Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-17
A PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.

"A COMMISSION TO investigate Couui-
ions In the Philippine islands Is an
nounced. The investigation, 1t is stated,
will be purely of an economic nature
and not at all political. The president,
it seems, desires to obtain fuller n
more accurate Information in regard to
the practical conditions In the Philip
pines than is now at command. Doubt
less 1t Is desirable to have this III
formation, although q good deal of a
trustworthy character has been learned
regarding the economic conditions in
those islands since the policy Of making
them American territory was conceived.
1t is known that they are capable of pro-
ducing a great deal more sugar and
tobacco than they now produce and 1t
should be understood that their de-
velopment In these directions will not be
to the advantage of American sugar and
tobacco producers. 1t Is probable. also,
that industries can be successfully es-
tablished in the islands whose products
will compete with those of American In
dustries in Asiatic markets. The fact
Is well known that nowhere is labor
cheaper than in the Philippines and that
there is an abundant supply of 1t, so
that in the event of the United States
annexing the islands more or less of
this labor might be brought here and
utilized to lower the price of American
labor.
Valuable as this knowledge may be.
1t seems to us that 1t is no less impor-
tant that the American people should
be given more information than they
possess in regard to political conditions
that Is, what proportion of the Philip
pine people desire independence, how
many are disposed to accept American
rule and whether or not they are capa-
BILE of self-government. Those who in
sist that we shall force our government
upon these people assert that they are
not fit to govern themselves. Enlighten-
ment upon this very important matter
Is greatly to be desired and 1t seems
hardly possible that President Mckinley
| will send a commission to the Philip
| pines without instructing it to report
on the question whether or not the Fill
| pinos are capable of forming and main
| tanning an independent government.
| This, in our Judgment, is a matter OF
far more vital Importance to the Ameri
can people than any commercial con
sideration, unless it shall be decided
to subject the Filipinos to u rule In
any event. Rear Admiral Dewey has
| said in regard to such of those people
as he has come in contact with tina
| they are more capable Of s~elf-govern'
| ment than the Cubans. There is he ex'
cellent authority Of General Wood, mill
tary governor of Santiago, that the
| Cubans are fit to govern themselves. AS
pine people are now carrying on a gov
eminent which appears to be perform
ing its functions to the satisfaction OF
those who give it allegiance. This may
not in all its details be such a govern
ment as would be acceptable to Amerl
cans, but there is reason to believe thai
it is we'll suited to the people who sup
port 1t. The system of government II
Mexico and in the countries generally
of Central and South America would no
be satisfactory to the people of thu
United States. but we do not therefore
question the fitness Of the people O.
those countries for self-government.
President Mckinley undoubtedly hat
excellent reasons for appointing a Phil
ippine commission and from the char
actor Of the men he Is said to laVI
selected the country would safely ex
pect as trustworthy information as it i
practicable to obtain. But an investi
cation purely economic in its scope
while it might have value, would hardl.
be satisfactory.