The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-28
POST BELLUM PROBLEMS.

Long since the country was hidden to
prepare for war in time of peace, but
! to prepare for peace in time of war is
not the converse of that advice. Only
when peace has been established. and
the strife and laundering OF war have
ceased and things have assumed their
normal condition can the results of the
war be properly considered. When the
present war is over and peace is
re-established there will be some great
and portentious problems to solve.
problems such as the country never
before faced. At the present time the
most important seems to be that of the
retention of conquered colonies, but the
future may change present conditions
as quickly and radically as they were
changed at Manila on May l. 1t is
impossible at this juncture to say what
the policy of the government should
be with regard to the Philippines, for
our relations to them may change
through the fortune of war or the set
Element of the terms of peace. The
only thing that can be determined now
is that the events of the future shall
determine the policy of the future. On
the general policy most people will be
inclined to agree with the views ex-
pressed by Representative Dockery.
Discussing several questions raised by
the war, he said:
AS for permanent occupation of the
Philippines, think that decision must
go with the other parts of the great
proposition. Let me say l have no
opinions on this subject. will be will
ing to change in so minutes if subse-
quent events change conditions. Just
at present l think there is a hazard
about the Philippines which does not
enter into consideration of the future
of Hawaii, Cuba and Porto Rico. If
we project ourselves into the politics
and possessions of the eastern hemis-
phere we cannot consistently object
should the powers claim the right to
come into the western hemisphere. Yet
we are not going to let the European
powers acquire another foot of ter
ritory on this hemisphere.
Whether an American was for or
against some of these things a few
weeks ago, he is now called upon to
face new conditions which must be CONF
sidered. The great question is whether
we can now reach out, as Nat Goodwin
says, and enter upon policy whereby
we assume to shape the deStinies of peo-
pie unfit by radical reasons for Ameri- !
can citizenship. This must soon be
taken into account. L seems to me the /
whole field should be swept by COM
prehensive legislation, which shall de- !
termine our new policy on broad |
grounds. This is the beginning OF a
new era for our country. The ques- |
tons are grave. How far can we safe
" go by these things ought to be de- |
termined not when we are dashed with |
the excitement of war, but in the calm |
ness of peace.
AS Representative Dockery says. If I
We project ourselves into the politics |
and possessions of the eastern hemis- /
phere it will be a pretty inconsistent |
thing to say that Europe shall not in
terfere in the political affairs of the
western hemisphere, and yet this coun-
try viii stand by the Monroe doctrine
at all hazards. If it is said the fortunes
of war placed US in possession of the
Philippine islands, the same fortunes
might place a European power in pos
session of American islands or even
part of the main land.
Then there is the important question
Of extending our system of government
over peoples who are not and probably
never viii be qualified to participate
in it. If the territorial system of gov
eminent is repugnant to our theory of
government how much more repugnant
s the holding of colonies where the
system of government must practically
pc a military dictatorship. Strange as
s may appear at first blush this coun-
-ry could never extend to colonies the
same freedom that England extends to
lers. Fancy the Philippines as colonies.
hen fancy permitting a local legisla-
ure to enact highly protective tariff
which was aimed to keep out Ameri-
an goods as we'll as those of other ma
ions. Yet that is precisely what Can
ida and the Australian colonies do with
egard to England. 1t is safe to say
hat this country would have to go =
through lengthy and thorough course
# education as to the rights of colonies
,efore the right of an American colony
o enact a tariff hostile to American ,
foods would be deemed a possibility ,
fsATn nh cnr 3,