The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-07
AFTER We LICK THEM WHAT'S
TO Be DONE WITH THEM2

| with some manner of government for
| the people, if we cannot impose gov
| eminent of the American pattern. Per-
| haps some board of commissioners
| somewhere is brewing a scheme for ap-
| plication; but, If SO, we do not know
about it. The commission of concilia-
ton, of which President Schurman was
the head, having gone to pieces, no i'm
portant service can be expected of it.
The individual members may have
gained useful knowledge which they
can impart, but this is not at all GER
tain. The experience gained in Cuba
and Porto Rico will be of little value in
setting up government for the eastern
acquisitions. If there were any way by
which we could put a few American
statesmen at school in the colonial Of
flee of England or in her colonies, it
would take time to educate them ade-
quately. The probability is that we
shall blunder along no more successful
in civil affairs than in military affairs,
and confuse the two separate functions
in ways that will breed discomfort and
wrath that will not be effaced in
hundred years.
The Washington Star lately published
some comments of WuTing- Flung, the
Chinese minister to this country, on
the problems presented by our acqui-
sition of lands in the east. These are
their source, but also on account of
certain reasonableness that is conspic-
uous in them. A part of what he said
touches the subject under considera-
ton, and is worth quoting:
1t must be borne in mind that in order
to retain the islands without fomenting
a repetition of the frequent disturbances
which marked the sovereignty of Spain
in the Philippines, the legislative and ex-
ecutive branches of the American gov
eminent must enact and enforce code
of laws which will be in conformity with
the manners, customs and temperament
of the Filipino people. 1t would be an
impossibility for the United States to ex-
tend its own statutes to the FilpinoS as
they now stand and maintain a peaceful
and happy condition there. Every locality
has its character. and, of course, the ma
ture of the Filipino is widely divergent
from that of the Americans. Laws must
be enacted by the American congress to
apply to the Filipinos exclusively; laws
which are suitable and applicable, even to
a shade, to the natives. 1t will be impossi-
BILE for the people of the United States to
proclaim their own laws and then attempt
to make the Filipinos conform to them.
They must gather the natives study their
habits and disposition, and then frame
laws to conform to the populace. That, in
substance is an economic axiom which Is
beyond controversy.
The significance of this is that the
process of organic assimilation will be
a long one, however beneVolently un-
dertaken In consideration of the
hatred and distrust which our hasty
errors in dealing with the people hither-
tohave mplanted,it is likely to be longer
and much more difficult than it might
have been under different circumstan-
ces. But however unpromising, 1t
must be begun after the war is over,
with whatever skill can be summoned
for the exigency. 1t is not quite reas-
surfing to think of Hanna and Plat and
Quay and Chandler and Mason and
Foraker and Morgan straining their
craftsmanship and philanthrophy to
frame legislation adapted to make the
Filipinos contented and prosperous.
But these are not much worse htted
for the business than the best of their
associates The wisest among them
are the ones who recognize that they
have no qualification for this work.
MANY are loath to undertake it, pre-
ferring rather to throw all responsible
ity for governing the new possessions
on the president, although knowing
that his special qualifications are not
superior to their own. He has. how
ever. this advantage, that he can, act
ing in the capacity of commander-ln-
thief of the army and navy, try ex-
periments in government more freely
than congress can. An executive Or
der can be modified or revoked more
readily than a statute can be amend
ed or repealed in case it's operation is
harmful.