The record-union., 1899-02-12

those of our own race whom we can as
simulate rapidly Now it is conceded
by the best informed that, having the
Philippines by cession of Spanish sover-
eighty, it would be simply cruelty to
say to the Filipinos: t"Govern your
selves: for OF that they are incapable.
1t would be cruelty to them and to the
white man also. Even in the case OF
the Porto Ricans it is not much better
With them self-government must come
gradually; they must be trained to it as
our forefathers were trained, and the
training must be slow and tentative.
Nor in the new possession, Hawaii, is
| it proposed by any one to treat all the
inhabitants as political equals; they
will be organized into a Territorial form
of government, which has it's political
restrictions and limitations upon polit-
ical equality.
One great reason for our success with
our Territories has been. our unselfish
treatment of them. We have not had
commercial profit in view; we have ac-
corded them commercial equality, for
we have realized the truth that our
own revolt taught England-that colo
MES cannot be a source of permanent
wealth unless they are managed with
a single eye to their own welfare. We
must, then, pursue the same course
toward our Spanish titled estates. We
must legislate for them unselfishly, and
have in view solely the welfare of these
estates, and commit it largely to their
own care. But this cannot be done if
the administrators are appointed from
political motives, ''for political appoint
ments are only tolerable where the du-
ties to be performed can be understood
by any man of good capacity"
So political appointments for our new
estate, Mr.. Lowell holds, would be ruin
Gus. The condition of things in our In
dian Bureau and in Alaska proves it.
Nor can we we'll administer the estates
without full knowledge Of their condi-
ton, and 'it is clear how ineffective To-
cal criticism is there" Their recent
history is cited in support of that as
sertion, since no Anglo-Saxon commu-
nifty could have been treated by any
rulers as the Cubans. Porto Ricans and
Filipinos were treated by the Spanish.
So we can safely hold the new posses
sions if we create a permanent, highly
paid thoroughly trained administrative
corps for the purposes of local govern
ment and the bringing of the population
up to the level where they can be safely
ton must be upon some such basis as
army and navy organizations, and Of
fer an honorable and lucrative career
to young men from institutions where
they will be prepared for just such
work, precisely as the officer is edu-
Gated at West Point or Annapolis for
special duties and responsibilities.
The dangers we will meet are, first,
the disposition to apply theories Of gov
ernment to the new peoples where they
are not applicable; secondly, the danger
of taking selfish view of our relation
to these people. We must reject, says
Mr. Lowell priori political dogmas,
and avoid premature experiments in
democracy, and at the same time not
allow these colonies to be considered a
mere market for our goods, a lucrative
opening for commercial monopoly, or a
happy hunting ground for politicians.
The success or failure of our depend
but powerfully upon ourselves, land
that is the reason why colonial expan-
sion fills so many people with alarm;
and then this sage essayist, whose con-
clusions are to our mind irresistible,
concludes: 'If home politics do not in
terfere with the colonies they will not
harm home politics. Our destiny is in
our own hands. and our measure of po-
litical wisdom and virtue will deter
nfine what we shall make of it,. That
this is pure wisdom cannot be denied.
The essayist, no matter by what route
he has reached it, has had the rigiillt. end
in view, and his methods for accom-
plishing it's purposes-and they are. not
original. since others have been quoted
in these columns as holding like views
are SO clearly set forth, SO well sup
ported, and SO crystalline in their lucid
ity, that they must have decided infiu-
ence upon the public mind.
There is one journal in San Fran
cisco that he's the courage to speak out
and declare that there is no need for
State Normal School in that city.
The "Argonart' opposes the establish