New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-27
THE CONSTRUCTIVE srAnn
T J. MORGAN. EX-COMMISSIONER On ~
IAN AFFAIRS. ON AMERICAS NEW
OBLIGATIONS.

structive stage In our relations with a.
Porto Rico and the Philippine Island. M
their precise relations to US are yet ina.
inmate, II Is pretty safe TO assume th..
United States will of necessity be called s.. Va
to assume the practical direction Of ars,,.' iva
maintain 1t for a series Of years. Then min :.
a difference Of opinion on matters Of d.t.n ~ y
there ought to be no difference Of on,,, .u
among us as to the general lines alou, , ,.s..
our influence is to be exerted The UnItsa o., a~a
entered upon war with Spain on the nr,,,,s.
of humanity, having in view primarily N. >.
torment Of the condition Of the Cubans ~,
emerges from the war with the moral obls,,.
resting upon II to use all Its influence IN g.
nroying the condition Of the people in po..
Rico and the Philippine Islands as well 6, -
the people In Cuba. We cannot escape th. =.
sponsibiIity We shall be judged by the n.'
ner in which we discharge It. These things No.
be required at our hands:
THE ARMIES OF OCCUPATION
First-To supply to the people in these Va.
Gus Islands a stable. enlightened goyernms,,
None OF them are at present prepared to eov.r
themselves; we cannot, dare not, leave them !,
anarchy. military government for the r-.,-
ent is Il necessity This will necessarily \.
somewhat arbitrary and rigorous, but ou,,,
not to be in any sense oppressive, and viii n,
be IL the Presiden; selects wise men for mill
tary governors. The troops Of the army o. ~
cupation ought to be composed primarily :,
picked regiments from the United States Rsr,.
lar Army These should be supplemented lar..
Is by negro troops: they will be more conten,.,
away from home. are better adapted to the cu
matte conditions Of the tropical countries vm
be acceptable to the masses of the people q.
the Islands. and they can be subjected "a
very perfect state Of discipline
II would also he wise stroke Of policy nj
there should be enlisted In the army Of occupa
ton a few thousand men selected from the bes
Of the native population. In Cuba, FOR nstanc,
five thousand men, at least. could be taken from
the best troops under the command Of insu.
gent generals. and other thousands could h
found among those tina; have hitherto volur
teered for service in the Spanish Army Mss
men ara Injured to the deprvatlons OF can,
have acquired a taste for military lie. are q.
climated and would undoubtedly eagerly en-
brace the opportunity cf entering our serv.a
taking the oath OF allegiance and !dentiiylY
themselves with us. When the time for MI.
tary occupation ceases and independence h
gins. these men, trained. disciplined and sis
Gated in our service. would form the nucleus Il
q local militia. Their enlistment in our seryia|
would remove at once an element OF disco
tent and possible disturbance.
BETTER CIVIC ADMINIsTRAT
The military government should be suppl
ncntcd by civic administration. directed u
American chiefs but carried en- mainly BY al
t.ves specially selected for the service. The er|
officers should represent all classes ~ the pcps|
lation. 50 far as possible. thus helping TO slrt
any an.agonism heretofore existing and 70 haI
wounds occas.oned by insurrecton IN Cuba 4
Luzon.
AS soon as Il Is demonstrated that this Ams}
can military government. supplemente1 ny
civil semi autonomous administration anords |
all the inhabitants II the islands complete pr
lection OF life and property. and large ces'1
Of personal liberty. all sorts OF industries
revive and peace and contentment VIII reign
Second-There should be an immediate all
steadily increasing improvement In tie econonfI
conditions OF the various Islands. Taxes whc1
have hitherto been very burdensore, amounting
IN some cases 70 practical prohibition. Will y
lions IN trade and commerce VIII be removed
American capital. enterprise and intellsehol
Will Aos in: money collected from the is!anl|
will be used not to enrich the foreign sovernon|
but 70 Improve the condition OF the !slart|
themselves: railroads. telegraph and telepAo1'|
lines viii pc constructed. waIerworks VIII 81
built. saver systems provided. and the enu's|
sanitary condition OF the chile. cities VII es|
greatly improved.
.NON-sECTARIAN SCHOOLS
Th.rd-There ought 70 be Instituted al once
FOR the people in each Of the principal islan's
a comprehensive system OF non'sec'a.an
schools. modelled after the American pan -
wisest, most practical educators ootalna"
should be selected as Commissioners OF Luu''
ton FOR Cuba. Porto RICO ard Luzon 'ano V'-'
large islands In the Philippines. II they a's
tained) with authority 20 select their pf"'''-
suSordnates for the chief cities. ana 10 pu' ~
operation at the earliest practicable Ga! ="
TEN OF schools adopted 10 the present oOH',
Of the people. and in which only the Eng sn-
language should he used THIS system =, ~ 6.
lie education. one OF the chief sloFcs % ~
public and one 81 the principal charac. YIN "a
OF our civilization. in due time. II prope,nt
ministered would bring UP new genela,.. -
these islands which would be essentialy ". ~.
can In language. ideas and aspirations. !.
would he prepared in large measure e'. w. 2.
self-governmert or for citizenship III Wv ~ -.
public. This elementary school system L -, AZ,
and any failure to provide II for ines t tr,,>
will he fatal. Difficulties will obstruc, US n,
duction but II can be done. II shou!d g Jss.s
at once. What has been done FOR the :,.rs
can he done for the occupants or THESE n,' n
with this great difference. that the SYST, =
be made from the start self-sustalnins, al" 10y
become an enormous burden upon 'he ~
Treasury.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Fourth-An the people Of these ISLANDS s-
At once enter upor the enjoyment OF 'eNs ,,.,
liberty II our civilization stands FOR I'll. :, :,
II stands for freedom OF conscience anu ~.
are TO he OF any permanent value 70 'he -,
ions that have come under our control a"a ),
are now looking to us for help II WI" .-.
extending 10 them In all It's fulness the '"' ~
bic blessing OF religious liberty. There 'a
O, course. no possible connection OF ohu 81
State The eccleslast!cs In these is'a"'' lad
have hitherto looked to the State FOR 'he"
OF public taxes as the means OF theF sN, ,...,
must now look TO the voluntary conNi'