The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-16
an IMPERIAL MISTAKE.

ANI into as to the ultimate intentions of the
- President concerning the Philippines. The
treaty of Paris provides for the payment of the sum
of $2oooo,ooo Spain for the surrender to OF her
sovereignty over the islands
There is nothing in the treaty that compels fore
shadows policy of permanent retention by the
United States of the sovereignty that has been sur
rendered 1t may be admitted that under
obligations to prevent the islands falling back to
Spain, but that implies obligation part to
retain them. 1t is this view of the which per-
mts even the most extreme ant-mperialists to vote
for ratification of the treaty of Paris and thereafter
consider what is to be done To this after consdera
ton will the aid of the sober second thought of
the people, unfermented by the enthusiasm of war
and the rage for conquest.
The Filipinos no doubt object to further colonial
becton There is little in the history OF colonial
administration to commend it to people who have
long endured it, and is policy upon which the
United States will enter as novice, there no
guides there is no experience, by which the future
may be predicted.
Alter the treaty is ratified there many ways in
which we may with honor give up modify our
sovereignty in the Philippines. After the of
the islands have recouped in the amount paid -
Spain may give to the people the sovereignty and
self-government to which they aspire and for which
shoes and save us the use of the strong hand which
any outside power must use if it secure internal
quillity in that archipelago The application of power
there is to be dreaded for its effect upon us if not for
the consequences it will infict upon the islanders.
We are getting some experience in the cost OF
distant administration and witnessing of the
demoralizng effects upon ourselves. Already in
trigues and heartburnngs and rival ambitions are
champing like res in our civil and military circles,
and the most hopeful and sangune see but little
to encourage the experiment of a distant admnistra-
ton of the affairs of ten million alien people at dis
lance of ten thousand miles from the of gov
eminent
The we'll considered speech of Senator Mason is no
doubt due to the working of the sober second
thought. During the last session the tendency OF
every utterance OF that Senator toward further
ing the policy which he now deprecates and con-
dennis
When the treaty is ratified and peace is assured will
ensue period of calm discussion and intelligent
thought, and out of that may we'll issue policy in
line with our scheme of government, our history and
the spirit OF Our traditions
For this every patriot can better afford to wait than
the country can afford to elinch colonial policy now
and wait for the costly reaction and the overwhem
ing disappointment which will be sure to follow The
literature of the question is gathering volume every
day, and information, long lacking, is enghtenng the
country The commercial expectations are shown to
be inflated, and when they further examined in
the light of the experience OF the temperate
nations in the management OF tropical possessions
they will entirely disappear.