The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-14

~, H.
Schurman returned today 20 his offsce in
Cornell university. He gave out the fes-
lowing statement to the Associated Press
On Philippine xfYairs:
IA 10 very important that the public
should know the actual facts OF the situa-
tion- Things are what they are. and the
American paoaic should understand them
First-It requires some effort 10 realize
tho vas;nsss II the archipelago. which ex-
tends In triangular form from FoTmosa 20
Borneo and celeoes through sixteen de-
gress Of latitude. Never going INTO the
Pacific ocean on the east or the China
sea on the vest, made q circuit Of Aes
miles all south Of Manila This gives some
effscsive blockade. a. sse coast Inc u the
islands embraced in the archipelago Is
many more thousands OF miles.
'0econd-The multipifcity and hetsrose-
n<ous nature OF the tribes = something as
tonisninG. Over sixty different Languages
are spoken in the archipelago. and though
the majority Of the tribes are small. there
are half dozen each having over a guar
ter OF million members. The languages
OF these people are as distinct from one
another as French and Spanish or IsaEan,
% that the speech OF any one tribe 10 un-
inteiliglble TO its nsignoors These tribes
are all civilized and Christ.anixed, but
small uncivilized tribes, among whom the
Igorotes seem best known in America. in
habit the mountains In Luzon and fern .
large part OF the population of Mindanac-
In this island also there is large No
hammedan population, which il indepeni-
ent OF the Mohammedans In the neighbour
ing Sulu archipelago.
'Third-lt Is the Tagalos inhabiting
some Of the provinces about Manila who
are resisting the authority of the United
States. Other civilized Fnipinos are nea-
trail. except where they are coerced by
armed bands OF Tagalos, who seized upon
their governments during the making and
ratification OF our treaty Of peace with
Spain II would be Incorrect to assume,
however that these tribes are allies OF
without suspicion Of the white race. OF
which they have had experience only
through Spain. But there are men Of in
when not stirred up by the Tagalos. recog-
nized the advantage TO them Of. American
Sovereignty. and so many remain neutral
"Fourth-The instruction, though seri-'
Gus enough. as experience has proven. Is
not an uprising. Indeed. there - no Phil
!ppine nation. The Inhabitants OF the
archipelago no more constitute nation
than the Inhabitants of the continent Of
"F1fth-The United States having assum-
ed by q treaty Of peace with Spain. SOW
ereignty over the archipelago. became re-
sponsible for the maintenance of peace and
order. the administration OF justice. the Sc
curity OF life and property. among all the
tribes Of the archipelago THIS Is an obli-
cation which intelligent F1lipinos. not less
All. Nor VII the national honor permit
US TO turn back. In taking the Philippine
islands we annexed great responsibility.
The fact that the responsibility Is heavier
than most people supposed II would De
In no excuse for failure To discharge IT,
I repeat that the Philippine question -
essentially a question OF national honor
and obligation.
In reply to a question as to whether any
thing was now left but 20 fight Ii out
President Schurman said:
I'm my opinion much good would be done
by . declaration on the part of the con-
GresS OF q form OF government 10 be ss-
tablished in the Islands, or. better Sill.
let congress establish a government for
the Philippines and have IL put IN force
IN all parts and among all tribes hostile
TO the United States This would serve
several purposes. II would distinguish be-
tween our friends and eur enemies and
serts. Ii would also give to our enemies
demonstration Of free government On INA
American plan. q very important point
claim to be fighting for their liberty. And
I had better call attention 10 the fact that
the government which IL well adapted u
one tribe may need considerable modiaca-
ton to be available for another"
President Schurman eecmed firm in the
conviction that some form of home rule
for ,o each OF the tribes an and undsr The
eminent At Manila was the solution 70
the problem.
4 nave great confidence III the people
OF the Philippine islands" he added ssnd
much sympathy for their aspirations. A
race should be Judged by It's best prod
ucts. and an educated Filipino Of what
ever tribe. and each city has It's edu-
Gated men. will bear comparison with an
educated man of any race. Among the
masses one often finds consciousness %
Ignorance and strong desire for educa-
tion. The archipelago will not be revolli-
ticnized In a generation. as Japan has
been in some respects. but then. Japan
had thousands Of years Of national CIV
ilixation behind her recent tranSforma-
ton. Nevertheless. considering the
marked intellectual capacity ~ the Fill
pfnos and their admirable domestic and
personal virtues. imagination cannot
easily set the limits 10 their progressive
achievements. under the inspiration ~
American civilization. and while Amert-
can society means n blessing To the FIJI
psnos. IL Is beyond all doubt the one
thing which can save the archipelago
from division and appropriation by the
great nations Of Europe The United
States will hold IL together, and with
American democratic IDEAS. train an4s
elevate the people Ia an ever-increasfnx