New-York tribune., 1898-11-16
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.

4 SUGGESTION FROM FREDERICK W. SEW
ARD AS TO HOW TT SHOULD BE MET.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: There is a divergence Of opinion about the
PHILIPPINES on the one hand it is urged that.
having delivered them from Spanish oppression.
we should now hold and develop them thereby
increasing our commerce. opening new fields to
American enterprise, adding 10 National pres
tige and naval power. and giving TO their IN
habitants at least a better government than they
have eyer had or were ever likely 70 have
Apparently this is the view Of the majority OF
our people
on the other hand it is argued that the Phil
ippines are distant. Asiatic. already populatea
bv A race that cannot be taken INTO our o"h'
nor assimilated to our ways. that II Is contrary
to our traditions and policy OF selt-SoNe'hn'e"'
to have island colonies and subject races ell
failing great expense and offering temptation
to corrupt administration. Those entertaining
this view are probably minority. but IL Is
minority which comprises many of our thought
full and experienced public men,
Last week we held elections in most OF our
States and their result would seem TO indicate
that the Nation. : a whole. Is quite wiling 10
leave the solution Of the problem 10 the Fresi-
dent and Congress. Nor is it 10 be doubted that
the President and Congress will seek to solve
it in such wise may be most acceptabie TO
the Nations ultimate judgment and common
sense.
II IS only a year ago-it seems longer-when
ther. was a like divergence Of opinion about
cuba. ON the one hand we were urged To
lberate it from Spanish msrule, to pacfy it, to
annex IT, or to give it Independence. And on the
other hand We heard the arguments against
tons. subject colonies. alien races and violated
traditions Tho two cases are not Identical, but
the arguments pro and con about cuba tnen
were very like the arguments pro and con about
the Philippines now.
When the came to It's close. II seems 10
have ended that controversy about Cuba. We
have Cuba under our flag. and are proposing to
maintain peace and order there. as we'll as to
nronoote commerce. safety and education. We
reserve the question of its future permanent
government If its people shall show desire ana
capacitv for Independent government. We viii
give it TO them If they shall prefer annexation
"a the United States, we will consider that ques-
ton when it comes Meanwhile the island re-
mains under our military occupation. In TINS
state of affairs both the contestants in last
wears argument seem now to acquiesce
In the Philippines are also in military occu'
patton. We are not setting up colonial govern
ments nor proclaiming them as annexed terri
tories-nor do we need to until. by the establish
rnent OF peace and order. can find out what
their people want ana what We want ourselves
In other words are acting exactly IN the
spirit Of our protocol with Spain
But it is said that Spain will not now agree
that she will withdraw from the Peace Confer
ence II she withdraws from the conference she
merely RENTS the Philippine question to us
former status-that is she leaves ii 70 be set'ien
by arms or by diplomacy. Arms she mas hah
enough Of Protracted diplomatic negotiation
might suit her better. though Z seems to us tha'
It would be wise for her to accept the inevitaole'
and begin to conform ner ideas Of government
and finance to those # the century In which she
Is living.
And her. a new factor enters into the discus
sion. Suppose We conclude We do not want the
Philippines and will not have them. what sha"
we do with them? We cannot turn them back u
the Spanish misrule from which We delivered
them We cannot leave them al the mercy o'
Ignorance tribal antagonisms. wars ana an
archv We cannot give or cell them 10 any other
Power or divide them with any other Power
without embroil.ng Europe and ourselves. lhey
are in our hands TO have and 10 hold wheth'r
forever or only FOR time future events mus
determine We are solnew hat In the condition ot
the farmer who. having unwllingly taken hls
bull b.; the horns. began TO consider whether
would b.. safer to let 90 or to hold on.
Rut having satisfactorily met the Cuban prop
lem for tn. present Why not meet the Philip
pine problem IN the same way by continuns
o,,r military occupation maintaining peace ana
order and taking time To- consider and discuss
other questions as they may come up
FREDERICK W SEWAhD
Montrosc-on-, the Hudson. November H. i''''
ATTACK ON THE UOHEGiNS tifi fi''