The evening times., 1898-12-02
Island Government.

The endurance of the Republic rests
on the intelligent interest which the
great body of the American people
takes in public affairs, especially
such as c-eme within the grasp of the
man of average mind. Ii is character
istic that having urged on the President
the retention of the Philippines, with a
clear understanding 6fSall that implies,
they should now consider and discuss
the questions relating TO the govern
ment of our new possessions. Not in
Presidential campaign are men more
generally disposed 10 interchange opin-
ions than now. II is significant that
clubs organized for purposes that have
nothing TO do with politics, invite pub
lie men to address the members on the
subject of our island dependencies. A
notable meeting devoted entirely to this
was a banquet of the Society of Colon
ial Danes in New York The chief ad-
dress was by General Daniel Butter
field. who advocated a military policy
in the islands for an indefinite time,
not wholly because display of power
may be necessary 10 peace, but mainly
because il would exclude partisan poll
tics
There is no doubt that the admins
tration of the islands for the benefit of
a political party is the most serious
menace 10 our success. While there is
ample time 70 discuss all the questions
that may present themselves, since a
military rule is inevitable for a time, it
is never too soon To formulate opin-
ions as TO the best policy and TO recog-
nize whatever dangers are liable 10
threaten US, That strictly civil gov
ernment i'm the early days of our occu-
patton would afford an opportunity for
corruption seems 10 be taken for grant
ed. There are political adventurers in
this country who would rival the Span
ish military governors in maladminis-
tration for their selfish ends, if they
should have the opportunity The car
pet-baggers who plundered the South
ern States in the days of reconstruction
are a type Of the class that will assail
the President for appointment to offices
in the islands. The population there
has been debauched by Spain TO such a
degree that many have no conception of
official honesty and consider bribery an
essential part of government There
has been hardly a pretense of judicial
honesty and fairness, the verdict going
TO the higher bidder.
This can all be avoided by the insti-
tuition of a military government, which
is the only kind the people are ac-
quainted with. Unless the reorganized
army is debauched by the influence of a
politician at the head of the War De-
partment-an official who could not re-
strain. his partisanship even when the
nation was engaged in war and the lives
of heroes depended on the efficiency of
his subordinates-there viii be no cor
ruption. No large army will be necessary,
and il is probable that experience will
prove the value of enlisting natives to
garrison the towns. Then as time
brings a better knowlege of the charac-
ter and capacity of the people, the gov
ernment can be adapted to their needs.
The main thing that concerns all
Americans and the President who will
be held TO account for any failure to pro-
tect the inhabitants from official rob-
berry, is 10 prevent bad men from get
ting control of affairs until the depend
ent people become acquainted with free
institutions and know how to appeal
against abuses.
We are charged with a peculiar re-