New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
THE PHILIPPINES.
SUGGESTIONS FOR AN EXTRA-CONsTlTC'
TIONAL SCHEME TO BE DETER
MINED BY CONGRESS FOR OUT
SIDE DEPENDENCIES


SIDE DEPENDENCIES
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The question. Shall or shall not the United
States acquire the Philippines? must be con-
sidered settled and beyond useful discussion But
that other question How shall democratic gov
eminent whose deepest faith abides In individual
political equality. expressed In the practice OF man
hoodSeufYrage. govern or control great numbers OF
alien and even inferior races so that Its democracy
shall survive the strain OF that governing? be-
comes urgent.
To those OF US who believe that with all It's I'M
Projections democracy is yet light to the word.
an inspiration TO multitudes Of men. an incentive
to competer manhood. which Is lacking in every
other system Of g 've:nment. 1t is question OF
peril and forebodng. We would gladly have the
United States a great empire. even In the Ola
World Of powerful influence In the conflicts
OF nations and strenuous governmental EFFORT TO
secure world-wids trade But would not have
II such the price Of the loss o. this great herit-
age from the fathers-our American democracy.
II. through faith IN a mere name or form. we
exalt the lottec Of Constitution to fetch and
apply TO these acquisitions the principles, rs TO
prospective Statehood and influence in the Union,
have applied In the past to additions of terri
tory within the present boundaries OF the United
States likely 10 gather. as the fruit OF TN"
Spanish war the overthrow or radical change OF
democracy. The road 10 safety lies In casting
loose. In dealing with the Philippines. from past
on a basis. suitable TO The new conditions ars-
ing from their great population.
For safety and theirs, we must recognize
from the beginning Of our dealings with them that
there but two Qualifications for our retaining
the islands: First, That by the fortune OF war
we have acquired a foothod in these islands. which
is OF great importance to aid In accomplishing our
reasonable desire share in the control Of the
Pacific and the trade Of Asia. and. under such cir
cumstances that we cannot retire without great
We in no
pines to throw our powerful snield over them dur
ing their development Of a higher civilization and
better government than they now have and 10
apply in them the results OF the training OF Eng
disappearing In promoting justice ana true
liberty among them
These islands should be TO the United States not
a means OF enrichment ard ACKNOWLEDGMENT but an
incentive effort TO benefit the condition OF mill
Ions of men
To accomplish this benefit to them and secure
our democracy from harm the Philippines must Dc
treated as outlying dependencies. with the posi-
bilty of Statehood in the Union made 50 remote
as TO be beyond present practical discussion.
1t should be made clear from the first that. while
empire they are no. parts Of the Uni9mthe CnSed
s shaSd
which. as have said. .he United States
ss9S%f s4s ins q
be sat their is not subjeet to the letter
Of our Constitution. nut is only TO be influenced by
oped spirit of constituiona or regulated liberty
common 10 English speaking men.
uSn sa bs ,h y" S1 solely Of sssaton
BY Bsns rom % By ee M
in the nature Of the case extra-constitutonai
Mndh in Suf ars to @
elfgoverned by a local body chosen by the suf-
TaEs as OF T ow Of the not
Of he rnon would be in the OF
Of the United States-a governor. with little power
in ordinary circumstances bus possibly possessing
Our experience with negro suffrage indicates that
limited The local assembly should represen, tie
pIesen, best In the Islands, ana the qnaicaons
mined by the opinions Of the present Responsible
intelligent residents In them. But those quaifca-
sre : numbers Of the nhabliants acqnirnE The
qualifications which should finally bar progressing
manhood from IN the GhOis s Of II.
OF American democracy, but anything like unive--
sal suffrage in the near future would be folly
Ing fitness attain to re local suffrage Congress
that when am; one who has attained 70 the sui
frage IN the Islands removes to the United States
native-born citizens OF the Union;
existence or resistance to taxation without repre-:
polltcs i,ss,ss in ars n,.'tTs which char
ton Impose taxes on the Philippines to aid IL pay
Ing the EXPENSES Of The Government of The linton.
The taxation Of the islands should be for local
purposes Including the salary list Of the local gov
eminent and should be imposed by the local as
sembly. II might include some proportional share
Of the Of tho and military defence OF
the islands. which must be controlled by the United
States.
The basis OF this scheme OF government Is the
autonomy Of the islands and their separation from
the Government OF the United States In the
row sense. Ply II. hv system like H. the
peril to democracy from the possibility ~
Statehood bestowed on them. with universal suf-
rrage exercised ny great numbers cf alien-almost
savage-men. will be much diminished.