The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-30
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.
What John Sherman Thinks of thu
VeXed Question.

hate to comment upon our existing
relations with the Filipinos, because nv
ceilings i'll the matter are decidedly
strong and my words are apt to be con-
sidered unfriendly to the administration,
which l do not intend, says John Sher-
man. | am opposed to the idea OF this
country holding the Philippines and
Subjugating the natives. I do not be-
'leve we have any business in the isl
ands. The Filipinos are people supe-
rior to any other Malay race They
have literature and fine arts distinctive
md almost national in character; they
re eminently capable OF governing
themselves land they are splendid fight
FRS. They have been nisrepresented to
he American people. Many OF us have
been led to believe that Aguinaldo's
ollowers were horde OF unorganized
savages. That the contrary is true has
now been established to the satisfaction
Of iair-minded Americans.
While the country was fired with the
expansion idea | was criticised for my
stand against a policy OF conquest in the
Philippines. I was called unpatriotic
because | refused to see the wisdom or
Justice Of taking possession of territory
Which we were not rightfully entitled
Now l believe there has been a revul-
sion OF feeling, and my sentiments, it
seems to me, reflect the more general
view OF the matter. am in receipt OF
a number OF letters from men of high
shading in public life who at first were
disposed to criticise me for my Philip
pine views, and who now cheerfully
acknowledge that through moral con-
viction they are forced to agree with me.
Even the President has not escaped
this reactionary sentiment Although
he was dragged into the business before
he fully comprehended its inevitable and
startling results, believe he is now dis
posed to avoid further bloodshed in the
islands and will readily submit to any
honorable arrangements to the end OF
re-establishing peace. l have no doubt
that the country would be we'll pleased
to be relieved Of its eastern burden.
We have no right to cede the islands
to another power, because they do not
belong to us. I am speaking now OF
Our moral right to do these things. We
have not even the right to claim the
islands by conquest, because we have
not conquered them. We drove the
Spaniards from the Philippines just as
we did from Cuba, and have no more
moral right to claim one. than the other.
And the Filipinos aided US to overthrow
and tumble over Spain's eastern empire.
Dewey can tell you how Aguinaldo's
men fought by the side of ours and
helped us to win our victories
the rightful owners OF the islands. Al
ready we have spent upward Of $780,
900 ,ooo-and for what?
In the first place it would be impos.
sible for lis to govern the Filipinos
according to our standard. They have
their own customs and habits, their dis
tinctive ethical and civil laws, and have
TO sy1nratfies in common with the
AngIo-Saxon. 1t will be impossible for
us to hold these people in subsection
without large armies there, e1ltailing an
enormous expenditure OF money, far in
excess OF any commercial profits we
may hope to derive from possession of
the archipelago. My idea is that we
should withdraw our troops, gradually
Or at once, and turn the islands over
to the natives Instead Of sending SOL
dicrs let us send statesmen to the Phil
ippines, men who can assist the island
ers to establish substantial republican
government, with which we can easily
secure trade treaties that will give lis all
the privileges and profits of possession
without the responsibilities thereof. 1t
might be we'll for this country to hold
a naval station in the island OF Luzoi,,
but Aguinaldo is willing to give us that.
He would very willingly form close,
friendly alliance with this country and
concede every reasonable privilege we
might ask for.
l cannot see why we should go to
the opposite side Of the world to acquire
territory by conquest, with the added
danger OF involving ourselves in the
mesfes of Europe's lust for eastern
land. believe public sentiment is I'M
dergoing rapid change, and that the
Filipinos are coming to be regarded as
a people entitled to all the rights of a
civilized nation. This country Has never
before undertaken job of conquest.
It is contrary to our national principles
and is destined to prove disastrous.
Conquest was Spain's habit Are we
to begin where she left off? One OF the
saddest spectacles in the history OF the
rise and fall Of nations was the decline
and final overthrow of the Spanish en-
pire, which four centuries ago was the
grandest power on the face OF the earth
DaotAeG Notices.
TOAn M. GLEASON. urdortnker. n Sew,