Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-09-29
INTERVIEW WITH ADMIRAL DEWEY.

The following excellent editorial is
from the Springfield Republican. 1t be-
comes more and more evident that the
position of Admiral Dewey on the great
questions that now agltate the republic
is a sound and safe one. The American
people can trust Mr.. Dewey to uphold
American principles and preserve in its
full integrity the character and destiny
Of the great republic. And it is very
evident from the tenor of the whole in
terview, a small part of which is quoted
in this Springfield editorial, that Mr..
Dewey will accept the nomination for
the presidency, if 1t is the desire of the
American people, or large representa-
tive part of them, that he should. That
it is so goes without question, and hence
we believe that another fall Mr.. Dewey
will be tiiumphantly elected as the
twenty-sixth president of the United
States.
Admiral Dewey expressed his views on
Philippine matters to II representative of the
New York Evening Post yesterday in very
inter resting style. what he says will attract
the closest attention. since the Post can he
relied upon to quote the admiral fairly.
Nothing in the interview was more important
than the following passage
Do think the Filipinos are ft for self gov
eminent? Wen, no; not just now. They
probably Will be in IA little time. They are
very queer people-a very queer mixture;
Many of them are quite civilized ana good
people, but do not think they are fit for self
government just yet. But when | say that
must add hat 1t is at the same time my can
than the Cubans that they are "A better people
than the Cuban. in every way | do wish,
| however, that the whole business was set
! tied, and think that after a little the Filipi.
nos Will take kindly to us.
This is passage that will carry no discom
fort to the cause for which Senator Hoar
pleaded in the senate, and for which this
paper has contended with whatever force 1t
! possessed for the last II months.
Senator Hoar and the body of public opin.
ion which supported him, called for the
amendment of the treaty of Paris so that the
! Philippines should be placed In the same po-
siton as Cuba. Cong less had formally de-
| clared in joint resolution. which had been
signed by the president, "that the people of
the island of Cuba ARE, and OF right ought to
be. free and independent" Congress and
| the president, therefore, had announced the
| Cubans capable of self-governmeIt And on
| that assumption the Cuban clauses of the
treaty of Paris were drawn. The United
States did not take the sovereignty of Cuba
unto itself, but did undertake. as trustee, the
actual government of the island. Until
| when? Until the island shall have been
"pacided," that Is, until its inhabitants. re.
covered from the dissensions and misery of
war, shall have become fl to assume the gov
eminent of their country. That Is the pres
ent situation. The United States govern
ment, pledged TO allow the Cubans to govern
themselves, is simply waiting until they are
in fit condition to assume the burden and the
| responsibility.
| Admiral Dewey now comes home and, so
far as the capacity and fitness of the Fill.
pinos are concerned, he completely justlfes
the position which Senator Hoar took in the
senate, which ex Senator Edmunds took in
various letters to the press, and which The
Republican strenuously urged upon the
administration. He again declares that the
Filipinos are more fitted for self-govern nent
than the Cubans. and "that they are a better
people than the Cubans in every way"
Admiral Dewey, 1t is true, says in this In
terview that the Filipinos are not fitted for
self government ''just now" but please notice
that he hastens to add:
"They probably will be in little time.'
How long a time? According to his own
statement, in less time than the Cubans can
Mt themselves to run their government.
II the United States government had treat
ed the Filipinos in the treaty of Paris as II
treated the Cubans, there would have been
no war because, in that case, the Filipinos
would have had no cause to distrust us. An
amicable arrangement could easily have
been made with the native government. and
inasmuch as that government was so well