The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-13
FILIPINO CAPABILITIES.

The Cubans have been promised in
dependence. They We're given to under
stand at the beginning of the war with
Spain, that when Spanish rule was en-
ded they should be aided and protected
in the establishment Of an Independent
republic. That assurance has been re-
peated to them by President Mckinley.
They are patiently awaiting the full
hllment of the pledge.
Had such an assurance been given
to the Filipinos there would have been
no instruction started in February
Had President Mckinley expressed the
slightest interest in them or indicated
in his messages to congress that he
was concerned over their welfare or
future. there would have been no war
with the Filipinos If any official in
timation were given them now that
their cause would receive favorable
consideration with that of the Cubans
the war would end. Then why isn't
such an assurance given?
There is only one excuse imperialists
can think Of. They say that the Fill
pinos are incapable of governing or
taking care Of themselves. Admiral
Dewey, whose reputation for truth and
Veracity Is higher than that of any pol
itician in Hanna's retinue, whose
knowledge of the West Indies and the
Philippines comes from long service in
those archipelagoes and intimate ac-
quaintance with the people, whose
judgment IS better than the combined
wisdom of all the cuckoos who whistle
when the White House clock strikes,
says that the Filipinos are better able
to take care of themselves than the
Cuhans are. AS to their ability to
project themselves from being gobbled
up by some foreign power we refer in
qlSrers TO General Otis.
r. a recent Interview Admiral Dewey
is quoted as verifying his official re-
ports of last year. He said in Gibralt or
tie osher day: L have not changed
my opinion, which / stated in the early
days at Manila, then speaking of know
ledge of both peoples, that I consider
the Filipinos more capable of self gov
eminent than the Cubans.
President Schurman of the insular
commission. appointed by the admins
tration to investigate conditions in the
Philippines. was shown this statement
OF the admirais. He said:
THAT is a personal opinion of Ad
niral Dewey. As TO the proper method
OF governing TIE Filipinos, that is a mat
ter upon which reported TO the president
and L cannot discuss. I quite agree with
Admiral Dewey. howeN er. that the in
tciligence exhibited by the Filipinos is
otter surprising. The great mass az the
people are, OF course, ignorant. but you
cannot 30 into any city in the islands
without finding a sprinkling of able, in
selligent and well educated men. and in
Manila this number is considerable
Many OF these men have been educated
in European universities. ] can recall al
the moment doctors. lawyers and business
men among the Filipinos as highly etir-
Gated as any ] have met anywhere in the
world. | share Admiral Deweys SYM
pathy for the Filipinos. but 1 consider ii
a great pigy that they 80 not recognizes
that the best thing for Them would be TO
acknowledge american sovereignty
General Charles King who held an
important command in the Philippines
has stated, since his return to the
United States. that the capability Of
the Filipinos for self government can
not be doubted. and # they had a fair