryan when he said : "But
this treaty is easily amended. You
have only to substitute in respect to the
Philippine islands what you have done
as to Cuba , and it is done. If there are
votes here to do that , it can be done
next Monday. Do you think Spain will
not consent ? Why do you think so ?
There is nothing in the nature of things
from which any man can fancy that
Spain would not readily assent. She
has done so in one case in respect to
Cuba , and she did it there simply be
cause we asked it. She wanted us to
annex Cuba * * * But , against the
wishes of Spain we said 'No , we prefer
only a military occupation hero. ' If
Spain assented to our wishes in that re
gard , why not as to the other ? But sup
pose she did not like it. We did not go
into this war for the pleasure and satis
faction of Spain. We went into it much
against her liking , and we should not
cease this war until we have registered
our will and not Spanish will. " The
remarks of Senator Daniel indicate the
trend of opinion among democratic
senators. Senator Hoar , the leader of
the anti-imperialists , insists that he had
the necessary votes pledged to amend
the treaty in the manner indicated by
Senator Daniel , if Mr. Bryan had not
influenced certain senators to change
their minds.
Senator Daniel stated the case clearly
when he said : "That treaty fixes our
policy. The rest of
Republic or I1.inpire. , .
our policy is a mere
matter of clerky detail. The Philippine
treaty and a great standing army walk
into the halls of congress hand in hand.
Once fix sovereignty there and its roots
go down to the centre of the earth. It
is sovereignty , the most permanent act
or human life , the most fixed , and the
most immovable thing that ever nation
did or could do. " The difference be
tween military occupation of the island
and ratifying the treaty the senator said
was "the difference between planting an
empire there and maintaining the tem
porary ascendency of American power
there. " Could the issue be more plainly
stated or more concisely put ? Yet Mr.
Bryan favored ratifying the treaty and
deliberately choose the empire in pre
ference to the temporary ascendency of
American power. The Kansas City
convention declared "imperialism" to be
the paramount issue in this campaign.
In order that a political principle may be
an issue , it must be one in regard to which
there may be logical disagreement.
There can be no issue in "imperialism , "
for the reason that Mr. Bryan and Mr.
McKiuley favored the ratification of the
treaty of peace and both thereby favor
ed "the planting of an empire there. "
Bryan is even more culpable than his
opponent for the reason that Mr. Me-
Kinley's plans would have been thwart
ed and the treaty would have been
amended , except for the interference of
"Imperialist" Bryan. How then can the
record of these two men offer a basis for
a paramount issue upon the question of
"imperialism" ?
Much as we may regret the ratification
of the treaty of peace with Spain and
the policy then inaugurated , we cannot
administer a rebuke this year. Both
candidates favored the treaty. Both are
equally responsible for its ratification.
The record of Bryan is the more inde
fensible. He acted according to his own
admissions , fully conscious of the
iniquity of the act. Why did he do it ?
There is but one answer for political
reasons. He placed partisan advantage
above the welfare of his country and
the lives of his fellow citizens.
We must look elsewhere for ' 'para-
mountcy. " The real issue in this cam-
, , . . paign is the ques-
Tlio Paramount IHHUO. 7. . .
tion of honest
money on the one hand and dishonest
money on the other ; financial integrity
and national honor as against repudia
tion and dishonor. This is the issue , and
the fiat of a political convention or the
dicta of a political boss cannot change it.
IDENTITY OF THE BOXERS.
According to New York chinamen of
good standing and repute , the "Boxers , "
who seem to have taken the initiative in
the present uprising against foreigners
in China , are ho mere rebel horde of
mushroom growth. Their origin has
been obscured by their appellation. As
a matter of fact , theirs is an organiza
tion over two hundred and fifty years
old , and it has little changed from its
original purpose the overthrow of the
Mauchuriau government. The apparent
ly irreconcilable facts of alleged col
lusion between the Empress Dowager ,
who is a Manchu , and the Boxers in the
struggles now going on in the Empire
against the foreign powers , will later be
explained.
For ages there has existed in China a
class , who , from childhood , practice
boxing and wrestling , pretty much as
athletes do in this country , only instead
of doing so for health , they do it for
self-defence. To be able skillfully to
defend one's self is not only a necessity ,
under conditions which have always
existed in the country , but an accom
plishment as well which in late years
has led to displays of prowess
somewhat analogous to the prizefighting
ing of our western civilization of today.
From these exhibitions of its champions ,
the whole organization received its
name from foreigners who witnessed
them , and who knew of no better name
to apply. The Boxers do not know
themselves by the name comparatively
recently bestowed upon them by the
Caucasians , hence the ignorance of the
Chinese in this country , generally , when
yon ask them about the organization of
their rebellious compatriots. Ask them ,
however , if they have heard of the
Hong Tau , or Redheads , and the educa
ted ones will at once know , and tell you
all about the Boxers.
Rebellion Quelled by MonUH.
About two hundred and fifty years
ago , soon after the change from the
Ming to the Tsing dynasty , a rebellion
broke out. The government soldiers
found their efforts to quell it unavailing ,
so rapidly did it spread. At this time
there existed in the mountains in north
ern China a noted religious order of
monks , who never wore long queues.
Their monastery was impregnable , al
though no one ever molasted them , as
they were looked upon as peaceful ,
pious and learned men. The commun
ity , comprising only five in all , offered
their services to put down the rebels ,
and the government gladly accepted.
They led the army , and the rebels were
soon defeated.
The government , following its estab
lished custom , then set out to reward
its benefactors for their services , but
much to its surprise , the monks refused
all offers of office , lands , and money.
"The knowledge that we have done our
country good is our reward , " they said
