Washington sentinel., 1898-12-31

| does not interfere with any attempt tc
colonize the Philipplnes-Ius use the worc
colony 70 denote a growth Of our own
| race-but no attempt Of that kind viii
be made; Prof Worcester says 1t has
never been attempted.
The question is, Shall we adopt the
policy Of permanent government OF the
PhiIippi oes, or shall we do for them
what we have done tor Cuba, assist
them to form free and independent
Government" We believe that all
peoples can better govern themselves
than a foreign race can govern them
that attempted government by foreign
race will retard, not help civilization.
Offer the Fiioinos friendly assistance
and no 2s. 900 troops are required The
American will have more power with
5000 than he would have with $4,000,
going there as a conqueror without the
promise OF independence, If he be a
wise adviser he will interfere TO the
least possible extent; he will first see
the native power exhausted before he
interferes. We shall thus permit the
people to grow up to citizenship and
give them a country to 1--we Tor, and IS
necessary as many OF them have shown
themselves ready To do to die for.
Abraham Lincoln said upon MEM
orable occasion that G d never made
one man good enough to own another;
much less, I think, has He made ore
nation good enough to own and rule
another. The Republic gave the slaves
not only freedom, but the suffrage.
There have been differences, friction IN
consequence, outbreaks, but viewing
the measure as a whole, the policy was
wise. These slaves who were as unht
for elfgovernment as the Filipinos, are,
upon the whole, steadily rising IN the
scale, and are becoming better and
better fittel for citizenship. Had we
continued the old system Of governing
the slaves as beings unfit for self gov
ernment. the slaves would have been
today where they were before, not so
law abiding, not so peaceably disposed,
not so intelligent, not so much CIVIL
lied as they are today. So 1t viii be
with the Cuban and the Filipino if we
trust to the germ Of self government
which we hold to be implanted IN the
human breast. This is not imperiali m,
but it is Americanism
The Tim S assumes that we are in
rightul POSSESSION Of the Philippines;
that, having bought them from Spain at
S2.so a head, that ends he matter.
Isitpossible that 5000 600 people can be
thus bought and sold like cattle
and can we expect pc 7pl- who are thus
bought and sold to regard us as other
than their worst enemy2 The FiliDinos
show that they have many elements Of
civilization. First OF all, they have an
independent press, which is often
quoted. Second, they have organized
an army--they fought against Spain
long before Admiral Dewey appeared.
It is a people who have newspapers that
the Times assumes are to be rightlully
transferred to US by mere bargain and
sale.
/ should like 20 ask the Times fit
does not think that the consent Of these
5000 600 should be asked for and OBJ
tanned, and also one other question:
Does the Times see any good reason
why we should deny the people OF the
Philippines what we have given to the
people of Cuba by the promise OF free
and independent government, created
by themselves, with our friendly assist
ance? This promise made, Irest content
that the spirit of independence having
once seized a people will work its way
to fulflIment, with the friendly CO
operation of the Republic, and, thank
the fates, if denied this, then without It,
andinspite even oftyrannous opposition
for
Freedoms battle orCe begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son
Though van pushed Oft Is ever won.
The aspiration Of people for the
God given rightto govern themselves is
rarely quenched.
ANDREw CARNE
New York, Dec. ~, 1898