The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-09-29
TO HIS STUDENTS
President Schuruan Talks on Re.
lations of This Country to
the Philippines
Some Usually Expressed Views
Too BarbarOus to Be Taken
Seriously.
We Simply Possess q Right to
Help the Inhabitants Govern
Themselves


BILE length on the subject of national
expansion. Mr.. Schurman was presi-
dent Of the commission sent to the Phil
ippine islands to investigate the subject
of the civil government of the archi-
pelago. At the outset, MI. Schurman
referred to his address of last year,
when he answered negatively the in.
quiry ''Shall we take the Philippine
islands from SpainY' His opinions, he
said, brought upon him no little cou.
demnation, but the rapid march of
events rendered it unnecessary to con.
slider whether these opinions were sound
or not. The treaty-making power Of
the United States, backed, he admitted,
by an overwhelming public opinion, ir-
respective of party, took the Philippine
islands from Spain. Some people were
still discussing the theoretic expediency
Of expansion. This had not been an
open question since last winter. The
only question today open was this:
The United States having taken the
Philippine islands from Spain, what
shall be done with them9" This grave
issue must be decided by the president
and congress. With them he thought
it could be left in the confident expecta.
ton that q wise solution would be
reached. He invited attention to some
observations on the general subject Of
national expansion.
Too Barbarous to Re s~srious.
There r those who speak 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.
dle-headedness. The terms ''owner
ship" and possession" were a barbar.
Gus survival when applied to any rela.
ton between n people and another.
The sovereign power owned nothing,
but there was something it owed. 1t
was charged with the responsibility of
government. Our relations with the
Philippines would be misrepresented SC
long as we retained that fatal confusion
of government and property. Continu.
ing, Mr.. Schurman said:
1--WE simply possess, in virtue of the
treaty of Paris, the right to govern O,
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 establishment of peace
and order"
A Question Of Mon.
81 was often asked in the Philippines
If u civil service was better than tha,
of Spain. Here is a point where the
Filipinos suspect and fear US. We must
allay their anxiety and suspicion by y
splendid Philippine civil service. ]
believe we will. It is absolutely neces-
sary. But there will be no harder task
In connection with our government OF
the archipelago. / repeat, however. that
the success OF u administration in the
Philippines will depend upon the men
we send out to conduct 1t much more
than upon acts Of congress or any othe,
circumstances"
In conclusion, Mr.. Schurman said
"What is the end of colonization,
Why should we extend our sovereignty
over remote countries and alien peo.
pies? l answer that the only justifable
object Of such expansion is the estab.
lishment of good government in the
territory annexed, the elevation Of it.
people in civilization, and the training
OF them in progressive self-government
with a view to ultimate independence,
whether by partnership in, or D
ton from, the sovereign state. AS the
end for the moral being Is perfection.
and the end for the economic society
is wealth, 80 the end for the political
community Is independence. In the
Divine education of the race. no people
can be permanently kept in 4 state of
subsection to or even dependence upon
another people. OF all colonizing ma.
lions, England is the only one which
has realized this great principle, and il
tool q successful rebellion in her frst
empire to impress the truth even upon
England.
Our Mission 10 Educational.
I'm the Philippine islands orr own
mission Is to educate and elevate the
Fifpinos and aid them in governing
themselves. W. shall not adopt the
policy Of s~cuttle, nor, although Ameri.
can sovereignty must be established
even by force, shall we ever dream Of
the policy Of determination. Not op-
preston, nor yet abandonment and de-
sertion; not these, but honest and fra
ternai cooperation with the Fiiipinos
TOR the esta blishment of q lust and
stable government of the natives ehall
have ever-increasing participation In
proportion to tho development Il their
political cities, the growth Of their
political experience, the progress Of
masses in education and civilization
and the evolution Of the idea and senti.
ment Of nationality, q sentiment and
idea which will be nourished and de-
veloped by the habit Of common 20