The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-30
DEFINING The ISSUE.

lmperialist and the anti-imperialist
taunt each other with having no def
mite plan to propose for the disposi-
ton of the Spanish dependencies, and
the charge is substantially true. There
is no general agreement among advo-
Gates on either side of the fence. There
is a tendency on each side, however,
TO rally in the support of one of two
antagonistic propositions.
Those who profess to echo the senti-
ments of the administration, say the
only feasible plan is to place the is
lands severally under firm but benefi-
cent military government, allowing
such measure of home rule as the ma
tives of the respective colonies from
time to time may seem qualified to
exercise, but ultimately to erect the
provinces into bona fde colonies and
permanent possessions of the United
States. No limit is suggested for the
duration of the military regime and
no distinct plan for The subsequent
government, but both are considered
time, experience and the wisdom Of
congress to work out. This has been
described as the policy of drift" the
answer of its proponents being What
else can we do or you suggest?'
To this scheme the anti-imperialists,
so far as they are. agreed upon any
policy, oppose one Of a totally different
character 1t is substantially that out
lined by Charles Francis Adams in his
recent letter to the New York Evening
Post 1t is to treat the Philippines as
we are expected to treat Cuba. Set up
some form of native government I'M
der the protection of the United States,
and gives the natives every opportu-
nifty to become a free and Independent
nation. No doubt many events to be
deplored would happen under such an
arrangement, but the same may be said
of the out-and-out annexation plan.
On the other hand, certain advanta-
ges not possible under annexation
would accrue to both parties if the
Philippines were to be trained to be-
come a self disappearing nationality.
The United States would thus be spared
considerable portion of the military
burden imposed by annexation, and at
the same time would reserve all its
expected commercial advantages. 1t is
contended also that foreign interior
ence could be averted by the United
States in the eastern hemisphere as
successfully it has been in the west
ern.
The art OF self-government, which
appears to be an Inheritance of the
races only by experience. True, this
experience is costly, but self govern
ment is seldom or never acquired under
the colonial system, when the dominant
power is exercised by aliens Canada,
Australia and the South African colon
les are as English as England itself,
and these are the only British depen-
denotes that could stand alone.
Hence, if anything is to be made of
the natives of our proposed dependen-
cies, they must be provided with an
opportunity to practice self~govern-
ment. If something is not made of
them, the only alternative is expulsion,
determination or enslavement by the
colonizing power, just as natives else
where have been expelled, extermina-
ted or enslaved by European colonists.
Around these two contrasted policies,
therefore. the expansion and anti-ex-
pansion forces seem to be crystalizing.
There is little doubt that at present
the administration policy would have
the larger popular support.