The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-11

less In Cuba? Who criticises the dis
position Of Porto Rico? Where could
we have halted In the Philippines?
AS we have gone on conclusions have
come, doubts have disappeared, results
have vindlcated and discussion has ad-
ranced new questions. A year ago
we were discussing war, and events
brought an undivided front. Nine
months ago, SO swift and unerring were
the blows. we were discussing the ces-
sation OF hostillties. ana the protocol
as 1t came from the hands Of the Pres
ldent, was recognized as skillfully set
Ting the provisional terms and presery-
Ing the safeguards and possibilities. Six
months ago we were discussing the
linal conditions Of peace, and the nego-
tlations OF Paris. strenuous resolute and
masterful. ended In the only agreement
Whlch meant real peace. Three months
ago we were discussing the treaty. and
not only did Its ratification remove 1t
from the arena Of contention, but it is
now accepted as wise, statesmanllke
and altogether flawless. Then we were
DEBATING whether we should take the
philippines. and 1t came to be clear
mat there was no other course-no Joint
or divided sovereignty, no turning back
10 Spain, no leaving as a derelict on
the ocean currents, no independence
which means anarchy, no handing over
TO any other power. II there were
doubts. they have vanished, and to-day
the question Is not whether we should
have taken the Philippines, for no man
now ventures to dispute 1t, but what
shall We do with them?
That question the American people
Will answer. and 1t may we'll be that as
the discussion goes on. and events move
forward the doubts and uncertainties
Will clear up. as they have cleared up
in every preceding chapter of the adj
Vahcfng story. The people will an
swer. and they will answer with full
regard to the rights and welfare Of the
tilipinos. They will answer also with
4 full sense Of their own duty and obii-
cations. And they will answer With
out branding themselves as incapable
OF playing their appropriate part In
the worlds broad arena, and as unequal
10 the demands Of progress and clvili-
cation. They do not share the I'M
worthy sentiment that an Individual
or q nation has the right to run away
from a perpleHlng or burdensome
duty by proclaiming that 1t hasn't
character or ability enough to per-
form 1t.
Nor are they deceived by any hollow
fiction or any irrelevant maxim. They
are not foolish enough to suppose that
a single day has either lifted the VIC
tins of four hundred years of oppres-
sion and barbarlsm Into Washlngtons
and Bolivars or degraded the descend
ants Of the real Washington and his
compeers into reproductions Of George
the Third and Lord North. They un-
derstand that the principles Of he Dec
laration Of Independence are abstract
truths. and that there are also practical
fruits to be reached by practical means.
They did not ask the consent OF the
Cubnns to save them from starvation,
but they will put the Cubans in the
way Of having government based on
their consent. They do not ask the
consent Of the FilIpinos to save them
from chaos, but they will teach and
guide and raise the FYlipinos to point
where they will consent to their own
best interests, and where they will have
the largest measure of self government
for which they shall show themselves
qualified. -
1t Is not strange that n people shut
up for centuries in the darkness Of tyr
amy and Ignorance should falter dazed
and uncertain when they suddenly stcp
out Into the fullness Of light and lib
erty. 1t Is not strange that they
should be misled and misguided for the
hour and seek to smile the hand TINT
rcscucs them. This Is an old experience,
and 1t makes an unpleasant necessity.
There must be peace before there can
be re-buildinE. But in the name of
my countrvmcn, l repe! the Calumny
that American rule and American pur-
pose are aggressive or scheminE or
des3otlc. We went to the Philippines
under the necessity OF war. but We stay
because we are responsible to mankind
Tor peace and order ard security. We
have taken the foundllng OF nations on
our doorstep. and we cannot heart
lessly thrust It away. There may be
need of heroic treatment, but better n
little heroic treatment at the outset
than anarchy and self-Gestriction. We
are there with healing and blessing.
We are there With the Bible and civlli-
Zation. We are there with the prom
Use or peace and progress, of trade and
commerce, Of enlightenment and pros
perlty, and does any man doubt that
American Influence will be beneficial
md olevnting?
The President holds these Islands In
trust for the American people until
they can determine the future. He will
give them good government. He has
sent, and will serd. the best men, and
there are Americans as capable of gov
erning n distant and oriental people az
the English or the Dutch. He will IN
splre confidence and encourage tho de-
Telopment OF their resources. He Will
not mold them as gDoils. Nor Is there
anything In the Imaginary difficulties
OF the DIRECTORS. For the expense,
swollen In the eye OF fancy to hundreds
OF millions, for the figures thus make
1t reasonably Clear that the revenues
OF all the Islands, cast and west, ad-
ju8ied and administered for their own
Welfare. and not FOR any exploitation,
VIII fairly pay the COS; or their govern-
mentH. Not the army, pictured at hun
dreds of thousands, for 1t has beer
liked Mt the standard of peace. and It
Is enough. Not the navy, Tor no greater
navy will be required thnn would be
needed In any event to protect our OK.
pandlng commercial interests. Not
any dangerous complications, for our
rights are respected by the world, and
we shall not invade the rights of
others.
For one, am content to no 10 Tho
progressive md patriotic AmcrIcan poo.