New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-29
N THE MATTER or THE PHILIPPINES.

N THE MATTER or THE PHILIPPINES.
DR. Stevenson Of New-York University. makes
elsewhere in this mornings Tribune some
what novel contribution to current discussion
Of the Philippine question. to which. though by
no means agreeing with the views expressed
we gladly give publicity. He speaks for those
who oppose the annexation Of the Philippines
but who are not at all in sympathy with the
manners and methods of the "Ant-Imperiast
League" such men, he thinks are very
many" Perhaps they are, though we have
observed no convincing evidence Of the fact
Many or few, however. their opinions. tenn
perately and earnestly expressed. as in DR..
Stevensons letter. are entitled to respectful con
sideraton. Much Of what Or. Stevenson says
has been said before and fully discussed pro
and con- and further debate upon It would be
Of doubtful value But some Of his points may
well receive in passing n word Of comment.
DIT. Stevenson says that our capture of Manila
did not render necessary the annexation Of the
islands any more than the capture Of Paris
made necessary the annexation Of France to
Germany. We cannot believe that on second
thought he will deem the cases parallel. The
capture Of Paris did not destroy the Government
Of France nor deprive II Of the ability 10 eXer-
else the international functions Of sovereignty.
There was still an organized national Govern
ment to which practically the whole nation
was loyal. But with the capture Of Manila the
Spanish Government of the Philippines was
destroyed. II was rendered no longer capable
Of exercising either the internal or the external
functions Of government. No native Government
was established in its place; and so the islands
were doomed TO anarchy unless the United
States set up some efficient substitute for the
Government which. through the exigences Of
war II had stricken down. If We do not say
the capture Of Manila made necessary the an
nexaton Of the islands. we may and must say
that II rendered necessary our assumption Of
responsibility for their future government and
welfare.
Again, Or Stevenson says il cannot he con
troverted successfully" that the Teutonic races
cannot colonze the Philippines Neither can
II on present information be proved that
they cannot The experiment has not been
made on any general scale. But there are many
thousands Of Europeans residing In Manila,
many Of them Of the Teutonic races and they
seem 10 get along there very well; and We have
il on the best Of authority that inland on The
higher ground. the climate is more agreeable.
and indeed. 10y no means unfavorabe 10 Ameri-
can and European colonization. That. however.
is not 10 the point. The Teutonc races have
not largely c0lonizcd Java and Sumatra yet
Or Stevenson will not dispute the benefcence
of Dutch control Of those islands. The Teutonlc
races are still in the minority In New-Mexico
and Arizona. but that is no reason for renounc-
ing possession of those Territories. We are not
sure that Alaska will ever be largely coonized
by men Of Tcutonic blood hut we cannot reckon
the ACQUISITION Of it 10 have been an error II
IS not at all necessary for the fulflment of our
duties that we should colonize the Philippines
with settlers from the United States.
As 70 a third point urged by DR.. Stevenson,
that we are ourselves not fit to assume RESPONSE
hlty for the government of the Philippines 1t
is 10 be regretted that in that he agrees with
the possmstc self-depreclation Of the Anti
Impcrialist League" II would. OF course, be
idle 10 say that our civil service is as good as II
should be- Put surely DR. Stevenson goes too
far when he says we have none except IN name.
We have one and both at home and abroad II
IS improving in quality and efficiency year by
year He refers 10 the example Of Great Brit
aims former mismanagement Of her colonies.
But he Is certainly aware of the fact. upon
which all students Of the subject agree, that
the assumption or responsibility Tor VAST
colonial empire was one Of the chief factors If
not the chief. in reforming and improving the
British civil service and in bringing IL 10 IFS
present state Of superb efficiency II is not by
sitting I'm the dust and crying "Unclean" that
this Nation is 10 reach its best estate. but rather
by manfully assuming the burdens that duty
lays upon us and manfully striving to bear
them Alright.
We ourselves must Pilgrims be.
Launch our Mayfower, and steer boldly through
the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Futures portal with the Pasts
blood rusted key.
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