The times., 1898-05-09
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
Complicated Problems Grow 0ut of
Their Acquisition.

one new in It's nature, for now. for the
first time. the United States is exercising
sovereignty over land at the antipodes-
The views of lawyers conversant with
international questions are naturally first
sought for the solution of such problem
but. as in the cases of physicians and
theologians, they will not be found TO
agree.
I'VE should get rid of the Philippines as
soon as possible was the answer of
Frederick w Whitridge. when asked
what disposition should be made of our
new acquisition. I'VE want no such eX-
perienee as we would have in trying 10
govern those 1.200 islands 1900 miles away
with 1000. 900 inhabitants made up of four
or five different races. Our idea of gov
ernment is through the ballot box, but
these people know nothing about submit
ting to the decree Of a ballot box. and
cannot be taught
The islands are ours by the decree Of
war. and our Government will be called
on TO act in relation 20 them | think the
best thing we can do is TO sell them TO
the highest bidder II is said that viii
disturb the balance of power in the East.
but that is a matter that must be adjust
ed by the purchaser. The nation that
purchases them must take them subject
10 all iLcumbrances-
"To talk of governing these islands as
Great Britain does her numerous colonies
is out of the question. We do not have
and cannot at present assume British
methods She ha. the best OF trained men
qualified for the service to govern the
colonies, and she fits the government 10
the various peoples she rules over Her
trained servants who look after her col
onial affairs have an assured tenure Of
office, with a pension following their re-
tirement If we should attempt such a
thing it would be called un-American,
and would be howled down. We send any
but qualified men 10 represent US in other
governments. Look at our cOnsuls- What
are their qualifications? No thorough
training or experience fits,them for their
positions. Imagine. ii you can, the state
of affairs with such men representing this
government in the Philippines.
TO have to govern the Philippines
would suit the carpet-baggers and hungry
Office-seekers. We would be worse there
than France is in MaCa gascar. Just as
l heard a Wall Street man say today
Hold the Philippines by all means. for
the money there is in them. That is the
view that many take of the situation.
I'VE don't want TO have TO keep a sand
ing army for putting down instructions
against Old Glory and that is what We
would have to do If we tried 10 govern
the Philippines. or any other Spanish ISL
ands we may capture.
cit is well enough TO talk about the
march Of civilization not hauling down
the Stars and Stripes when they are
once planted. ard all that sort OF thing
1t is easily said and sounds very we'll
but men who are acquainted with such
countries as the Philippines know THAI
/ their people cannot be brought TO our
methods simply by having our Cons .itu-
tion. We viii have trouble enough If We
I undertake 10 govern any of the people
who have been under Spanish rule We
| have work enough here az home and as
we become more thickly populated we
! viii have more to attend TO. and find
| that we have TO combat conditions more
| like those that exist in the pOpuIOus cen
| ters of Europe SO I say the best thing
| TO do is TO get rid Of the Philippines as
soon as we can"
we should take charge Of the Philip
/ pines until the people there can learn 10
| govern themselves said Thaddeus b
/ Wakeman. Tn the first place. under the
| laws of nations, we have 70 consult no
J foreign govCl nnent on the disD0sitiou we
| er Spanish territory We may acquire All
the questions that NAV arise are for us
| to settle and to my mind the lines on
| which they should be settled are quite
/ clear.
This government was founded on the
/ principle that people have the right "a
| govern themselves, and this war was en-
4 tered upon on that same principle. Ii was
not for conquest, but to enable a people
TO say how they should oe governed. that
| this conflict was precipitated II is q
most exceptional war in this respect.
Now we should keep faith with on!
traditions and with our declared intent
IN this matter. and move forward for the
| purpose OF extending republican PRINCIPLES
| to the entire globe and allowing them Il
| be applied to all lands Just as fast as tht
! people OF these lands can apply them. T,
| accomplish inis. ty-rannical rule must p.
| done away with ana despotism must end
| This cannot be done all at once. 1t mus
and will come very slowly through TIL
workings OF the evolution Of civilization
| that are now going on.
we are now in a position TO give a,
impetus TO the movement that will hastel
the desired end. With the Philippines
as with Cuba, Porto Rico and all othe
Spanish territory we may ACQUIRE. tn
effect should be to train and educate tn
people 10 govern themselves and w
should protect them while they are fttin.
| themselves for the duties of free men
All captured islands should be Unite,
States territory, under United States con
/ troll and protection, while the people a
fast as they are able. are given the ris-h
10 make and enforce laws. under all re
! straint made necessary by their inca
pacity, with the ultimate object Of max
ing them absolutely seIf-governing.
THE idea should not be one of colo
] hETr he Grra ,- H.
principles of self-government until the,
shall rule all the peoples of the globe
This operation will of necessity be Yer,
slow. but We have declared the principl
and should practice according to it
We should keep the Philippines Island
for ccaling station and base of supple
in the East until the war is over" sal,
John c. Ropes lawyer and miIitar,
writer, 'and when it comes TO concludinl
peace dispose OF them as we think best
/ do not think We want TO keep them a
the inhabitants are not up To the de
mands of seif-gOvernment. They posi-
bly, might be returned to Spain in con
sideration of concessions in the West In
dies"
''our immediate use of the Philippine
IS clear" Francis H Peabody. o
Kidder. Peabody & Co. said. THE!
should be held 20 assist the United State
Spains tobacco trade. which is made
direct source OF governmental revenue
My opinion now is that we should ulti
mately dispose OF our rights in the iSiand
for coaling and commercial privileges i;
some more desirable and advauta geOu.
locality"
1.-The magnificent work of our fleet un
der Commodore Dewey at Manila. sal,
Clarence Cary. brings upon US a neces
sary incident. highly complicated Sc
of questions which, arising with the pos
sible acquisition of the Philippines. mus