Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-17

cause he linches at sacrifice and effort,
and to do nothing is easiest and in
wolves the least cost. On those who
have things to do there rests a respon-
sibility which is not on those who have
no obligations as doors.
If the doubters were in the majority
there would, it is true, be no labor, no
sacrifices, no anxiety and no burden
raised or carried; no contribution from
! our ease and purse and comfort to the
welfare of others. or even to the ex-
tension of our our to the welfare
of ourselves. There would be ease, but
alas, there would be nothing done.
But grave problems come in the life
of a nation, however much men may
seek to avoid them. They come with
out our seeking, why, We do not know,
and it is not always given us to know;
but the generation on which they are
forced cannot avoid the responsibility
of honestly striving for their solution.
We may not know precisely how to
solve them, but we can make an honest
effort to that end, and if made in cons
c%ience, justice and honor, it will not be
in vain.
The future of the Philippine islands is
now in the hands of the American people.
Until the treaty was ratified or rejected
H. - G 41;- ..1.
ment could only preserve the peace and
protect life and property. That treaty
now commits the free and enfranchised
Filipinos to the guiding hand and The lib
eralizing influences, the generous yinpa
this, the unlifting education, not Of their
American masters, but of their American
emancipators. No one can tell to-day
what is best for them or for US. l know
no one at this hour who is wise enough
or sufficiently informed to determine what
form of government will best subserve
their interests, and our interests, their
and our well being.
If we knew everything by intuition-and
1 sometimes think there are those who
believe that if we do not they dove
should not need information; but unfor-
tunately most of us are not in that
happy state. The whole subject is now
with Congress and Congress is the voice,
the conscience and the judgment of the
American people. Upon their judgment
and conscience can we not rely? I believe
in them, l trust them. I know of no bet
ter or safer human tribunal than the
people.
Until Congress shall direct Otherwise, it
will be the duty of the executive to pos
sess and hold the Philippines, giving to
the people thereof peace and order n
bene1icent government, affording them
every opportunity to prosecute their law
full pursuits, encouraging them in thrift
and industry, making them feel ard know
that We are their friends, not their enc
mics, that their good is our aim, that
their welfare is our welfare. but that
neither their aspirations nor oIrs can be
realized until our authority IS eeknoYl-
edged and unquestioned.
That the inhabitants of the Philippines
will be benefited by this republic is my
mistaken belief; that they wall nave a
kindlier government under Oh" guidance
and that they will be aided in every pos
sible way to be self respecting and self
governing people is as true as that the
aIlIC ASdh pCOplC v w ~ liz q dAA
abiding faith in their own government
and in their own Institutions.
No imperial designs lurk in the Ameri-
can mind. They are alien to American
sentiment, thought and purpose. Our
priceless principles undergo no change
under a tropical sun. They go with the
fiat:
Why read we not the changeless truth,
The free can conquer but TO saver"
If we can benefit these remote peoples,
who will object? If in the Years Of the
future they are established in government
under law and liberty, who will regret our
perils and sacrifices? Who viii not re-
joiee in our heroism and humanity? Al
ways perils and always after them safe
ty; always arkness and clouds. out al
way shining through them the light aid
sunshine; always cost and sacrifice, but
always after them fruition AID liberty,
education and civilization.
L have no light of knowledge not COM
nor to my cOuptrymen. l do not proph-
esy. The present is all absorbing to me,
but l cannot bound my vision By the
bloodstained trenches around Manila,
where every red drop, whether from The
veins of an American soldier or u mis-
guided Filipino, is anguish to my heart;
but by the broad range of future years,
when that group of islands under the i'm
pulse of the year just past, shall a
become the gems and glories of the trop-
ical seas, a land of plenty and Of increas-
ing possibilities. a people redeemed from
savage incidence and habits, devoted to
the arts and peace, in touch with the COM
merce and trade of all nations, enjoying
the blessings of freedom, IF civil 2nd re-
ligious liberty, of education ana Of homes,
and whose children and children's chill
dren shall for ages bless the American re-
public because it emancipated and re-
deemed their fatherland and set them in
the pathway of the the world best civ
ilization.
GDRICk EN- QUE