The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-15
A BIG TASK.


The interview with Mr.. Schuman, pres
ident of Cornell University, published in
our dispatches yesterday. gives a very
clear idea of the immense task that Pres
ident Mckinley imposed on this country
when he instructed our peace commits
sioners in Paris 20 insist upon the cession
OF the Philippines to the United States
President Schurman was the chief Of the
peace commission which the President
sent to the Philippines for the purpose Of
agreeing with the Filipino leaders upon
terms of peace. As all the world knows
the commission found that the Filipinos
were ready 70 negotiate on one basis only
namely, the evacuation of the islands by
the Americans.
From what President Schurman says it
VIII take the United States "a hundred
years or more. after they get control of the
islands, to introduce anything like civil
lization into them-that is, to bring all
the tribes to understand, respect and APP
preciate our institutions. There is a very
large number OF these tribes, and each
speaks a language different from any
other. AS many as sixty different Ian
guages are spoken. And according 10
President Schurmans judgment the sort
OF government that will answer for one
tribe will not answer for another. The
tribes differ in character and intelligence,
and therefore great good judgment will
have to be exercised to prevent continu-
Gus trouble.
According TO President Schurman's idea
each tribe should have a government of
its own-that is. a local government. If
his idea is adopted there Will be a num-
Der of governorships in the gift of the
President, but from the present outlook
they will not be very desirable positions
Still, there will not be lacking applicants
for them, even if the pay should be small.
The itching for Office is so great that the
least of the Presidents troubles will be
the finding of men willing 10 be governors
of Filipino tribes.
1t must not be understood that there are
no intelligent and educated men among
the Filipinos. President Schurman is
careful to make it clear that there are
very many such men. They are to be
found in each tribe. No doubt after they
become satisfied that our government
would be the best thing for the Fiipinos
they would lend helping hand in estab-
fishing and maintaining law and order in
the islands.
Before President Schurman went to the
Philippines he was very much against an
neXing the islands or holding them as de-
tendencies. 1t doesn't appear from his
interview whether he sum holds these
| opinions He does say, however, that hav-
| ing made bad bargain we must stand by
| it, He does not say that In so many
words, but that seems to be the purport
of what he says. He points out that hav-
| ing taken the islands from Spain-islands
| that Spain was not able to civilze in 4O(
| the maintenance of law and order in them
Every civilized nation expects this, and
will insist upon our giving the islands a
| strong and stable government.
| 1t is certain we have undertaken a iot
that viii occupy us for generations, anc
any profit in it for US, from any point Of
view The job Is so great that Congress
ought not to delay a moment, after it as.
sembes, in coming to a conclusion as tc
| the best course to pursue in respect TO the
| islands. If we are not mistaken the
adopting of a policy in respect to then
will be productive of greater debate thar
the question of ratifying the treaty witt
Spain was.