The record-union., 1898-07-18
Weather Forecast.
OUR PHILIPPINE POLICY.

The dispatches say that the Presi-
dent proposes to feel the pulse Of the
country concerning acquisition before
the Administration announces its policy
relative to retention Of the Philippines,
and if he finds there is no Overwhelming
demand for acquisition he will feel free
to treat with Spain for occupancy Of
Porto Rico, a coaling station in Manila
Bay, the freedom of those waters and
a protectorate over the Philippines of
character to assure peace there without
dispossession of Spain.
What it is right, just and wise to do
should be done regardless of the public
pulse. The office Of craftsmanship is
often to oppose popular clamor. We
have faith in the President that he will
act in this matter with prudence and
justice. and according to the best judg
meut that can be brought to bear upon
the subject. We are disinclined to be-
heve that he has made the statement
credited to him in the reference we have
quoted. We are not yet in possession
of the Philippines We have taken two
Philippine ports. one of them wholly,
the other still holds out in part There
are 1000 islands in the group, nine
tenths of them very small and practi-
cally valueless to US There are three
very large ones, however, and over
one of these 220 years Of Spanish as
sertion has amounted to little. The
tribal organizations of the natives are
still maintained, and over the most of
the group the aboriginal people still
hold sway practically undisputed,
though Spain's claim of domination is
not relaxed
If we prefer q claim of absolute pos
session and rule to the whole group as
the result of war, we know that we will
have to dispute it with others than the
Spaniards. From all that can now be
seen the islands will certainly become
the focal point Of a great deal Of inter
national trouble. European States.
with traditional jealousy, will not un-
concernedly witness our seizure of the
entire territory. 1t is thus a serious
gain by sweeping possession. We have
shown, however, that we have the right
10 make it; that by fortune Of war we
nave fairly won the right, SO far as the
Spaniards are concerned We believe
We have the right on the high ground
OF our manifest destiny to keep abreast
of the natural law which DEGREES that
where a nation or civilization Of high
efficiency comes into frictionaI contact
with one Of low efficiency, the higher
and better must prevail. We ought
nay, we must, retain large holding in
the Philippines because we have fairly
Won 1t; because our commercial neces-
sites and rights among the nations Of
the world demand it; because we have
right to be recompensed for the cost
Of war; because our naval needs re-
quire it; because we have by present
possession assumed a trusteeship that
we cannot, must not reject And this
right noneutral Power can in reason dis
pute-it is something with which they
have nothing to do.
But the extent of our assertion of
possession and the new relation in
which 1t will place US with the natives
OF the group, as well as the newer and
the mixed population, are questions
that Will now confront US with great
gravity Our abstract right to retain
the whole group with the capitulation
Of the Capital, which must soon come
20 pass, and the occupation Of the chief
harbors already in our hands, is indispu-
table. Wecannot be driven, save byforce,
TO share our gain with any other nation;
we should not assume the right by bar
gain TO so dispose of any of the ter
ritory. 1t is unthinkable that we shall
return any part Of the group to Spain
Our duty in the premises is largely
that of a trustee who is bound to ad-
minister his trust to the highest best
advantage Of all interested, and these
are the native tribes, the newer popu-
lation and ourselves With adhesion to
the denial that we are not out for con-
quest; that the American Republic is
not proposing to meddle with the po-
litical affairs of European or Oriental
States, or their involvements, in main
tanning the balance of power, we must
make TT understood that we are not
seeking causeless war.
We wish no trouble with Germany or
any other present neutral Power. In
deed. we should and will do all that
may be accomplished with honor to
avoid such conflict. We must resist
among our own the disposition on the
part Of the few to drive the nation into
another war. The shout hat we have
thrown Spain down and can do the
same for Germany is senseless and in
discreet, and has not the minds of the
thinking masses Of the nation behind
1T. As a contemporary well says:
Causes Of war are developed in the
natural course Of events" We do not
need TO cultivate and force them. Ma
tions will encounter the misfortune of
war in the natural order of things; but
when a nation becomes a boastful bully
it is liable to precipitate upon itself
useless and causeless conflicts"
Let us be cautious that we do not be-
come needlessly aggressive because in
the present war right and our strength
have given US successes. We need to
,r,o{r+oir o,,r 10 +i1,a1 liopi+1, apJ 80