The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-11
What the United States Proposes to
DO In the Philippines.

/ W nat LQt OHlteu oioiSs iiVPVsoS ~
DO in the Philippines.
The Baltimore Sun says: The
Presidents Philippine commission has
issued proclamation to the Filipinos
setting forth the intentions OF the Uni
ted States in regard to the future gov
eminent Of the islands. The preamble
TO this declaration, in view OF recent
events In the Island of Luzon. will
probably convince the natives that the
Americans excel In humor. for after he
has permitted thousands Of them to be
killed and wounded, Mr. Mckinley in
structs his commissioners to assure the
people OF the Philippine Islands Of
the cordial good will and fraternal feel
ing which is entertained for them by
the President Of the United States and
the American people Possibly the
wolf has the same cordial good will
and fraternal feeling for the innocent
lamb Of which he makes q meal. After
giving the natives assurance Of his az
lection fer them, President Mckinley
leaves them in no doubt as to the dis
position which will be made Of the is
lands.
This is the message which the com
mission brings to the FilipinOs: The
supremacy Of the United States must
and will be enforced throughout every
part of the archipelago, and those who
resent il can accomplish no end other
than their own ruin That settles the
question Of all independent Filipino re-
public as far as this administration IL
concerned. The thousand or more is.
lands are to be- compelled to submit to
the supremacy OF the United States,
and il We are in the business OF con-
quest and are waging war for that pur-
pose, she enforcement OF this suprem-
acy is Indispensable After having de-
stroyed any hopes which the Filipinos
might have entertained for a govern
ment that would in every respect be a
representative Filipino republic, the
President proceeds to tell the natives.
through his commission. how they can
be happy if they accept the program he
has laid down.
The aim and object Of the Ameri-
can Government, the natives are told.
is the elevation and advancement OF
the Philippine people to a position
among the most civilized peoples OF the
world How this contamination is TO
be accomplished the commission e1-
plains at length, and expresses regret
that these pure aims and purposes
have been misinterpreted TO some OF the
inhabitants The Filipinos, it may be
remarked, are not the only ones who
have been at loss TO know what were
the real purposes Of the administration.
Seventy millions Americans have been
as ignorant as the natives. although
the President has been appealed to time
and again TO make some explicit decla-
ration Of the intentions of the admins
tration. They know now, by way OF
Manila and through a commission
which has travelled nearly half way
around the globe. what the ultimate
disposition Of the islands is to be, but
it is the first authoritative announce
ment that has been made since the doc
trine of benevolent assimilation was
promulgated.
The Filipinos are to be granted
the most ample liberty and self-gov-
eminent reconcilable with wise. just,
stable effective and economical admin.
istration Of public affairs and compati-
BILE with the sovereign and international
rights and the obligations of the Uni
ted States This is a very impressive
declaration on its face, but the degree |
Of self government to be given the ma
tives depends so largely upon just
conception Of what are our sovereign |
and international rights and obliga'
tions' that time alone can reveal what |
is really in the mind Of the admins
tration and to what extent the natives |
will have control of their own affairs. |
independence, as the Filipinos under
stand it, or as the United States under
stood it after the War OF the Revolu-
ton, is out of the question.
THE President also promises the Fill
ipinos an honest and effective civil |
service in which, to the fullest extent |
to which it is practical, natives shall
be employed. There cannot be an ef-
fective civil service in the Philippines,
however, unless there is an honest civil |
service in the United States, and is has |
more than once been intimated that the |
President intended to make substantial
concessions to the spoilsmen in this
country. II he yields here, it will not
be long before the Philippines civil SER
vice will be controlled by the spoils-
men hnC Will Do OOiluPo anu ihOaSASH"
g Honor, justice and friendship,
proclaim the commissioners, forbid
the use of the Philippine people or is
lands as an object Of exploitation.
This is quite true, but will honor, JUS
tice and friendship prevent their 'ex-
ploitation?' An act Of Congress was
necessary to keep those who wanted to
secure valuable franchises in Cuba and
Porto Rico from grabbing everything
in sight and exploiting the islands to
their own advantage, regardless OF the
welfare of the Oubans and Porto Ricans.
Congress is not in session now to for
bid the granting Of concessions in the
Philippines to those who will endeavor
to get in on the ground floor, through
political influence. This is the sort OF