The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-19

the law OF the country. while the insur-
gents. who found those regulations IN
tolerable deny that they have any bind
;n- force upon them. The islands have
now. IN part at least fallen under the
dominion of the United States by con-
oucst and. as the conqueror has the right
20 impose his viii and his laws upon the
territory conquered. tnc will of the mill
tary commander representing the United
States may come TO be made the law. 1t
is all very we'll. therefore, for Dewey
and Merritt TO be tod TO make all men
obey the law. but no great distance has
been covered In dealing with the actual
case unless they have been given some
guide by which they are TO determine
and publish what the law Is and, when
that point in the game is reached the
difficulty I'm the task that is before US ap-
pears. What is 20 be the rule OF conduct
in the Philippine Islands and upon what
principle are we TO determine what that
rule shall be? The Spanish institutions
are. the natives say. intolerabie, and we
learn. that the complaints Of the natives
upon this score are entirely justified. 1t
will not do. however. for our military com
rnander there to supersede all Spanish
institutions at the stroke Of a pen, for
that would leave the people with no law
at all except in the particular cases where
he provided special regulations. IL would
place the people in q state OF anarchy
snauish institutions therefore. when
have been growing up through three
hundred years must De left in force until
they are gradually changed and remodel
led as their operations discloses the pax
ticulars In which they fail 10 subserye the
interests Of those they operate upon.
But mis- can never be seen in light
clear enough TO deal with the case Intel
Ilgently until associations Of native rep
resontativos are held in which those who
suffer from abuses can state their cases
and suggest redress This introduces the
subject Of native legislatures. and when
we reach that stage we learn something
OF the difficulties Of providing a govern
mont for savages. How Dewey and Mer
rift win get along in establishing the
new law, that IL will be their task TO
providc. we confess that we cannot fore
tell. We can easily foresee. however.
that they are going 70 have really manly
sport, and that when they are through
If successful. they will have reason to
congratulate themselves upon their quail
dcations as law-siyers.
All this naturally suggests the troubles
in store for this country If it shall ever
make the mistake Of anncXing the Phil
ippine Islands. VIC want Manila and
sufficient zone Of territory around it 20
make our possession Of IT easy and com.
Portable. but VIC do not want the Phil
ippine Islands. The speech old John Sher-
man made on Wednesday at Wooster,
Ohio. which we quoted yesterday shows
that he is by no means senile yet. We
think it worth quoting again as con-
clusion to this article as follows:
"The vast extent and compass Of our
country should satisfy our people and
prevent them from extending their do
mains TO distant lands. possessions diff
cult TO control and impossible 10 defend.
/ regret to notice a disposition i'm Con-
gress TO reach out for outside territory.
This ambition for the occupation OF ter
ritory has been the ruin OF Greece, Rome
and the great nations of Asia in ancient
times and of Spain. Austria and Italy In
modern times. And now the United
States is in more danger from similar
causes than all others combined. The
greed OF territory and the attempt TO rule
it lost Great Britain the great body Of
what is now the United States Of Ameri-
ca If we can be content with our vast
continental possessions we can dispense
with the islands Of the sea. There is no
room for them i'm our system of states"