The Atlanta constitution., 1898-10-10
GA Solemn Question: y

"a Solemn Question"
Editor Godkn, of The New York
Evening Post, has made a very serious
effort to answer the question, what
are we going to do with the Philip
| pines?" This effort is not serious only;
| it is severe Perhaps the severity arises
from the fact that various inqulrers,
| somo seeking for information ana
others trying to lay the basis OF a po-
litical dispute, have been going about
with their heads up putting this queS-
ton to their friends and neighbors, and
to all editors within reach.
Anyhow Editor Godkin says that we
have no more right to the islands than
we have to Ireland-his native land.
However, as We have possession of Ma
Mia, we should do what we can TO make
Spain give the Philippines a better gov
ernmont or hand them over to their
lawful owners, the inhabitants. If they
do not succeed it IS none of our affair.
This is the serious conclusion of Editor
Godkin
Without running atilt against it, we
may re permitted to examine it some
what closely. 1t will be observed that,
although Editor GOdkin describes the
inhabitants as the lawful owners" OF
the islands. his first solution of the
problem would be to permit Spain to
reoccupy them, presumably under Amer
lean auspices. We say presumably, be-
cause there is no other way. The reyo-
luton has spread to all the inn
oortant islands of the group
and only by the aid Of American
troops and American warships could
a ,y.I ,,,,I,r hI,, of %
tremendous sacrifice Of life. Anyhow,
we should rcinstaye Spain in control
and then "sit down beside her" follow
ing the example Of little Miss Muffet $
big spider.
This done, if Spain fails to give the
natives good government we should
turn the islands over to their lawful
owners. and then sail away, metaphoric-
ally kicking up our heels over an act Of
| boncvolenco beautifully performed.
Thus far Editor GOdkin leads us, and
then susrecting perhaps that there is a
screw loose in this scheme he turns
upon seekers after information and hits
them q diff with "Bishop Potter's seri-
ous question" This, to shear 1t Of all
trimmings. is what are the Philippines
going to do with us?' Editor Godkin
tries hard to deprive this Solemn ques-
ton of its side-splitting humOr by eN-
planning what he thinks it IS. Thus,
"0ur politicians being what they are,
and our public being what it is, what
will be the effect on Our government
and pubic morals or tnP possession "I
distant province o'c"pi'" pE q" d,-'-.'
race, WhSh JHe eI'S9 "H"IH We 9S"U Z"
fu!e IL come nom" "H" Pl@No.,V J'.''
newly acquired aIlS among u' mos
W" see the solemn question I'u"''u 20
an aDSU'dIty mercy oy 'he luI0I P'0,1''o 'o''
OF man VINO SoIenihIy oeiIeNN' IN"C IL
IS solemn.
without ddVo'"llhS Lhe Te'@NIIoo ~
the Philippines, or taNnS any .H!>'
est IN the question as purely PoIIl''''l
one, It IS TeaaohaDie 10 Inq"he no" "|l
public morals can ne aHetIe4 ny ,"e
possession OF Jh3 'hidh'S' we S'l"O'
from Edltof GodNlh SuS9e5 IONS I'll"
our po'i'IC''H9 anu ""l P"|' |
ready as bao as 'Aey can ""' .p"'
think he IS altogether mistaken On .""'
head. OUr poHtlcS ana our po'l'l'''"'
are as honest ana as feSpectaoIe as tHeS
ever were. Inc very faCJ thaJ we a'H
able TO single out such men as liam"
and Quay ana Fiall ana PoIHe 10 C"'LI
corruptions is an evidence that 5hp9o
men are exceptions TO the genera "a rue
The trouble with Edltor Uoohln ana
his band OF refcrmerS IS tnal tney J"@Se
America and Americans by What lney
see in the large centors, such as ne"
York, Chicago and Philadelphia; but
these centers are not typical or Aherl-
can politics and morals III any sense
But even if thieves ana cOffupJoH-SlS
are on top IN those cue" II II oeciu"e
the So-cailed reloftners VINO "pP'9e tlo'H
are without heart or conscience IheE
are Pharsees Of the ancient type VINO
neither mingle with the people nor sym
pathiZe with them. Their schemes OF
reform are as cOld-bloOded as possible
They have a lively scorn for the great
mass of voters who carry elections, and
consequently they would rather go to
the stake as martyrs than TO study the