The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-04
O THAN ATKINSON
POULTNEY BIGELOW DENOUNCEs PA
IN AMERICA.
He Says the War Fever Has Gone to
the Brain Of the ob-H View
Of Expansion.

BERLIN, Oct. Sat to-day's session of
the international Geographical Congress
and in the presence Of many colonial and
government officials, Poultney Bigelow dis
cussed colonial administration in different
parts of the world. The paper was received
With much favor. Mr.. Bigelow said that
this year, memorable for the international
Peace Conference at The Hague, whose
noble purpose 1t had been to make war less
frequent and less brutal, would be none the
less gratefully remembered for the supple
mentary work of peace intrusted to the
great geographical congress Of Berlin. 1t
had taken centuries of business and blood
shed to reach the stage of comparative CIV
ilization now enjoyed by the world. We
were just beginning to realize that what in
terested one interested all and that in CO.
lonial matters the most important condition
to-day was unity among the whites, whether
English. Russian, French or German.
I'm the far East" continued Mr.. Bige-
low, ''the United States has now become a
rival of Europe through the occupation of
Manila. Americans thus become next-door
~neighbors to Hong-Kong and are almost
| equally interested in the projected railway
terminating at Kiao-Chou. In common with
Germany, however, the United States has
| experience yet to purchase and from OBJ
servations made during the war, 1 fear my
country is learning her lesson at an ex-
travagant price. The United States has
officially commenced the government of a
tropical climate under conditions which
repeat the blunder which the Englishmen
corrected a century ago. AS much as the
Eilipinos dislike Spanish rule. they dislike
wondered at. Methods successful against
American Indians and against negroes are
not found successful in the Philippines, nor
do they attract a high-spirited race such as
inhabits the Philippines. j..
The curse of America to-day is that her
politicians and newspapers stand in fear of
the mob. Anyone who dares to ~criticise the
wisdom of mob-inspired machinery, Is
howied at as unpatriotic, if not as a traitor.
Amsr Wa, ie wnh mas zone TO the oraln amor tn ne
the mob which did go to the war. Conse-
quently the colonial operations of the United
states are marked by great haste in prepar-
reckless expenditure of life and money, and
by a lamentable failure to fulfill the rea-
who are, after all, the best judges of CO.
lonial administration
THE American has been a magnificent
colonist in so far as his task has consisted
in hunting out the red Indian and admins
tering territory for the white man only, but
terminating an inferior race. The enormous
liberty he claims for himself becomes ridicu-
lous when shared with the red man, the
4 ut6TO vi II SEllldIldH-
England has purchased great experience
in India and even with all the cost of the
Sepot mutiny, we can hardly think the price
too high for the vast benefits which have
followed from this terrible lesson. America
has this same lesson to learn. and let us
pray that she may learn it from the mother
country rather than rush blindly into situa-
tons from which only a costly war can ex-
tricate her.
English public opinion is to-day educated
IN respect of colonial needs, just as in Ger
many public opinion Is educated to an al
most incredible degree in military matters.
But the average American voter as repre-
sented by the undisciplined press and IRE
sponSible congressman, offers no solution in
the present colonial embarrassment, save to
send more troops and to shoot more natives.
The lesson we Americans are now learn
ing is a lesson for the whole world. Colonies
succeed in proportion that they are Justly
administered There is no man so low in
the human scale that he can be treated un-
justly with impunity. The best talent pro-
duced by the white mans civilization is
none too good when it comes TO governing
communities of subtle Orientals. with vary
ing creeds and complex conditions. W.
used to say that any teacher was good
enough for the elementary schools, but
now we realize that the best is none toe
good for the beginner. 1t is, indeed, at the
beginning that the best work must be done,
and colonies are much like children"