The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-03
Not a Ray of Comfort
for Anti-Expansionists
Continued from First Page,

mountainous band of fanatics. The
battalion was furnished but the people
proved unable TO carry out their pro-
gram, owing to ill-feeling among their
own officials. The Americans remained
popular. At the request of General Otis,
a new and simplified scheme of govern
ment for the island, giving the people a
large voice in their affairs, but placing an
American in full lcontrol. was put into
operation. 1t brought about satisfaction.
and public order is better il. the island
today than at any time during the last
twenty years. Summarizing the failure
of the native form OF government and the
success of the American control. the COM
mission says: The fiat failure of this
attempt, to establish an independent ma
tive government in Negros. conducted. as
1t was, under the most favorable circum-
stances, makes ii apparent that, here as
well as in the less favored provinces, a
large amount of American control is at
present absolutely essential TO a success
full administration of public affairs.
The efforts at Cancellation, with Aguin-
aldo and his various commissions, are
set forth in detail. These commissioners
were assured of the oeneficent purpose
of the United States and the presidents
readiness to grant the Filipino people as
large a measure of home rule and as
ample liberty as consistent with the ends
of government, subject only to the
recognition of the sovereignty of the
United States-a point which. being es-
tablished the commission invariably re-
fused even to discuss"
The commission adds that nothing came
of the negotiations, as Aguinaldo's ennis
saries were without powers and merely
came, and came again, for information
Courteous reception was accorded TO the
insurgent commissioners, and earnest ap-
peals made TO stop further bloodshed, all
Witnessing the spirit of patient conciiia-
ton exhibited by the American com
mission In endeavoring to reach an ami
cable adjustment with the insurgents. as
well as the obduracy of Aguinaldo.
The report sums up the result of these
fruitless exchanges as follows: mo bet
ter proof could be furnished than the
primary object of his struggle is not as
is pretended, the liberty of the Filipino
peoples, but the continuance of his own
arbitrary and despotic power. In any
event. the American people may feel con-
fdent that no effort was omitted by the
commission to secure a peaceful end Of
the struggle, but the opportunities they
offered and urged were neglected, II not
indeed sDurned."
The chapter devoted to Capacity for
government" is the result the report
states. of diligent inquiry for several
months, in the course of which a great
number OF witnesses were examined, OF
all shades of political thought and va
rieties of occupation, tribe and locality.
The most striking and perhaps the most
fact in the entire situation is
the multiplicity of tribes inhabiting the
archipelago. the diversity Of their Ian
guages (Which are mutually unlnteliigi-
ble) and the multifarious phases Of CIV
ali the way from the
h&ighest to the lowest. AS to. this the
report says: 1.-THE Filipinos are not a ma
ton, but a variegated assemblage of diff
ferent tribes and peoples; and their 10y
atty is still of the tribal type"
Concerning their intellectual capacity,
the commission says: "As to the general
capacities of the Filipinos the
commission is disposed to rate them high.
But, excepting in a limited number Of
persons. these capacities have not been
developed by education or experience. The
masses of the people are uneducated.
That intelligent public opinion on which
popular government rests does not exist
n the Philippines and 1t cannot exist
lntil educatio has elevated the masses. /
1roadened their intellectual horizon and
disciplined their faculty Of judgment.
And even then the power of self-govern-
nent cannot be assumed without con-
siderable previous training and expert
nee. under the guidance and tutelage of
IN enlightened and liberal foreign power
Cor the bald fact is that the Filipinos
ave never had any experience in gov
rning themselves
The report shows that this inability for
elf-government is due TO the old Spanish |
egme. which gave the Filipinos little or |
10 part In governing themselves. After !
eviewing this Spanish system, the com |
mission sums up on this point:
This is al 1.-THE training in self-govern- I
nent which the inhabitants of the Phil /
Dpine Islands have enjoyed. Their lack !
ombined with their racial and linguistic /
iversities, disquanfy them, in spite Of /
heir mental gifts and domestic virtues, /
D undertake the task of governing the
rchipelago at the present time. The /
1ost that can be expected Of them Is TO
cooperate with the Americans in the adj
illustration Of general affairs. from Ma
LA as a center. and 70 undertake. sub
,ct to American control or guidance tas
,ay be found necessary, the admins
alton OF provincial and munid9al af-
airs. Fortunately there are educated
ilipinos. though they do not constitute
large proportion OF rhe entire pOpula~
on. and their support and services will
2 Of incalculable value in inauguratng
nd maintaining the new government As
iucatIon advances and experience reigns
le natives may he entrusted with large
nd more independent share Of govern
ent self-government, as the American
cal. being constantly kept In view as
le goal In this way American sover-
gnty over the archipelago would prove
great political boon 70 the people.
should our power By any fatality be
Ithdrawn, the commission believe that
e government Of the Philippines would
eedny lapse into anarchy. which would /
ctise II IL ala not necessitate the IN /
rvention Of other powers. and the even
al division % the islands among them
only through American occupation,
erefore. is the idea % free. self-Eov-
ming and united Philippine common
,aIth az all conceivable. And Tire iDdis-
nsable need. from the Filipino point %
w. OF maintaining American s0yer-
snty over the archipelago. is reeo guizssi
all intellient Fiiipsnez, and even by
ose insurgents who desire an American
otectorate. The latter. it Is true. would