The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-29
A BARBAROUS SURVIVAL
Schurman Upon Our RESPONSE
bilities in the Philippines.
EXAMPLES OF DISASTER
The Fatal Confusion of Government and
Property - Unquestionable Civil
Service ecessary-Ultimate In
dependence Is the End.

Ithaca, n. l., sept. 2S.-PreSldeni
Jacob CT. Schurman in his address a,
the opening of the scholastic year OF
Cornell university to-day spoke at con-
siderable length on the subject Of ma
tional expansion. MIR. Schurman was
president of the commission sent to the
Philippines 10 investigate the subject
of the civil government of the archi-
pelago At the outset Mr.. Schurman
referred 10 his address of last year
when he answered negatively the ques-
ton: shall we take the Philippines
from SpainH" His opinion. he said,
brought upon him no little condemna-
ton. but the rapid march of events
rendered it unnecessary to consider
whether these opinions were sound or
not.
The only question to-day was this:
The United States having taken the
Philippines from Spain, what shall be
done with them?"
This grave issue must be decided by
the president and congress. With them
he thought it could be left in the con-
fident expectation that a wise solution
would be reached. He invited attention
to some observations on the general
subject of national expansion. Our as
sumption of sovereignty over the Phil
ippines was altogether unlike the pre-
vious phases of our national expansion.
He pointed out that whereas in the de-
velopment of the United States from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, practically
uninhabited territory was found, the
Philippine islands were already peopled
with Malayans, who had long made it
their home, who resented the intrusion
n
cal environment was far better adapted
than it was to white men. There are
those who speak of the Philippines as
our possessions and calmly conclude we
may do what we like with them. This
was too barbarous to be taken serious
ly; it was not callousness of heart; it
was only neutrality-suspicious.. The Term
Ownership and possession" were
barbarous survival when applied to
any relation between one people and
another. The sovereign power owned
nothing, but there was something 1t
owed 1t was charged with the re-
sponsibility of government. Our rela-
lions with the Philippines would be
misrepresented so long as we retained
that fatal confusion Of government and
property.
Mr.. Schurman said: I'VE simply pos
sess in virtue of the treaty of Paris the
right to govern or aid in governing the
we have not yet got beyond the first
function of government-the suppress
sion of insurrection and the establish
ment of peace and order.
There was" said President Schur-
man, mo instance in history of the
successful government of a colony
where profit to the parent state or ITS
citizens had been a leading considera-
ton. On the other hand there were
many examples of disaster and rebel
lion from such unworthy greed and ex-
ploitation."
Continuing he said:
Il was often asked in the Philippines
If our civil service was better than that
of SPAIN Here is a point where the
Filipinos suspect and fear us. We must
allay their anxiety and suspicion by
splendid Philippine civil service. l be-
lieve we shall. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary. But there will be no harder task
in connection with our government OF
the archipelago. The success OF our
administration in the Philippines will
depend upon the man we send to con-
duct it much more than upon acts OF
congress or any other circumstance.
In conclusion Mr.. Schurman said:
What is the end OF colonization
Why should we extend our sovereignty
over remote countries and alien peo-
pies? / answer that the only justifaole
object of such expansion is the estab-
lishment of good government in the
territory annexed, the elevation OF ITS
people in civilization and the training
of them In progressive self-goVernment
with a view of ultimate independence
whether by partnership in or in separa-
ton from sovereign state.
I'm the Philippine islands our own
mission is to educate and elevate the
Filipinos and aid them in governing
themselves We shall not adopt the
policy of scuttle, nor, although Amerl-
can sovereignty must be established
even by force, shall we ever dream OF
the policy of determination. Not OPP
preston. not abandonment and ~eser-
ton: not these but honest and fraternal
cooperation with the Filipinos FOR the
establishment of just and stable gov
eminent in which the natives shaii
have ever increasing participation, the
Improvement of the means OF commun-
icatton, the freer intermingling OF the
tribes and races and hearty native CO.
operation with the Americans whose
best political traditions are but the
realization of the dearest ideals OF the
Filipino people"
Bradstreet's Review.