The San Francisco call., 1899-09-20

the settlement Of the question of the duty
OF civilized nations toward the uncivillzed.
The theory of the white mans burden
may briefly be stated this: 1t is the busi-
ness and the interest and the duty of the
white man-that is. the man of civilization.
TO rule, to care for, to uplift, to enlighten
ana to bring, II possible, into the light OF
modern civilization the other man wherever
ne IS found; that it is at once their interest
and their duty to do this, with violence,
with tact, with kindness, each may be
necessary; to do 1t whether the other man
hkes 1t or not; to do it at infinite and inn
measurable cost alike to the white man
and the other man. and, If possible. to lift
this lower, alien, colored race to something
ike the plane OF civilization which the most
advanced nations have reached. In the
meantime 1t is the business of the civilized
races of the world-the most civilized races
Of the earth-to police the whole planet and
make people behave themselves just as 1t is
the business of the best and most civilized
people of a community to police that whole
community so that the elements that are
disorderly and uncvilized shall be COM
PEELED to behave themselves. 1t is part of
TINS theory that 1t is the duty Of the civil
ized nations to put an end to the nameless
horrors of heather savagery and heather
civilization wherever they exist.
Now. one word about the application of
this doctrine Of ours-and it's a very sad
subject, but II is a subject we have got TO
discuss fairly and freely, and in which
every voice eas got to be heard and every
honest man must have a right to express
his opinion. however unpopular. Mr. Ed
win Atkinson. with whom l differ greatly.
has got just as much right, and Is just as far
removed from any reasonable purpose or
reasonable work or influence any other
man in this country. II the beginning of
our imperial career is going to be the sup
clamor, of absolutely free discussion of
every subject which can involve the safety
and welfare of this nation l say. the be
ginning of our imperial career is going to be
marked with blackness that will blast
us altogether.
In regard to the Phillppines-for, of
c he
which we speak-how did get them?
don't know. l didn't want them. 1 think
most of the intelligent men of this country
didn't want them, and as for the rest of
us. as Mr.. Dooley expresses II, they don't
know the difference between the Philippines
and canned goods. And certainly if the
American people had any idea that the an
nexation of the Philippines would have cost
us one-haf of what it has already cost
us they never would have consented to it
If they had been consulted. Some people
think that the annexation of the Philip
pines providential. Perhaps the Lord
did it: perhaps the devil did it; perhaps
Mckinley did 1t. l don't know but l sus-
pect that all three had hand in 1t. but
do know that it's done and 1t can't be un-
done.
The white mans burden in the Philip
pines Professor Bacon concluded. wa!
the days work cut out for the people o
the United States.
I'VE have got TO do 1t patiently, M
said 1--WE have got TO do II with perfec
of what 1t costs and will
really no hope of reward except that o
our own consciences. But we are goint
to do it,
Hon John Barrett, ex-Minister to Siam
was introduced as soon as the applaus'
at Professor Bacon's effort Rad ceased
Mr.. Barrett told of his official travels il
the far East, especially in the Philip
pines, and gave as his deduction from hi
observations that with proper men, no
politicians to educate the Filipino, HI
would become a valuable acquisition t
the nation. On the score of morality il
the far East he said was not so Ger
tain that the Asiatic might have whit
mans burden.
Professor II. S. Pritchett, Chief of tn,
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
Rev. w. B. Geoghegan of Berkeley anC
Rev. Horatio Stebbins made short anC
loudly -applauded addresses on the sub
ject under discussion.
The election of the club was a unani
nous Endorsement of the selections of th'
committee. the old board o
officers being elected in most part; TIL,
new directory is as follows: Sheldon G
Kellogg, president; Warren Gregory, frs
president; S. c. Bigelow, SECOND
w. H. Payson: secretary
Edwin Fretwell, treasurer; A. G.. Eells
Edwin Bonnell, David Bush and F. w
MoebuS.