Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-09-21
IT'S UP TOCONGRESS
SCHURMAN GIVES OUT STATE
MENT ON PHILIPPINES.
HOW TO END THE WAR
Government for the Islands Should Be
Established and as Much Liberty as
Possible Given the Natives-Many
Tribes and Many Languages Solu-
ton Of Problem.

Ithaca, Sept. 14.-President Schur-
man Wednesday gave cut the follow
ing statement to the Associated Press
on the Philippine affairs:
1T requires some effort to realize
the vastness of the archipelago, which
extends in a triangular form from
FOrmOsa to Borneo and Celebes,
through sixteen degrees of latitude.
The multiplicity and heterogeneous
nature of the tribes is something as
founding. Over sixty different Ian
guages are spoken in the archipelago
and the majority Of the tribes are
small, half dozen of each
having not over quarter Of a
million members. The languages of
these people are as distinct from one
another as French is from Spanish or
Italian so that the speech of any one
tribe is unintelligible to its neighbors.
These tribes are all civilized and chris
tianized, but small uncivilized tribes
inhabit the mountains in LuZon and
form large part of the population of
Mindanano. 1t is the Tagalos who in
Mia, who are resisting the authorities
Of the United States. The other
civilized tllipinOs are neu-
trail, except where they
| are coerced by armed bands Of Taga-
los. 1t would be incorrect to assume,
however, that these tribes are allies of
ours. Indeed, they are not without
suspicion of the white race. But they
are men of intelligence and property
and the masses when not stirred up by
the Tagalos recognize the advantage
to them Of American sovereignty and
so many remain neutral. The insur-
rectiOn, though serious enough as our
experience has proven, is not a ma
| tional uprising. Indeed, there is no
| Philippine nation. There is a multi
| farious collection of tribes having only
this in common, that they belong to
the archipelago no more constitute a
nation than the inhabitants OF
| the continent of Europe do
The United States having assumed
| by treaty of peace with Spain, SOW
| ereignty over the archipelago became
responsible for the maintenance Of
| peace and order. This is an obligation
which the intelligent Filipinos expect
us to fulfill. In taking the Philippines
we annexed a great responsibility
/ The fact that the responsibility is
heavier than most people supposed it
| Sc 70, foi n
discharge it. 1 repeat that the Philip
| pine question is essentially a question
of national honor and obligation"
In reply to an inquiry whether any
thing is now left but to fight it out
| President Schurman said:
I'm my opinion much good could be
| done by a declaration on the part Of
congress that form Of government
! is to be established in the islands or
better STILL let congress establish a
government for the Philippines and
have it put in force in all parts and
among all tribes hostile to the omitted
| States This will serve several pur-
poses. 1t would distinguish between
our friends and enemies and treat the
| former according TO their deserts. 1t
would also give our enemies a demon
stration of free government on the
American plan. l have called atten-
ton to the fact that a government
which is we'll adapted to one tribe may
need considerable modification to be
available for another"
Asked about the capacity of the Fill
pino peoples to govern themselves,
| Schurman replied they had no expert
ence in self-government except in
municipal affairs, and even this was
subject to the control of the Spanish
authorities. President Schurman
seemed firm in the conviction that
some form of home rule for each Of
the tribes under the watchful supervi-
sion of the general government at Ma
Mia was the solution of the problem.