The San Francisco call., 1899-12-27
OUR MISSIONARY DUTY.

y ) this is season OF determination added IN
| \ terest attaches 10 some recent publications IN
tended to prove the uncivilized condition and
unftness Tor seli-government on the Spanish islands
which are under control OF the United States 1t
has been proved beyond dispute that in Cuba and
Porto Rico the people are fond OF cock-hghtng and
games OF hazard. A lady has recently published that
in the Christmas holidays while the people OF the
Philippines go church and perform their religious
duties very scrupulousy, they show their lack OF
civilization and unftness for independence by cock
fighting and playing games OF chance These are re-
garded as deporable conditions, which prove these
island people TO be but little above the heather in his
blindness. Such levity OF conduct during the great
Christian festival is stcny reprehended by the United
States authorities, and is pointed by imperial
lists evidence that the people who practice these
things must undergo generations OF education in
ways before they can be held fit to receive even
modified and limited self-government. This holds out
dreary prospect and long sustained effort for this
country. Nothing is harder to eradicate from race
than the style OF amusements which has grown TO
be part OF its life. 1t is appalling that levity should
occupy the minds of those people at this OF
serious and sober contemplation and cleansing intro
spection To the imperalist mind the long and hard
task before us, which is to end only when light
mindedness is eXtrpated, has its compensation in the
money we expect to make out OF them while
are leading them to higher and better things 1t
is repeated with the persistence OF refrain to song
the fugue in an old tune that we are entering upon
the romantic OF our commerce, and that the ro-
will TAIL if refuse make the best use Of
opportunity 5 the masters OF several millions OF
people in the tropics who possess the one virtue OF
willingness TO work for low wages and live cheaply
But above this dream OF commercial gains, going
hand in hand with moral reform, rises the serious
adj ~ NOR Ctric+ ~
fighting and gambling by these people because our
control OF them IS not yet complete This is why we
beat our breasts and cry "Culpa meal
No one has the might, and therefore none the right
to inquire how the mentors, spend the same sea-
son. A glance at the columns of the papers on
Tuesday morning in which the events OF Christmas
day chroncled, show twenty crimes of a serious
nature committed in the United States on Christmas
ten OF them being murders There were eight great
games OF football played, mostly between collegiate
and academic teams, witnessed by several hundred
thousands OF excited people and producing long list
OF casualties the players. The horserace courses
were open wherever the weather permitted and tens
OF thousands attended the races and bet on them hun
dreds OF thousands OF dollars There were score OF
minor przeights and boxing matches on all of which
money was staked. Locally there were added to the
Inst suicides. long list of drunken accidents and
number OF wife beatngs. The returns, local and
general, not all in. and doubt the list will be
considerably swollen 1t is pleasure to know how
ever, that not a cockfght game OF cards for
money is in the list Therefore capacity for self
government is established, and we have not those
sinful habits that among nsuar subjects tarnish
the Christmas season. We should therefore proceed
by force OF arms, il necessary, in the great
work OF reform set for us by Providence and des-
tiny AS it is fate avoid it if we would and
to try would probably bring upon us a wrathiul
judgment II it take every available soldier the coun-
try spare from the plane and the plow it is to be
hoped that we will earn the favors of Providence by
such training OF subjects that next Christmas not
a fghting-cock will slit his brothers throat nor
game OF hazard be played in all insular mission
ary field. Then indeed may enter upon a more
pious and elf-satisied enjoyment OF our own Christ
mas przehghts. horse races, football baseball golf
tennis chess and whist matches TO saynothng othose
who find satisfaction in fighting, shooting wife
beating boozng and other like pleasures OF the day
H. meantime regular investment OF several hun
dred thousand dollars in lottery tickets in defiance OF
our own laws shall have produced good crop OF
cash prizes the enjoyment OF the day to the winners
will be greatly heightened
OF all high national duties none is more exalted
than being our brothers keeper. To the people of
the United States it is novel Office but we intend 10
unfnchngly fulfill all OF its responsibilities as long
From many ancient river
And many a palmy plain
They call us 10 deliver
Their land from errors chain"