The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-11

inescapable duty of last year became the
unsought but unavoidable, means. under
an overruling Providence. or realizing that
national necessity.
Granted the war, where could we have
stopped short of where we now stand?
Point who can to a single step taken thus
far which was not the Inevitable sequence
the irresistible conclusion of the first de-
cision? Less or different we might have
done and plunged into mistake and disaster
More we might have done and violated
faith and produced divisions. But review
the events of the year in the light of after
wisdom and tell me who can what move
ment of war or negotiation of peace, what
term of settlement or act of government
was not just what right. reason, duty
and safety dictated Could we have done
more or less in Cuba? Who criticises the
disposition of Porto Rico? Where could
We have halted in the Philippines?
To-day the question. is not whether we
should have taken the Philippines for no
man now ventures to dispute it, but what
shall we do with them? That question
the American people win answer, and it
may well be that as the discussion goes on
and events move forward the doubts and
uncertainties villa clear up, as they have
cleared up in every preceding chapter of
the advancing story. The people will
answer,
regard for the rights and welfare of the
Fihpinos. They wil answer also with
fun sense of their own duty and obll-
cations. And they will answer without
branding themselves as incapable of play
ing their appropriate part in the worlds
broad arena and as unequal 10 the de-
mands of progress and civilization. They
do not share the unworthy sentiment that
an individual or a nation has the right to
some duty by proclaiming that it hasn't
character or ability enough TO perform it,
Nor are they deceived by any hollow
fiction or any irrelevant maxim. They are
not foolish enough to suppose that a single
day has either lifted the victims of 400
years of oppression and barbarsm into
Washingtons and Bolivars. or degraded
the descendants of the real Washington
and his compeers into reproductions of
George III and Lord North They under
stand that the principles Of the declaration
of independence are abstract truths, and
that they are also practical fruits 10 be
reached by practical means. They did NOT
ask the consent of The Cubans to save
them from starvation, but they will put
the Cubans in the way of having a govern
ment based on their consent. They do not
ask the consent of the Filipnos to save
Thorn from chaos, but they win teach and
guide and raise the FilipInos to a point
where they will consent to their own best
interests, and where they will have the
largest measure of self-goyernment for
which they shall show themselves quail
flied.
at is not strange that people shut up
for centuries in the darkness Of tyranny
and ignorance should falter dazed and I'M
certain when they suddenly step out into
the funness Of light and liberty. 1t is not
strange that they should be mlsled and
misguided for the hour and seek 10 emitc
the hand that rescues them. This is an
old experience, and it makes an unpleasant
necessity. There must be peace before
there can be rebuilding. But in the name
of NV countrymen / repel the caiumny that
American rule and American purpose are
aggressive or scheming or despotic. We
went to the Philippines under the neces- /
sity of war, but we stay because we arc
responsible TO mankind for peace ana or
der and security. VIC have taken the
founding Of nations on our doorstep. ana I
we cannot hearilessly thrust 50 away /
There may be need Of heroic treatment /
but better "a litue heroic treatment an the |
outset Than anarchy and sei-destructiOD. J