Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-02-25
A Tribute to the West.

QUESTION of the PHILIPPINES, de-
serves word Of recognition and
cordial praise, says The New York
Tribune. While we believe that the
peol lie of the east are overwhelm-
ingly with the west on this ques-
ton, it is a fact that nearly all the
anti.expansionists are eastern men
and their prominence, no less than
their high character and con-
spicuous public services in the past
has naturally given the impression
that they speak for the east, al
though III reality they do not. The
west, however, has not been SO
misrepresented. With a few ex-
ceptions its public men have spok-
en- for the people, and the, people
are believers in the good Ameri-
car doctrine Of national growth.
Indeed, 1t is not too much to say
that the east alone, handicapped
as it was, could not have succeeded
IN inpressing the policy Of ex-
pansion upon the nation. 1t is to
the west largely that we owe the
Philippines. The west does not
pay much heed to traditions as
such, for II lives in the present and
projects its golden age in the fu-
ture. Il cares little for political
iliaxims that are not vitality re-
lated to the pressing questions of
the moment. Ii would stifle in
the academic atmosphere of
nebnlous Theory in which certain
wise men of the east are wont to
live and move and have their be-
ing. 1t scorns the tirnid pessimism
that th-ives on an over-ininute
study Of our national infrmities
The west, III a word, lives outdoors,
sees things as they are ID the white
light of heaven and believes with
all its heart in the glorious pos
sibilities Of the American people.
1t may pay transient heed some
times to passing vagaries Of opin-
ion. But when any really great
crisis arises it never fails to strike
the true note of Americanisin.
Nor is the.interest of the west
in the PHILIPPINES merely specula-
tive. The Philippine army of oc-
cupation is largely composed Of
western men And what splendid
fellows they are big in stature,
strong Of limb, representing the
very best type of American citizen
ship in their sunny optimism,
eager hopefuiness and strenuous,
aggressive manhood! The east,
in common with the whole country,
Is proud of them. They represent
It's beliefs and ideals no less than
those of the west, and they are kin
to it In blood no less than In
patriotism. While the regular
army Is deserving of all honor. it
is a happy circumstance that it is
not the regular army, but citizen
soldiers, mostly Of the west, whose
privilege it is to take possession Of
these far-distapt islands of the
eastern seas For 1t signifies that
American citizens, rather than
American soldiers, are to hold
these islands and develop IN them
the ideals Of American civilization
and progress.
How great isthe interest OF the
western people in the PHILIPPINE
problem can only be understood
BY those who come iii actual CON
tact with them. Ever since the
American troops landed i'll Manila
all the great papers Of the west
have been filled with graphic and
inter- sting letters from western
volunteers. These letters have
told all about tie islands and their
wonderful possibilities in homely
but effective fashion, while at the
same time they have described with
many quaint touches Of western
humor, the fluctuations and pleas
ures Of the boys in camp. For
this reason it is a fact, strange as
ii may seem, that the people of the
west know a great deal more about
the situation in the PHILIPPINES than
do the people Of the east. That
with their clear knowledge, derived
from their sons, the people of the
west still believe in acquiring
these islands is an argument in
favor of that policy npon which,
y