The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-07
From the Boston Herald.

Suppose that during the next fight
| ing season the army of the United
States in the Philippines is entirely
successful in the task imposed upon it,
that the so-called usurrection is sup
pressed, and the efforts of the island
| race to be free and independent is
strangled, then what" The people there
must have a government. What kind
or government? Are the six or eight
millions of natives 10 be kept in order
and their business and social affairs
adjusted according +" the notions of
what is proper law and order for the
six or eight hundred Americans. not
connected with the military establish
ment, who may become SojournerS in
the country for business purposes?
Are foreigners and natives to be amen
able to the same equal laws as we
strive to enact and enforce in the home
territory of the United States? There
are persons who appear to think that
the success Of our armies will end our
trouble there, and that only an easy
job will remain. One might judge from
the tone of official talk and the utter
ances of organs of the administration
that this was the anticipation of the
sta tesmen who have brought the nation
they belong to the order of the short
sighted, and this will soon be discov-
cred to their confusion and undoing.
Whoever imagines that the institu-
tions and practices OF the Ango-Saxon
people can be imposed violently on an
oriental people and made to work sat
isfactorily, either to them or to us, has
little wisdom. The simple fact that
they are imposed, not chosen, would de-
prive them of reasonable efficacy, If
they constituted a Eodel of theoretical
excellence. This single condition
would prevent the natural develop
ment of whatever native genius for
government might exist in their nation.
Lamartine somewherr expresses this
sentiment: "CivilizatiOn itself when
forced upon people is but slavery, and
the first condition Of the acceptance
by any nation of sO-Called reform is
the liberty of rejecting it, There is
fundamental wisdom in this utterance
1t is accordance with human nature,
with human history and with that idea
of the divine government which recog
nizes free will and the liberty of choice
between good and evil as attributes of
the soul of man. If the statutes of
Massa chussetts could hp imposed upon
the people of LuZon and strictly en-
forced by the imperial authority of this
nation, it is probable that their oper-
alton would produce a very different
effect than Is produced here. where they
slowly formed through generations, the
accumulated growth Of a free peoples
wisdom.
Secretary Long asserted, when he
spoke in Boston some time ago regard
ing the administrations course, that
there was no purpose Of making vassaS
of the people of the Philippines. But he
did not tell us clearly, nor has any rep
resentative of the president clearly told
the country, what it is intended to
them citizens? Nobody affirms this.
coming independent, and. in the nature
cannot be allies, they must be, if not
subjects without right of self-govern-
ment. except in such limited degree,
which they are subject may choose to
a privilege. which may be cancelled at
pleasure. The difference between this
condition and essential vassaage is
fining. 1t is for the power to determine
eminent they shall have, that we are
fighting. This the president who has
made this war holds to be the prime
and inclusive condition of every other
good we can expect by acquiring the
philippine islands. At least. that is
the ground upon which alone the war
can be justified to an American audi
ence.
But when the rebellion" is subdued
by a conquest we must be prepared