Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-09
BIG PROBLEM FOR AMERICA.
Poultney Bigelow Tells Geographers
of Difficulties in philippines.

Blu PNO6LEm tON AMENlCA.
Poultney Bigelow Tells Geographers
of Difficulties in Philippines.
Berlin, Oct. Sat recent SEES
sion of the international geographical
congress and in the presence of a dis
ItinguEhed audience, including many
colonial and other government officials,
Poultney Bigelow discussed Colonial
Administration in Different Parts of the
World" The paper was received with
much favor.
MIR. Rigelow said it had taken CEN
turtles of business and bloodshed to
reach the state of comparative civili-
cation now enjoyed by the world. We
We're just beginning to realize that
what Interested one Interested all, and
THAT in colonial matters the most impor-
tant condition today was unity among
the whites, whether English, Russian,
French or German. Mr.. Rigelow con-
tinued
in the far east the United states has
now become rival Of Europe through
the occupation of Manila. Americans
thus become next door neighbors to
Hong Kong and are almost equally in
terested in the projected railway ter
minating at Kiao-Chou. In common
with Germany however. the United
States has experience yet to purchase.
and from observations made during the
war / fear my country is learning her
lesson at an extravagant price.
THE United States has officially com-
menced the government of tropical
lempire under conditions which make it
probable that the Americans Will re-
peat the bunders which the English
linen Corrected d century ago. Much as
i the Filipinos disliked Spanish rule. they
dislike Yankee rule even more. Nor Is
Al this to be wondered at. Methods sue
cessful against American Indians and
lagainst negroes are not found success
Ifui in the Philippines, nor do they at
tract a high-spiritesl race such as in-
habits the Philippines.
The curse of America today is that
liner politicians and newspapers stand in
fear of the mob. Any one who dares to
criticise the wisdom of mob inspired
! machinery is howled at as unpatriotic
If not as a traitor. The war fever has
gone to the brain of the American mob.
especially that section of the mob
which did not go to the war. Conse-
& lquently the colonial operations of the
Z United States are marked by great
haste in preparation. by frequent
. changes of plan, by reckless expend-
ture of life and money and by Ia
mentable failure TO fulfill the reason
liable anticipations of the merchant
class. who are after ALL the best judges
lof colonial administration.
.'The American has been magniii-
cent colonist in so far as his task has
,, CONSISTED in hunting out the red In
dian and administering territory foi
the white man only; but he has not YET
succeeded in more than discriminating
/, IAN Inferior race The enormous liberty
he claims for himself becomes ridicu-
lous when shared with the red man, tbs
NEGRO or the Chnaman.
England has purchased great eN
perience in India. and even with all th'
lcost Of the Sepoy mutiny we can hard
$ lily think the price too high for the vas
g benefits which have flowed from thi;
terrible lesson. America has this sam
7 lesson to learn and let us pray tina
i she may learn it from the mother coun
try rather than rush blindly into sit
|, Euations from which only a costly wa
can extricate her
$ English public opinion is today edu
Ecated in respect of colonial needs jus
: as in Germany public opinion is edu
cated to an almost incredible degree |
military matters. But the ayerag
!. American Voter. as represented by tn
9 undisciplined press and irresponsible
congressman. offers no solution in tn
q present colonial embarrassment. saw
;, to send more troops and to shoot NOR
natives.
THE Beers in their struggle to main
tain their republic have the sympath,
of all the American people except thos
Who hava abandoned the doctrine tina
= governments derive their just power
: from the consent of the governed.
! The lesson we Americans are nos
= learning is a lesson for the whole worle
Colonies succeed in proportion as the
are justly administered There is Il
man so low in the human scale that h
can be treated unjustly With impunitA
The best talent produced by the whit
mans civilization is none too goo
when it comes to governing commun
3 ties of subtle orientais, with varyn
% creeds and complex conditions. W
Il used 10 think that any teacher Wa
good enough for The elementar
schools. but now we realize that tt
, best is none too good for the beginne
3 1t is, indeed. at the beginning that tt
= best work must be done; and coionie
49,, - =