The times., 1899-07-11
TUESDAY. JULY 1L~1Sa9. =
The Insular cornunixon

The InsuIar Cornrnis
The work done by the Insl,,,- Commits
sion under instructions of the Administra-
tion is one of the most shameful and pail
pable attempts ever made. by men in high
place to deceive and misguide public iudg-
ment Behind the purposMe political
motive which, when Eured by the
standard of the stupendous interests in
volved. is shown to be as mean in spirit
as the creature who betrays the trust re
posed in him by honest people without
guile.
The summary of the Commissioners re-
FORT, given out in most unusual way
shows that the sole aim of the body is tC
use its trust to pave the way fer n Longer
continuance OF the policy of Incompetence
and greed which has made conditions il
our colonial possessions CALLING to the na-
5ives and aggravating to the Americans
practical sense OF the proper administra-
tlon of government. Its main, immediate
parpcse is based upon narrow and con
temptible expedient. In effect the Com
mission says that at this time President
Mckinley does no: intend to stand sponsor
for the magnificent results OF the war with
Spain; that he intends TO shirk the re-
sponsibiHty of even suggesting, at this
time. what final disposition shall be made
of territory once the property OF Spain and
which has been brought under the sover-
eighty OF the United States by the regular
processes of the settlement of war indem-
mites; that he does not propose to as
sumo the political risk of resolutely fac
ing moral obligations imposed upon :ht
conscience and the manhood of this nation
in the full gaze of world all too dubiou:
Of the capacity of republican institution:
10 meet the requirements of empire. which
are created by the resistless movement o.
Christian civilization to bring all people;
together in closer communion of aspira-
ton and sympathy.
And why is the President thus attempt
ing 10 shirk a responsibility which should
exalt his soul and lift his ambition to Z
height that towers above expediency a:
high as the sun above the earth? Docs
the threatening situation in Ohio make
him hesitate2 Or is it the still baser mo.
tive which impelled the Administration tC
employ all of its resources of ingenuity
and power to nuIlify the gravity of the
charge that either incapacity or seoundrel-
ism had proyisioned the Republics trium-
plant Iegious in the field with meat thai
was unwholesome if not positively poi
sonous? Are favored contractors yet to b,
cared for through the Administration oi
our insular possessions by the War De-
partment?
But whatever be the motive behind thi:
po;tering policy. this failure OF the ma
tons Executive to measure up to an
opportunity greater than any that has
Gene to an occupant of the White HOUSE
since the days of Lincoln, the result oi
the course prescribed for him by his In
sular Commission will be just as disas-
trcus TO the country and as rulnous to the
millions OF new people looking to thi.
Government to deliver them from the
thraldom OF political oppression imposed
BY the corrupt monarchy Of Spain, as 1
the controlling influence were as base a.
chicanery and wickedness could make it
The Commission makes no new discovery
in its definition Of the political relation,
of cur new possessions to the Genera
Government. We all were aware, befor
the Commission brought its powerful in
fellect to bear upon the subject tha
there is a radical difference between ter
ritory a part OF the United States and ter
Titory in possession of the United States.
Nor did We need the aid of the Commits
sion to discover that I'VE can do as W
please with the islands which we obtaine
from Spain; that we can sell them. Civ
them away, or turn them over to the in
habitants who live upon them for the es
tablishment of independent governments
Yes. certainly. I'VE could do as we pleas
with the Islands, provided We waged tn
war with Spain for the purpose Of Ian
speculation In that view OF the case, 70
example having paid Spain twenty mil
lion dollars for the Philippines after com
pletely destroying every vestige OF Span
ish authority in the archipelago, we coul
either sell the islands ar profit TO Grea
Britain or to the highest bidder at a bar
gain and invest the profits in land else
where, or we could give the islands to
syndicate OF American capitalists for ex
ploitation. Or we could even turn ther
back to the natives for the establishment q
independent government after the rabbit
hearted military operations now beln
conducted in the Philippines have led
their logical end-humiiiating failure. @
course, If we are so minded. We can dea
with these islands in the gross commercIa
spirit suggested by the Insular Commits
sion. Just as the land shark eIsewher
deals with his holdings. But can we trans
fer the natives with the land? II we Sc
the islands or give them away. what ar
we to do with the teeming millions c
people-"half devil and half child
upon them? They are human beings VIII
cannot be bartered like live stock. Ther
are obligations between human beings ths
have not their roots in money Has thl
simple fact ever occurred to the Insula
commlssions Does its master. Mr. MS
KIgiey. feel that there is no moral obi