The San Francisco call., 1898-12-20
A POSSIBLE SOLUTION OF
 THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION

l the plane of civilization. It secures peace. under the protection of the world to eight millions of people low in the scale of life, with the opportunity for their advance ment. It would place us before the world as a benevolent power, not striving for foreign conquest so much as for freedom and liberty to mankind. It is out of the question to believe that Congress, with it's ever shifting policy, due to party aims ana frequent elections, can ever handle this matter with perfect satisfaction. We nave not yet reached the zenith of self government ourselves. Our negro prob lem lem has not yet been settled on basis that JuStlhes us in the belief that our statesmen can expect to handle the more dlfncult problem of the government of elgnt millions of a race that we do not know or understand.
 we nave strayed too far already from our nrst principles, and we do not want 10 nave this matter feature of every
 THE GOVERNMENT.
 We must consider the group to be an estate, for which the United States is to assume 1 the role of administrator, and it must De Kept out of the hands of the poIf- tlclans. The President of the United States, by special act of Congress, should nave the sole appointing power of five commissioners, to hold office during his pleasure, and each to receive a salary of not less than $25,000 per annum, which WoulG be an inducement to our best men to serve; they should also be provided with suitable quarters, all at the expense of the revenues of the islands T com missioners should hold office during the pleasure of the President of the United States, but should not otherwise be con trolled by him. They are to take up their residence in Manila and are to be en- tirely free in their action supreme in power to administer the affairs of the is lands in every particular, make laws of every description, including tariff laws, inaugurate an unsectarian free school system, provide for judiciary and police and, in fact, form a government that will be self-sustaining and conducted on busi- ness principles.
 Educate the natives; give them appoint ments when their qualifications will per nit and invest them with equal rights. Educate abroad at the expense of the country a certain number of the Philip pine youth, thus opening to them the op- portunity of mingling in the affairs of their own government.
 In the event of internal troubles, such as insurrections, support the commission CTS with American troops, with an Amer ican army and navy, but payment to be made to the United States out of the rev enues of the islands for the expense Form a military police force of natives, well paid, and under guidance of Ameri- l can officers. The commissioners to fill all offices with American citizens, except where. natives, could more properly be em- ployed, the object Of the whole being a benefcent government, satisfactory to the tenets of high civilization.
 FLAG.
 The islands should have a flag of their own, to be adopted by the commissioners, ! O. l restriction would prevent possible compli- cations in event of war between any of the powers party to the treaty, and would at the same time promote the patriotic in Stinct in the natives.
 Incidental to this plan, the commission CTS should pay to the United States Sta 0e 99t of which we are to pay Spain $20. .000, 900 under our treaty of peace, the balance to be re- tained by the United States as indemnity toward the cost of war expenses. Possi- i bly, it might be found eXpedient not to ex- | act this latter sum.
 | The commissioners would divide their | government into departments, at the head of which they would place responsible and efficient Americans. These various depart of offices to be f1lIe-. whic-4 would open | opportunities for American citizens and this, together with the 9 per cent pref | erential duty, would be a source of i'm mense strength to us in the commerce oi | the islands.
 FREE TRADE AND PROTECTORATE
 It must be remembered that the Chi nese are a prominent feature in the popu- lation of the islands. Are we going tc apply the exclusion law to them?
 Free trade between the Philippine Islands and the United States is as i'm. possible as between the United States anc China.
 What would a protectorate mean? Sim. ply that, for the sake of portion of the trade of the islands the United States would tax it's people and sacrifice theil lives for the defense of the islands out of all proportion to the benefits received from trade. If we need a coaling station for war purposes we can find one outside of the group.
 THOSE WHO WILL OPPOSE THIS
 PLAN.
 1. The average politician, hungry fol the spoils.
 2. That portion of our manufacturing ell ement who will ask for free trade, havine nothing to fear themselves from compe tition with the islands
 3. The jingo. who believes in expansion at any cost.
 A few short months ago none of these classes would have advocated acceptins the islands as a present. but now that VI have them they are willing to go to the extreme and will not favor any moderate or conservative policy.
 u In necopclusion believe that-tha plan. out