The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-24
HnSaii-NGyv More.

II is too late now to talk about hold
ing this country TO the narrow policy
under which it enjoyed degree of ex-
emption from foreign complications at
the sacrifice of large commercial adj
vantages. When the Hawaiian flag
was lowered and the Stars and Stripes
raised at Honolulu on the 18th of Au-
GUSTAV account of which was pub
Ished yesterGay-the nation entered
on a policy OF colonial administration.
No matter what form of government
may be devised by the commissioners
who have gone TO Hawaii. the fact re-
mains that we undertake to d.rect the
affairs of a people thousands of milss
away from our coast This and the in
eYitabIe annexat ton OF Porto Rico far
Iy commit US to an abandonms Mt Of
the attitude we assumed when cur peo-
pie numbered only few millions, with
limited resources and still dependent
in many ways on Europe.
Even if the difficulties of colonial
government were as many and as
large as the enemies of expansion az
firm, it is undeniable that the people
who are most directly interested must
fare a great deal better under Amer
can than any other rule. We ara not
bound by any written or implied laws
TO refrain from the use of such a
measure of force as may be necessary
to maintain our sovereignty and pro-
tect the great body of law-ab.ding peo-
pie of the islands under our authority.
In our own country we do not permit
insurgents to trampIe on the laws with
impunity. We have employed the reg
ular army on occasions to subdue riot
ers. In the case of the colonies, there
are no State boundaries and reserved
sovereignty to stay the hand of the
Federal administration in event of
armed resistance to the laws. The
only difference between the rule of a
European monarchy, say in the Pnilip-
pines. and the American Government
is that the latter would have in view
the principles that are the basis of the
republic.
There is every reason to think the
solve will be fewer and less serious
than those of a notably oppressive, in
human and eternalIy unjust monarchy
such as Spain The creditable thing in
the history of Aguinaldo and his fol-
lowers is that they revolted against
the tyranny of the Spaniards. If they
are essentially lawlesS, if their aims
are brigand and their means barba-
rous, il is to be considered that they
are the product of centuries of Span
ish nnisrule. Naturally they are not
more intractable than the am able, in
| dolent natives of Hawaii; but they
have been made savage, distrustful
and treacherous by the conditions of
| their lives.
That they will not, after their recent
! experience, readily turn to pastoral
pursuits with the virtues of the thrifty
| Teutons, for example, is matter of
| course; but they constitute an element
in the Philippines that could be ussd
| to advantage as a military force under
| American officers of firmness and dis
| erection. The masses of the people are
| not aggressive, and, subject to a de-
| gree of Incidence that must be expect
| ed in their climate, they will make as
| valuable a class of laborers as the un-
| skilled workmen of our cities. 1t is
the easiest of all things to foresee trou-
! bles from any course. The world suf-