El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-19
DO WE WANT
THE PHILIPPINES?
ON~
Written for the HERALD,

While this government now enjoy:
the Philippines. and the same rights
in respect to the g-overnmen of, con
troll, or disposition of the islands tina
it holds in respect to Alaska, New Mex
leo, or Porto Rico, yet the present
mode of governing the islands is purely
provisional, and the ultimate DISPOSE.
tion of the whole, or part, of the archi
pelsgO, is one of the great questions to
be solved in the light of future devel-
opments, in the light of reason, justice
and equity, coupled with a due regard
for the interests OF this country, and
those of the islands which have,
through the exigencies of war, been
brought under our imperium.
The present government of the Phil
ippines is of a military character
one of force, which has been called TO-
to existence and is mali tanned solely
by the grave exigencies of the case,
or, in other words. by the condition of
war which has, and still prevails. in
the.islands. Such q form of govern
ment is rendered necessary in order
to protect the lives and property of the
people of the islands,-who, by the
way, are entitled to demand our
right as the people of Alaska or New
Mexico would have, in a similar x
igency, until the present insurrection
there is put down. and peace, order,
and a STA blegovernment are erected in
the islands. At the present time, u
government is simply holding the
Philippine group as a trustee for the
aud, in such capacity, the government
must, like a court of Justice, in case of
a contest between various litigsnts be-
fore 1t, stay the hands of all parties,
conserve the property. preserve order.
n maintain such status in the
premises until the matter be finally ad-
Indicated and determined.
Until the insurrection in the Philip
pines is put down, and a stable govern
ment ests blished, it is folly to think of
establishing q form of civil authority
of any character. The reasons for this
should be obvious. First, DO civil gov
eminent could exist, or exert it's au-
thority, In q country where a strong
military government, supported by a
large army and navy, ia necessary to
maintain order and to put down an in
surrection against the only lawful or
recognized form of government. Second.
A proper form of civil government q
not be established, nor the rights of
the respective parties in the matter
duly adjudicsted and assured, while
the country is in q state OF war. The
establishment of peace and order are
essential conditions prerequisite to the
determination of the proper form of
civil government for the islands, and
the ultimate disposition of the same.
Until such conditions concur it is ut
terly irrational, If not absurd, to talk
of abandoning the islands and leaving
the natives to settle upon q form of
government for themselves. No ma
ton flushed with victory, and glOrying
t. n 1a-Hftrlo ~ .~r0 ov0- oont tee,
flag in the dust, and retired in favor of
rebels in arms. And the United States
is not, and may it never be, in a condi-
ton to submit to such q species of
humiliation.
Having thus -enunciated the salient
principles governing this grave ques-
tion, we may properly come to the
want the Philippines? We do not
know. We stand in the presence Of a
grave problem, .the correct solution
of which requires both time, patient
study, and q careful examination of all
the facts pertinent to the case. When
the insurrectiOn in the Philippines is
put down, order restored, the usual
condition of the islands assumes q nor-
NAL aspect, then, and not till then,
shall we be able to give this question
that degree of patient, candid conside-
ration, which its Importance impsra =
lively demands. A state of war is in
nimical to a proper Investigation of
the true condition of the islands, and q
determination Of the great question
p pessfo1ng of .h se1 A al't oonslsion ole 81
war renders q thorough investigation
of these matters mo only impossible, but
impracticable. Moreover, time
will be required, indeed is necessary, to
study the economic and commercial
of the islands, their
and possibilities of development, and to
compare the results attained with the
conditions of q similar character in this
country. A mutual comparison of the
of the United States and the
Malay archipelago Is necessary to de-
termine the important question before
Us. When peace shall have been re-
stored in the islands, and the course of
trade, commerce, or industry has re-
it's normal, unobstructed course,
he problem b~efore.us the careful, I'M
consideration necessary to ar.
rive at a rational Judgment.
Another point: Our country is in the
midst of a violent agitation in respect
the Philippines. and the minds OF
are being swayed by passions and
orejudices,-of both a sectional and
)OllblCdi ~CudrdCtST,-d d Llm0 WQeu
.easOn and justice, untrsmmeled by the
arts or arguments of the agitator or
politician, should be given the ut
most latitude for action, and a gene
wholesome measure OF common
,ense, intermixed with q reasonable
of patriotism, should be permit
ed to exert their influence in the shap-
.ng of opinions, and the guidance Of
action.
When the din of war is passed, when