The times., 1899-12-01
Government for the Philippines.

would be painful TO contemplate.
Government for the Philippines.
By the time Congress meets the insur-
rection in Luzon ought to be so nearly
crushed and thing Of the past, that the
President can ask the legislative branch OF
the Government TO begin consideration OF
the important and even difficult question OF
colonial organization and government, We
do not imagine that much progress toward
a satisfactory solution OF the problem will
be made during the session about to be-
gin. Like all other public questions, this
one will be subordinate to the Administra-
tons interest in the next Presidential
election, and that is, Of course unfortun-
ate. Because the effort on the part of the
Republican leaders will not be so much
10 evolve system Of colonial administra-
tion which shall be at once efficient eco
nomical, and adjusted TO the conditions
and requirements Of the governed. as TO
provide new patronage for politicians and
places for their friends and dependents, as
rewards for party service in the cam
paign Of 1900.
In surmising what Congress may or may
not do in the premises, it is necessary to
remember that the only Independent con-
siderauon the subject is likely to receive
viii be given it by the Senate, and, in
existing circumstances that will hardly
be productive Of immediate or desirable
results. The reason this is a fair predic-
tion is that the House of Representatives,
which viii be operated practically under
executive orders, win merely accept in a
perfunctory manner whatever it is in
structed to. and any scheme for the gov
ernment of the Philippines, Hawaii Porto
Rico, and so on, emanating from 1t, viii
represent the means designed by the Ad-
ministration to strengthen its political po
sition. and will be without necessary ref
erence to the best good of the nation or Of
the island populations.
In the Senate we expect to find d num-
Der Of gentlemen who sufficiently feel the
weight of our responsibility to provide an
honest and scientific administrative system
for cur colonies, to give the matter earnest
thought, study, and investigation. Such
labors ultimately may prove fruitful, but
not this year For example, they might
realize the outrage upon the poor Porto
Ricans. involved in cutting them off from
their old markets, and refusing TO fur
nish them with any new ones. But. pend
ing the Presidential election, it would be
futile TO expect or hope that the party now
in power would consent to give them re-
lief from the oppression of the Dingley
tariff destroyer To think OF such a thing
might ALLEVIATE the contributory affections
Of the Sugar Trust, OF the beet rsisers of
Nebraska. and OF stogey and plug farmers
OF the Connecticut Valley and West NiT-
ginia In the same way, if a plan for the
government Of the Philippines We're pre-
sented. calculated to do away with the
Manila commercial organization for pur-
poses OF smuggling and so on, il would
straightway encounter the sturdy Opposi-
rion OF a counter scheme TO govern the
archipelago by means OF commission. of
which one or another Individual of the
DENLY variety would be sure TO be the con-
trolling element.
So il is plain that anything the Senate
Nigh, essay in the direction Of evolving
2 colonial policy and administrative system
would be nipped in the bud. At best, that
body could only hope TO secure some slight
compromise modification of what might be
served up to it from the executive, through
the lower house After the elections Of next
November, the situation VIII be different.
If Mr.. Mckinley were again made Chief
Magistrate, he would not need to be so
fearful Of consequences, and be nigh; even
lend his influence to colonial system so
constructed that while it would be elastic
under Republican regimes, would, at the
same time, provide for the strictest civil
service reform organization whenever the
Democratic party happened 10 be in power
IT, on the other hand, the present occupant
Of the White House should be elected to
return to Canton, then, Of course, a Demo
/ cratic government would settle the colonial
/ and cognate questions through a Congress
I independent and free Of executive control
/ in both of its branches, In either case, it is
! reasonably evident that nothing much car
/ be accomplished for q twelvemonth At least