The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-14
THE GAM TO THE PH1L1rrrNEs.

Experience Will show the Advantage to
Them of American Sovereignty.
To THE EpfroR OF THE SuN-Sir: II 10
reasonable and commendable that as apsople
the inhabitants OF the Philippine Islands
should seek that right of self-direction and In
dependence which we value so highly for OUR
selves. Having fought bitterly and persistently
to gain freedom from their Spanish oppressors,
how could they be expected to welcome q
transfer to a new strange power without un-
derstanding,the terms or the condition OF their
future political life 2. Because OF the relations
o%fcenturies in commercial, industrial, and adj
ministrative organization they understood Just
what they could expect from the Spanish. to
whom. Notwithstanding the abuses they suf-
fcred at their hands. they are nearer than tous.
Tho very weakness of the Spanish power offered
them the better opportunity for asserting their
opposition to It: but now they are minded over
to q strong power OF a different language. with
out any definite knowledge as tothe intentions
II has regarding them. They are ignorant OF
our language and our habits OF life. and our
political methods are strange to them. Their
religion Is Of deep Importance In their public
and private life. and naturally they are anxious
as to the effect of the new conditions on 1t. 1t
is evident from all accounts that the part OF the
Philippine population with which we have to
zeal primarily Is q IlRnly SSnSlJlNO III tlLtCilI-
gent race. whose wishes and sentiments shoilid
not be ignored. What do We, or what should
we e then, ofIer to these these people e s sUasiy,, them en-
change which has come upon them? e.
An exact. plan for their future government
cannot be formulated until the .treaty convey
ing the title OF the Spanish soysreiRnty to the
United States has been ratified and executed.
l. inyolyes Questions nIfsa OF detail VIII Tesa Ics 70
sions which must be yielded to existing COM
mercial and Industrial interests. with. q view
Of them RIS Under our new ]controi. that ali this
will be done for the advantage OF the islanders
iightened nation and our treatment Of our
previous territorial acquisitions. but the Fill
pinos do not yet know us a m We know ourselves.
in the prevention Of the evils SO long endured
been threatened il the fortunes OF war had not
transferred them to us.
we have successfully DESTROYED the Spanish
struggled. This struggle could not have been
brought to a safe conclusion Il the Sovereignty
4 manner which these governments had to
revolutionary uprising Of the islanders. the
European powers would not have been dis
posed to recognize then them as regular ;. G54ye pno
yielded by. treaty with Spain to a power
which holds a recognized position among
n nSne 81 ' tSem T%ranfHis Had t thfs ne not aRbe een aeeo@ ny
plished, the inability OF Spain to hold the
islands as colonies having been dem onstrated,
what would have been tho result !? IT, IS gen.
orally foreseen that they would have been sold
in partition to the various great powers seok-
ing colonial expansion. The basis Of this would
have been mutual agreement with reference to
the proper balance of power and influence.
There would have been a division of the isl
ands and their population. destroying their
homogeneousnesS and tearing them asunder
to suit the interests and purposes of"the vari-
GUS new owners. without first reference to the
internal interests. The population would vainly
have sought to assert their Independence or
political rights under such conditions. They
would have become military settlements, like
Algiers and tho South African territories uc-
Quired by these powers with reference to GER
tain home interests. The sovereignty OF the
United States over the whole groupsaveat them
from this destruction OF their identity, and as
sures to all development under q proper -sys-
tenn Of home rule In accordance with our po-
litical methods. and their people Will recog-
nize this In due time. The profit to the
United States. compensating for the expendi-
ture of years OF diligent study and work. apd
perhaps much money, must, come from the
great opportunities which these islands will
offer when under the influence OF American
social and political freedom. Commercial and
industrial enterprise will have O. guarantee of
safety for both the capitalist and tho laborer
when the United States exercises and estab-
fishes q wise and equal administration to rN-
place Spanish tyranny. and the. people will
share with us in tho benefits OF free and en-
lightened government. AN ExPANstoNIsT.
NEW YORK. Dec. l3.