The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-23
Schurz and the Philippines.

N THE RANKS of the opponents
of our governments Philippine
noIicv no man stands higher for
intellectual power than Carl
Schurz. What policy does he propose!
We will quote from his latest speech
upon the subject,
"I,et there be at once an armisuce
between our forces and the Flliplnos'
suggests Mr.. Schurz. Let the Phlllp-
nine islanders at the same time be told
that the American people will be glad
to see them establish an independent
government, and to aid them in that
task as far as may be necessary; that
if the different tribes composing the
population of the Philippines are dis
posed (as at least most of them, if not
all. are likely to be- to attach them
selves in some way to the government
already existing under the presidency
of Aguinaldo, we shall cheerfully ac-
cept that solution of the question, and
even, II required, lend our good offices
to bring it about; and that meanwhile
we shall deem it our duty to protect
them against interference from other
foreign powers"
In reply to this suggestion we will
now quote from what ought to be ac-
cepted in Pennsylvania as good Demo-
cratic authority, namely, the Philadel-
phia Record, a paper whose founder
was in 1894 the Democratic candidate
for governor of this commonwealth.
in the statement of Mr.. Schurz," says
the Record, there is one very import
ant assumption which is not supported
by facts-namely, that the Philippine
islanders, or most of them, would will
ingly Acceptable Aguinaldo govern
ment. and by doing so put themselves
under the rule of the Tagals, between
whom and many other of the insulai
tribes there exist relations Of various
degrees of enmity But, waving this
point and proceeding to the main ques-
tion, an analysis of the anti-expansion-
ist programme will show that it differs
in only one respect-in the proposal 0i
an armistice-from the policy which
has been steadily pursued by this gov.
/
are united in holding the opinion that
/ the Filipinos ought to be allowed t,
establish government as Independent
and free from external control as the
| circumstances will permit. The islands
however, having in consequence Of tn
treaty with Spain become territory o
the United States, the only authority
empowered TO make the regulation!
necessary to the attainment of the ent
in view is congress. The executiv,
alone can make no engagements wit
the Filipinos, and can do no more thar
preserve order to the best of his ability
The concession of an autonomous o
Independent government to the native
of the island, therefore, cannot be mad
now; nor could it have been made n
any time since the adjournment of con
gress Immediately after the conclusion
Of peace with Spain. Before the rati
fication Of the peace treaty, on tn
other hand, the Islands were nominal
under Spanish jurisdiction, and tn
Filipinos were Spanish subjects, who's
status we had no legal right to regu
late.
Even Mr.. Schurz- does not go to tn
length Of proposing that the flag shoul
be furled and our military and nava
forces Immediately withdrawn from ~
: Philippines. On the contrary, he sue
gcsts that while the question of III
, future control OF the Philippines sha
remain in suspense, and until a natlv