The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-18
IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE.


| position is in respect to the Philippine Is
lands. He makes it clear in the speech he
delivered at the banquet of
the Home Market Club in
Boston on Thursday night He
| says that the future Of the Fnipinos is in
the hands Of the American people. 1t Is
for them to say, through their representa-
tives in Congress, what course they want
| pursued in regard 10 those far-distant is
lands. He feels that he did his duty in
wrestling the islands from Spain. and that
he is still doing il in trying to possess and
hold them. Unless Congress decides other
wise he will continue to hold them-at
least with the forces at his command, he
win do the best he can to hold them
His argument in defense of what he has
done appears to be a strong one. Having
destroyed Spanish authority in the islands
he could not withdraw from them leaving
them to the horrors of civil war or a prey
Of the greed Of European nations. Neither
does he think the American people would
have approved turning them back to Spain.
His duty being to hold the Islands until
Congress has indicated its purpose in re-
spect to them he has been compelled to
use force to do so. He has not been in
position TO offer any terms to the Filiplnos
for two reasons. One is that Congress has
not stated what sort of a government it
proposes the Filipinos shall have, and. sec
ond, the Filipinos have made it impossible
by their hostility to the American govern
ment TO make suggestions to them rela-
tive to their future government Until they
acknowledge American authority they can
not with any prospect of success, be APP
preached with propositions for their bene-
fit because with the sentiments which they
now entertain they are unable to give any
proposition coming from Americans the
consideration which their best interests
demand.
Everything points TO the Philippines be-
coming a great political issue. 1t is evil
dent that this Congress is not going to de-
eide upon the course the government is to
pursue in respect to the islands. If there
should not be an extra session the islands
viii continue to be held by military au-
thority for at least year, because the
Der, and it is pretty certain that policy
for the government of the islands could
not be decided upon in less than three
months. By that time we shall be at the
beginning of another presidential cam
paign Whether therefore the next Con-
gress decides upon policy
or not for the Philippines
thu pbiFinpfna o,,oe.;or lin e.
the present outlook, occupy a prominent
place in the next national campaign
And 1t is a question that is likely to
change party lines to a very marked ex-
tent. There are those who want the is
lands held as possessions. and there are
others who favor giving the Filipnos in
dependence at the earliest possible mo-
ment The President talks as if it was
only question of time when the Filipinos
would be given their independence. but he
gives no hint as TO when he thinks they
win be ready for independence. He may
think them capable of sef-government
now, or he may believe they will have to
be subjected to American influences for a
century before they will be prepared for 1t.
III NAAo PpAhN tiiItt Is certain TO develop
a wide difference of opinion. In whatever
shape the Philippine question presents it,
self it is certain to be troublesome one
in our politics for many years
1t seems to us that long step towards
the settlement of it would be taken if Con-
gress were TO adopt at once a resolution.
to be signed by the President, to the effect
that it is our purpose to give the Filipinos
an independent government within the
next ten years, and that in the meantime
every effort wiz be made to prepare them
Tor maintaining a government of their
own. That might be so satisfactory to them
that they would cease their opposition to
our government, and would set about pre-
pairing themselves for the proposed change
in their political condition.