The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-28

like India. The population of the Uni
ted States was homogeneous, that of
India indescribably heterogeneous. The
Americans ruled themselves, whether
in New York or Oregon. The alien and
multitudinous races of India could be
held together only by a strong foreign
hand. America had grown from within
OutWardS, England had enlarged her
self by accretiOn. Our assumption of
sovereignty over the Philippine islands
was altogether unlike the previous
phases of our national expansion He
pointed out that whereas in the deVel-
ment of the United States from Allan
tic to Pacific practically uninhabited
territories were found the Philippine is
lands were already well peopled with
MalayanS who had long made it their
home, who resented the intrusion of
other races and to whom the physical
environment was far better adapted
than it was to white men.
There are those who spoke of the
Philippine islands as our possessions
and calmly conclude we may do what
we like with them. This was too bar
barOuS to be taken seriously, it was not
callousness of heart, it was only mud
die headedneSs. The terms owner
ship and possession" were a barbar-
Gus survival when applied to any rela-
ton between one people and another.
The sovereign power owned nothing
but there was something it owed. It
was charged with the responsibility of
government. Our relations with the
9nlUppln6S WOulQ De IllSTepT6S6nISQ 50
long as we retained that fatal confus-
ion of government and property.
Continuing Mr.. Schurman said:
I'VE simply possess by virtue of the
treaty of Paris, the right to govern, or
aid in governing the people of the Phil
ippine islands. Unhappily we have not
yet got beyond the first function of
government-the suppression of insur-
rection and the esta bIishment of peace
and order''
There was, said President Schurman,
no instance in history of the successful
government of a colony where profit to
the parent state, or it's citizens, had
been a leading consideration. On the
other hand there were many examples
of disasters and rebellions from such
unworthy greed and exploitation.
Let a nation" he said, seek to en-
rich itself, or its citizens at the expense
of it's colonists and it impoverishes all.
But let a nation in all its dealings with
it's colonies take as its sole criterion of
Judgment and standard of conduct the
welfare of the colOnists, and it will re-
suit as history everywhere demon
strates, that the enriched dependencies
become the most profitable traders with
the ruling country"
President Schurman said that the
initiative and the directing power be-
be exercised by her representatives. A
few will suffice. OF course there must
be one responsible head. But with an
organizing genius at the helm it was
simply astonishing how much could be
got out of the natives. Continuing he
said:
Il was often asked in the Philippines
if our civil service was better than that
of Spain. Here is a point where the
F'ilipinos suspect and fear us We must
allay their anxiety and suspicion by
splendid Philippine civil service I be-
lieve we shall It is absolutely neces-
sary. But there will be no harder task
in connection with our government of
the archipelago. L repeat, however that
the success of our administration in the
Philippines will depend upon the man
we send out to conduct it, much more
than upon any acts of congress- or any
other circumstance
In conclusion Mr.. Schurman said:
What is the end of colonization?
Why should we extend our sovereignty
over remote countries and alien peo-