The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1899-01-31

United States is the only country
which has control of any of the
Philippines at present. But the
European countries are watching
every movement of the United
States, and if our forces were
withdrawn every nation of
Europe would be in the scramble
for a portion of the spoils.
Such is the situation at pre-
sent. The rebels are still in arms
and some of the ambitious leaders
have formed government at
noilo, and have sent representa-
tives to our country to induce us
to recognize them.
European countries are waiting
for the United States to with
draw her authority and give them
an opportunity to take possession
and a large majority of the people
Of our country are anxious to have
us hold the islands ourselves.
Thus one Of three policies must
determine the future government
of the Philippines. They must
either become an independent
nation, or a dependency Of Che
United States, or some other
power. But which one of these
is best fitted for the inhabitants
of those islands? The Filipinos,
as have stated before, have
suffered long from Spanish mis-
rule and oppression. They are
ignorant and degraded, and know
nothing about the principles of
self-government. If the United
States withdraws her army and
navy and allows the natives to
form a government Of their own,
we can predict but one thing for
the future Of those people; and
that is, that their government
will be controlled by few
ambitious leaders, who will use it
to serve their own selfish ends.
And under such conditions no
nation can prosper; for an
oIigarchical form Of government
will not educate and enlighten an
ignorant and oppressed people,
especially if the persons at the
head of that government are but
little more enlightened than the
leaders of the Filipinos.
Let us now consider the rule OF
the islands by some one of the
European nations. Any person
who has the slightest knowledge
of European affairs knows that
the balance of power is so well
established and the rival nations
are watching each other SO closely
that no one Of them could take
possession of SO large country as
the Philippines without going to
war with all Of it's neighbors'
Therefore, if any European coun.
try should attempt to take
possession of those islands, it's
action would cause a war, in
which all Europe would be engag.
ed and in the end the Philippines
would be divided among the Wet
ors, and there would be no oppor'
tunity for the inhabitants to make
the same progress IN civilization.
as there would if one country con
trolled all the islands; because the
nations of Europe differ widely in
language, education, religion and
government; and with the Philip
pines divided among the powers
each section will necessarily differ
from the others as the civilization
of it's particular owner varies
from that of the others.
What the F1lipinos need, in
order that they may make the
greatest possible progress, is con
troll by but one country, which
will instruct them in the art q
self-government, teach them tc
develop the vast natural resources
of their country, build school
| houses in which they may educate
their children, and to aid them il
every way to affect their safety
and happiness. There is only
one country which can hold all o.
the Philippines, and carry out the
above principles, and that country
is the United States. Our coun'
try may annex the Philippines
and not incur the displeasure OF
any other nation, because we are
to far removed from any other
country of Importance, and our