The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-21
RETURN THE PHILIPPINES.
Argument TO Show That the United
States Should Not Hold the Islands

over an area OF a thousand HleS lo"6
by three hundred miles wide. anu settled
by six millions Of people OF three or Iour
different oriental races OF low grace win
no national feeling TO unite them, form
the Philippine group, whose iu'ure NC
must decide upon soon -,
Constituted as our Republic is, 70 hold
them as colonies would open the uOo.
IN an amount Of corruption that would
rot the foundations OF our government
II is hard enough 20 keep out corrup-
ton as II IS. with rival parties ever
watchful but when taxation would be
unaccompanied by representation ana
the taxed people living "A months jour
nev away. had been accustomed for cen
turtles 10 being plundered ana had not
thought. or feeling. or a language In
common with u.s. God only knows wlere
the end would be Of bribery to secure po-
sitions I'm which extortion and fraud could
be practlced upon them.
The Alternative, which has been pro
posed. Is TO act as "a wet nurse until the
political infant was ready. either TO enter
our union, or 10 paddle his own canoe as
n fun pledged Independent republic;
"waving the glorious banner OF Democ-
racv I'm the face OF the effete mOnarchies
of the old world" This Will Do well
enough for fourth Of July orators, but
let us see how long THIS wet nurse bust
oriental infant may not suck the life out
of ms before he is wcanod
The Republican form Of government
e. a, great a curse % those who are not
fitted for u a. IL Is a blessing 10 those
who are. and Il takes a long time for an
uncivilzed race 20 acquire the powers Of
individual self control upon which It is
based.
We cannot teach n cur dog 10 stand
no n q l.
gent as a pointer but the pointer has
been trained FOR hundreds Of genera
tions, until this trait has become natu-
raj The human animal IS governed by
precisely the same law OF nature, and
no amount of school books can change
the formation OF his brain I'm one gene
ration.
II has taken the Anglo-SaXon thou
sand years 10 acquire the powers OF self
government he now possesses. Throw
hundred EnRlishmen or Americans. who
had never seen or heard OF each other
before. upon o. desert island, and they
would get together and form govern
ment for mutual protection But place
hundred Philippines under tho same cir
cumstances, and s many separate and
antagonistic groups would form as there
were races among them until. perhaps,
some despot I'm tho party subdued the
rest
The negro race has been in this country
two centuries under circumstances more
conducive 10 development than were ever
before enjoyed by untutored savages, and
their improvement has been great, yet.
i'm citizenship. they have not reached the
point the Saxon started from when ne
came TO England AS far as they are
behind in this respect. they arc still in
advance Of the inhabitants OF the Philip
pincs. so. II our estimates are correct.
In Philippine is more than thousand
years behind the Anglo-SaXon. But our
progenat0rs had some rough treatment
at times. while I'm these days things are
done more quickly, and we will suppose
that the PHILIPPINES can do il In half the
time. so that Uncle Sam need not nurse
him more than five hundred years. But
when we came 20 think Of II, that Is
long time TO nurse a baby. and we can't
be suro that Il IS going TO be healthy
child after all.
But IS the disposition Of these islands
a matter which we Will be allowed TO set
ale for ourselves racefully-there Is
strong reason 20 believe that it is not.
Against the combination Of European
Powers. said 10 be faSmed TO claim
share Of the spoils. our only chance OF
success would be by England's help.
There f. much "gush' on both sides
OF the Atlantic about blood being thick
cr than water" but nation does not
do these things from sentimental mo-
tives. and England's object IS easily dis
cernablc. If she helps us now we must.
by every principle OF honor help her
when she calls upon us I'm the future.
According TO some OF her wiscst states
men. England is I'm n critical condition,
and such an arrangement would be vail
liable I'm the desperate conflict which is
10 come sooner or later 10 maintain her
position I'm the Eastern world.
Are the people Of the United States
ready TO place themselves under such an
obligation 10 secure something which viii
be a curse?
We have a strong attachment for Eng
land but this question must DE decided
upon ifs merits and not by feeling.
Efforts are sometimes made 20 throw
dust On our eyes about the nature OF this
conflict, by claiming Il to be one be-
tween free Institutions and despotsm.
whereas 50 will be "a fight purely for the
sp0i's OF tho East
There Is little left for despotism among
aiized nations. except IN form. The
Car OF Russia himself IS Influenced al
most as much by public opinion as the
government Of Great Britain.
We have thus far dwelt upon what
should not be done. and our opinion or
what should be done with these Islands
IS expressed in four words-return them
TO Spain.
SPANS power Is gone. She can never
ro-establlsh her control over tho Philip
pines. and she will be compelled to sell
them Divided out among the maritime
powers. the inhabitants would be thou
sand times better off insecurity OF per-
son and property. and in opportunities
for development. than they could possibly
be under a mock republic, or as a colony
OF ours.
cuba and Porto Rico, together with
grants OF coaling stations wherever we
may want them IN her other possessions.
IS enough indemnity TO demand from
Spain. cuba alone il cheap az double the
cost OF the war.
After a period Of independence Cuba
will pass into the Union by the votes OF
the hundreds Of thousands OF Americans
who will flock 20 the development of her
unsurpa ssed resources. and few score
years hence the Spanish language VIII be
heard there as little as 10 is I'm Texas, or
as little as the French language is heard
In Louisiana.
Against the gigantic power OF the yell
low races. when It awakes from its sleep
we now hold an outpost IN the Pacifc'
the great canal Cuba. and Porto Rico
loom up in the near future; our cousins
over the lakes will join US some day. ana
from across the Rio Grande others may
come knocking al our door. There on
this broad continent and not In distant
,ot.,fes Hos ,ur manifest Destiny des-