The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-09-01
r. D. LANDER. Editor.
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE PHILIP

lanthropists and light. headed hui
manitarians who undertake to justify
the course of the administration In
forcing government upon the Fill
pinos OH the ground that the ma
tives" are incapable of self-govern-
ment; that II we left them to them
selves they would soon be at each
others throats and become the vic
Tins both of their own barbarity and
of foreign greed. And 1t Is further
insisted that the present resistance
to American authority Is confined to
a small, ambitious minority, and
finds no support among the great
mass of the people.
There is failing common among
all men of whatever cline or race to
think his neighbor incompetent to
attend to his own business, and
disposition to undertake to manage
it for him; and this meddlesome
disposition is justified by all sorts
or good principles.
This worst of all human traits is,
and has been, the curse of the world.
It divides the house against itself.
1t produces strife among neighbors.
1t makes war among states.
1t has drenched the earth with blood.
1t has draped the world in mourning.
1t has robbed nations Of peace.
1t has driven happiness from homes.
1t has robbed man of freedom. And
yet the perpetrators of this evil have
justified themselves in the name of
humanity-the affairs of their neigh
bors must be managed for them to
save them from themselves.
And this is the plea of the support
ers of the present policy of the Adj
ministration. The Fiqipinos cannot
manage their own affairs, and we
would be derelict to our moral obli-
cations now to abandon them to the
cruel mercies of their own babarity.
1t must be admitted that there is
much conflicting testimony with re-
spect to the character and capacity
of the Philippine people. There is
probably exaggeratiOn on both sides.
But one prominent fact stands out in
favor of these people, and that is,
they are willing to fight for freedom,
yea, more, they are willing to die for
liberty. But a still stronger fact is
that they organized rebellion
against Spanish tyranny and main
,tained it successfully for more than
a year against Spain's splendid army
of $4,000 regulars, and at the time we
took up arms against Spain had well
nigh achieved their independence.
They had forced Spain to concessions
and when Spain forgot her promises
they again took up arms. And these
rebellions were supported by the
people, otherwise they woald have
tbeen ignoble failures.
And for seven months, or more,
Aguinaldo has maintained his gov
eminent and held his own even
against the United States.
His government and his army has
won the respect and admiration even
of his enemies. 1t goes without say
ing that such success could not have
been achieved without the support
of the people, and such people de.
serve the freedom for which they
fight.
Perhaps the most reliable testi.
mony as to the character and capac'
ity of Aguinaldo and the Filipino:
is that of Hon. John Barrett, late
United States minister to Spain
While Mr.. Barrett is in favor of pros
ecuting the war vigorously to an end
he is still fair enough to tell the
truth as it has come under his per.
sonal observation. In an article in
the Review of Reviews for July, he
says:
"The government which was organ
lieu Dy ARulnaluO AT CaVlte ana con
tinued first at Bakor and later at Ma
lolos, developed into a much more elab
crate affair than it's most ardent sup
pOrters had originally expected. BY
the middle of October, 1898, he had as
sembled at Malolos a congress of Ion
men who would compare in behavior
manner, dress and education with the
average men of the better classes Of
other Asiatic natives, possibly includ
ing the Japanese. These men, whose
sessions repeatedly attended, conduc
ted themselves with great decorum and
showed a knowledge OF debate and par
liamentary law that would not com
pare unfsvorably with the Japanes,
Parliament. The executive portion o.
the government was made up of min
istry of bright men who seemed to un
derstaDd their respective positions
Each general division was subdivideC
with reference to practical work
There was large force of under-secre
taries and clerks, who appeared TO b,
kept very busy with routine labor.
"The army, however, OF Aguinaldo