Imperialism
Performed by William Jennings Bryan
Recorded July 21, 1908
Imperialism is the policy of
an empire, and an empire is a nation embracing different
people living under different forms of government.
The Republican party has never dared to admit its
imperialistic purpose and yet it is administering
a colonial policy upon a theory utterly opposed to
the theory of self-government. The Democratic party
has for nine years parted out the evils of colonialism.
It has for nine years challenged the Republican party
to discuss the governmental principles which underlie
colonialism. And it opposes colonialism today as it
has from the beginning. The platform adopted at Denver
condemns the experiment in imperialism as an inexcusable
blunder, which has involved us in enormous expense,
brought us weakness instead of strength, and laid
our nation open to the charge of abandoning the fundamental
principles of a republic. The platform favors an immediate
declaration of the nations purpose to recognize
the independence of the Philippine Islands as soon
as a stable government can be established. Such independence
would be guaranteed by us, as we guarantee the independence
of Cuba, until the neutralization of the islands can
be secured by treaty with other powers. This does
not mean a withdrawal from the Orient, for in the
recognition of independence our government will retain
such land as may be necessary for coaling stations
and naval bases. The land thus retained will furnish
us all the territory we need for commercial expansion,
and it would be much easier to protect the Filipinos
from outside interference when they are in possession
of their own government, and thus interested in guarding
it from without. It is now costing us more than 100
millions a year for the Army and Navy in excess of
what it cost us ten years ago, and we are under suspicion
in the Orient as long as we hold the Filipinos in
subjection. The Orient is in a ferment; reform is
making progress everywhere. Our nation, instead of
discouraging this reform by the establishment of a
colony in the Pacific, should be the leader in reform
movement, and thus attach to itself the progressive
element in all the countries of the East. It is to
our commercial advantage to encourage the adoption
of our ideals and our customs and these ideals and
customs can be brought to the attention of Japan,
China, India and the Philippines only by steadfast
adherence to the traditions of our country. Thus our
financial influence, as well as our political duty,
lead us to renew our attachment to the Declaration
of Independence and to the doctrines of the fathers.
A republic can have no substance, it can have no colony;
the proofs of imperialism, be they bitter or sweet,
must be left to the children of monarchy. This is
the one tree of which the citizens of a republic may
not partake. It is the voice of the serpent and not
the voice of God that bids us heed.