The evening times., 1899-01-11
FRENCH DISCUSSIONS
OF THE PHILIPPINES
Utterances of Public Men OIL
Their Government.
Arguments Favoring an American
PrOtectOrate.
An Authority ON Economical cues
sary in Granting Privileges

Paris, Jan. 11-French public men are
much interested in the Philippine ques-
tior.
In general it is the governmental re-
gime that the Americans viii impose that
arouses the most curiosity.
couple of important interviews on
this point were recently published. The
first was with Baron d'Estourneiles de
Constant. deputy Tor Sarthe, and the 9TH
er with NJ. Paul Leroy Seaulleu, editor
CT the Economiste trancais, Cne OF the
most distinguished authorities on econo-
mIcal questions in France.
Upon at least one poInt in regard to the
government of the Philippines bLtn are in
agreement-nameiy, that representative
government, as Europeans and Americans
understand il, Is totally united Tor tx-
pOrtation to the colonies.
Both argue iii favor of a protscotrate as
preferable TO annexation. Baron IL
nelles de Constant claims as the adVan-
tages for prot .ctOrate that while the du-
ties Of administration are left to tle ma
tive government the supreme direction
aid control is reserved TO Itself by Tie
metropolitan government
NJ. Leroy Beaulieu points out the diff
Guilty OF the solution of the problem in
country where there is no hereditary ruler,
such as the Bey in Tunis or regents as in
Java. In the Philippines there is no uni
yersally accepted head whom the Ameri-
cans could sustain with their direction.
On the contrary, everyone would want TO
be President so that nobody could be rec
ognized
The situation there is something aualo-
gOus to that in France, where coup d'etat
is likely simply because no Cne general
could overcome the opposition OF the 9TH
ers. This is, in fact, the sole chance the
| Duo d'OrleanS and Prince Victor have, as
under certain circumstances each might
| be able TO secure a following made up of
people lighting among themselves but who
! might recognize the superior claims or the
| particular pretender in question.
According to the Baron d'Estournelles de
Constant native administration directed
and controlled by picked Americans prom
ises the best results from the point OF view
OF beth the governors and the governed.
He advises the United States not to try TO
act on too big a scale and not to try to
&C too quickly. but to utilize the local re-
sources rather than to improvise totally
new administration
For the realization of the best results
| he says, let the United States choose
capable governor. Let him be respected by
all as a firm and really intelligent man.
Let him receive a good salary and give
him almost absolute authority. Such pick
! ed man should take out with him picked
group of heads of departments, not too
numerous. chosen by a responsible head.
( TO be dependent upon him. for one must be
/ prepared for conflicts of authority, so much
to be feared and so frequent in the colo
nies.
Above all. he ought to select modest
/ economical iinancier. with no ambition eX-
! cept 10 make his budget balance; a prac
/ teal engineer. with no ambition except to
! carry out the many works of public util
. ity at small cost, a minister of justice,
disliking useless lawsuits and a general,
| disliking useless military expeditions.
There is nothing 10 prevent the governor
from being at the same time the head OF
The military force exactly as is the case in
Madagascar. AS soon as the governor has
. been selected let him be instructed to make
the colony exist without impoverishing the
metropolis. When that has been done try
10 forget the colony for three or four years.
NJ. Leroy Beaulieu also says virtually
, the same thing.
Let the Filipinos govern themselves in
all that relates to their own immediate af-
fairs the United States always retaining
supreme power. This control of the Ameri-
cans would apply to commerce, industry
and finance. I believe that would be the
| best system of government for this new
! American colony
! He deprecates granting the Filipinos fun
citizen rights Moderation in allowing
them civil privileges he says, lis the
| keynote of success.
To advance them too rapidly is to
plunge them headiong into all those rights
| which are exercised by the freeborn citizen
| of the United States, and difficulties are
| certain to ensue. Was the emancipation OF
the negro slaves after your Civil War the
/ success you thought il would be? Do you
think those negroes had the temperament
or education to understand their sudden
transformation?
Not that the condition of the Filipinos
is analogous IN all respects, yet there are
| lessons TO be CLEANED from the experience
of the past
Both Baron d EstournelIes De Constant
and VI. Leroy Beaulieu advocate a system
! of local autonomy under American direc-
ton. Both hold up Tunis as a model. Per-
! haps a better example might have been
found in Egypt. where the natural difficult
/ ties of administration have been increased
| by imported hindrances among which the
| English have had to walk as warilv as
| though on eggs.
| At the same time both advocate q pro-
| tectorate.
| Baron d Estournelles De Constant says if
| the United States anneXes the Philippines
| and tries to assimilate them to their hege-
mcny too quickly you will see arrive there
| adventurers and politicians, who, in the
name Of liberty and justice, will claim for
the new colony the same electoral privi-
! lege as are enjoyed by American citizens.
The result Of this state of affairs will
! be, according to him, to make an election
/ a pure farce, which will place those elected
| and their assistants in the position of des-
petite rulers of the colony.
He adds that your colony, instead of be-
ing source of wealth, will become one
of expense, insurrecticn and international
conflicts. 1t will serve a Few private in
terests 10 the detriment of the general
| interests Of the country.