The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-04
INCAPACITY FOR sELF-GOvERy-
MEcVT

ME:NT.
Many Democrats, who realize that Ii
Is an impossibility to stem the tide of
popular demand for a retention OK cur
hold upon the territory we have seized
In the prosecution Of war. seek safety
ground in a specious plea They de-
clare II inconsistent with our national
policy TO coerce any people against their
will, and urge that the Cubans. the
Porto Ricans and the F'ilipinos shall
first be accorded the opportunity to gov
ern themselves
In this they deceive themselves and
are utterly blind to all the warnings Of
our own experience and that OF other
civilized powers 1t is illogical to cast
an irresponsible people upon their own
resources. and, after failure. assume
the task in addition TO all the burdens
which their experience will inevitably
bring upon them. The logical policy
would be to assume the care Of those
people. educate them to self-govern-
ment. and then, il they desire it. turn
them adrift
Our own course In the past has been
to buy or acquire territory without ask
ing the residents upon it to declare their
wish to be annexed. Only in the case
Of Texas has there been any pretense
of consulting the people. There was q
strong sentiment in favor Of American
rule in Oregon territory, but there was,
on the other hand, a very decided OPP
position to 1t on the part Of many. We
did not consult the Indians OF the plains
when we imposed upon them. in the ex-
pansion of our domain. the government
Of the United States. nor did We take
vote of the Spaniards Of New Mexico
nor the French of Louisiana. We have
had no expression on the part OF the
natives of Hawaii in favor Of annexa-
ton.
There is no difference Of principle in
the case of the Philippines. OF even Of
Cuba There is a geographical differ
ence, since they form no part Of the
mainland. and political difference,
since they are separated from us by
varying distances; but so far as the
consent of the people is concerned the
question is the same.
Against the notion OF according them
government without control, we do
not have to rely upon theory. We know
by the experience Of every South Amer
lean republic. Of Hayti. of Hawaii,
within our own sphere of activity; and
by that of Turkey, India. Tunis. Al
geria. Egypt and Samoa, under foreign
control, that none of the races which
people those places are capable of self
government upon advancing lines
South America has produced many
brave and capable generals, but with
the exception of President Diaz. of Mex
leo, not one man capable of broad
craftsmanship England has encour-
aged native civil officers in India and
Egypt. but not one man has been pro-
siuced in 2oa years to equal the states
men Of Europe.
Turkey is the best example. Her rul-
ers have mixed with the leading men
of Europe: the empire is a part of the
continent. but II has not even produced
a Stamhuioff. TO say nothing of
Melikoff. Cavour. a Chatham, Bis
nlarck. a Gladstone or a Metternich.
No Oriental country has ever con-
tributed a great. enlightened leader in
modern times. No race except those Of
Northern Europe and their offspring
has mastered the art Of seif-govern-
ment, They have evolved dictators.
submitted IN more or less capable des-
pots. bat they have not manifested
capacity to establish for themselves a
government OF themselves.