The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-09-20
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
The Situation in the Philippines.

statement covering the sltuatlph hS he
found and left it at the time of bis de-
parture from the archipelago. Mr..
Schurman goes over many things which
are understood in general way, as to
the extent of the islanda, the multiple
city and mixed character of The tribes
inhabiting them, the size of these va
rious races, some of which number
$50 900 members, and the diversity of
the languages spoken, which are as
distinct from one another as French
and Spanish or Italian.
These tribes, President Schurman
saws, are all civilized and Christianized,
excepting some of the smaller ones in
habiting the mountains. 1t is the
Tagalogs-oply one of these tribes
which is resisting the United States.
The remainder are neutral, excepting
where they have been compelled by
armed bands of Tagalogs to take part
in the war against the Americans.
These neutral tribes are not, however,
allies of the United States. Their
notions of the white man are derived
from their experience with the Span
iards and they are thus naturally sus-
picious of all white people.
When not stirred up by the Tagalogs
he masses, as well as the men of il
diligence and property, recognize the
advantage to them of American sover.
eighty, and so remain passively neu-
trail though robber bands from time to
time plumber their estates and burn
their dwellings. The instruction is
not national uprising. There is no
Philippine nation. There is a multi
farious collection of tribes having only
this in common-that they belong 10
the Malayan race. The inhabitants of
the archipelago no more constitute
nation than do the inhabitants of En-
rope. Coming down to the vital MAJ
ter of the Philippine question, Presi-
dent Schurman forcefully says:
The United States, having assumed, by
treaty of peace with Spain, sovereignty
over the archipelago, became responsible
for the maintenance Of peace and order, the
administration OF justice, the security OF
life and property among all the tribes of
the archipelago. This is an obligation
which intelligent Filipinos not less than
foreign nations expect lis to fulfill. Nor
will the national honor permit us to turn
back. In taking the Philippine Islands We
annexed great responsibility. The fact that
the responsibility is heavier than most peo-
pie supposed it would be is no excuse for
failure to discharge it. repeat that the
Philippine question is essentially ques-
ton OF national honor and obligation.
AS to the future, Mr.. Schurman's
opinion is that much good would be
done by declaration on the part OF
ongress of the form of government to
to be established in the Philippine
Islands, or better still, let Congress es-
tablish a government there and put it
in force in all parts and among all
tribes. This plan would serve several
obvious purposes, among which would
be to give the hostile races an ocular
demonstration of free government on
the American plan, "a very important
point" Mr.. Schulman Observes, "when
it is remembered that the Tagalogs
claim to be fighting for their liberty"
He suggests that plan of government
that would be well adapted to one
tribe might need considerable modif-
cation to be available for another.
In the much mooted matter of the
capacity of the Fllipinos to govern
themselves, President Schurman says
they have had no experience in self
government, except in municipal affairs,
and even in this branch of administra-
ton they have been subject to the con-
troll of Spanish authority. Some form
of home rule, under The supervision OF
wise general government at Manila,
is his solution of the governmental
problem in the Philippines. Mr.. Schur-
man expresses sympathy for the aspira-
tions of the Filipinos. There are igno-
rance, inexperience in governing and
other difficulties In the way:
Nevertheless, considering the marked in
tellectusl capacity OF the Filipinos and their
admirable domestic and personal virtues,
imagination cannot easily set the limits to
their progressive achievements under the
inspiration of American civilization, and,
while American sovereignty means this
blessing to the Filipinos, it is beyond all
doubt the one thing which can save the
archipelago from divisions and appropIi-
alton by the great nations OF Europe.
President Schurman was reckoned
an anti-imperialist when he was APP
pointed to the mission from which he
has recently returned. In his state
ment of the situation, in all essential
points, and in his expression of opin.
ions derived from direct contact with