The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-01

ulVaH OF any politicians anywhere
Some people say that America cannot ad-
minister colonies: that we are not competent
for it. Why not? We have been doing it
since the foundation of this government We
administered the province OF louisiana which
we purchased by treaty with France; we adj
ministered the Florida purchase; we have ad-
minlstered what We conquered from Mexico;
Cuba Is 1t not disparagement on the
American people to say that they are not
capable OF modernizhg these peoples that
what was done by the Dutch and the French,
the Germans and the English. without the
least difficulty? (Applause)
FILIPINOS NOT READY.
Now, my fellow citizens, l will assume, for
the purpose of what am going to say that
the United States becomes vested with the
sovereignty of the Philippine islands. Some
people say that the only duty we ought
to perform under the circumstances is i'm
medlately to get out and leave those people
to their self-government. AS a matter of
great deal of investigation, made under the
highest sense OF official duty and RESPONSE
bilfty. and as my duty as man I do not
believe that the Filipinos are at the present
time in the least degree fitted for sef-gov-
eminent. / think the events which are being
written today on the pages Of the daily papers
are corroboration and demonstration OF
the truth of that remark. l believe that the
evacuation or deseation of the Philippine
archipelago, by the United States at this
which the world has never seen and as q
secondary result in the immediate partition
or these islands among the various powers
OF Europe, who are endeavorng to cut UP
ana divide the Chinese empire. They are
among the richest islands in the world.
Ihey contain between 1000, 900 and 5000 900
OF people; The present difficulties be
passed without very much trouble They are
not like our American Indians nation
or hunters; they are cultivators of the SOIL
PEOPLE OF other islands manifesting
disposition to come in and accept the situa-
ton. l eventually expect to see what Ia
seen In the Straits Settlements by Great
Britain. Britain took hold of the settle
ments twenty-five years ago. and today the
able and prosperous regions on the face Of the
earth, concerning which inquiry can be made
But anyway, so long as there stands in the
sf I'M sky flag arrayed against the
is heard In the Philippine land shot against
the boys In blue SO long as they are In
danger, any contempt for American power
exists, there should be no Questioning about
what should be finally or at present done
(Applause.)
In regard to these people would, as 1 said
IN chicago some days, ago, restrain them
ever necessary restrain them with the hand
OF chastisement. But little by little l would
pursue pursue the the policy as was done In the
OF the very best talent of the native popula-
ZION. l would counsel with their views and
consult them to their officers and give
to them facilities more and more as time
went on and as they became fit for it. and
than In the fulness of time / should, il they
wanted the responsibility of administering
union like this, l should rejoice in seeing
a great republic opposite and apart and over
against the great foreign empire of Japan.
am not afraid of the words imperialism"
and expansion" They have become very
member very well from reading of history.
that the American republic has been an
expanding institution from the beginning.
put threre is another consideration here
the consideration, which, looking twenty or
forty years ahead, must appeal to the iudo
ment and reflection of every thinking man.
Inc who.e agency of the European power,
european aggression, European designs, for
the last thirty years has been tending towards
the Chinese empire.
SO that Russia by building her great rail-
foad. England by acquiring territory in those
lands; Siam, Cochin China occupied nv the
French; Germany by her strategy in obtaining
that port over against Japan, and France by
acquisition at Madagascar fronting in their
possessions and demonstrating as plainly as
you can see the hands on that clock that the
force OF Western civilization is towards China.
and the fact Is that that great empire is in
process OF Acknowledgement and vivisection
Everybody buys our machinery; they have
begun to buy our wheat. Sixty thousand
pounds of American cotton went through this
town ten years ago to Japan and China ports.
| am opposed to the partition of that great
empire. Lwish that the United States would
exercise its moral force to prevent it. I re-
gaqd the opening of China almost equivalent
to the discovery Of America. The Pacific
s.ope of this continent does not contain more
than 100000 people, and 1 believe and I
want to say that if they have a share of that
trade they will have population Of 20 900 900
people and will contribute to the honor of
this country and its glory.
NOW, to occupy the advanced position which
we have taken, | think that we have occu-
pied in the west of the Pacific and north Of
equator ont n haua oto In
place somewhere. Shall retire from them?
Shall | see the great powers of Europe parti-
ton Ch1nl running down to the coast? Our
imports last year must have been ST. 200, OOO,-
GOO, l think the largest of any nation in the
world Shall we shut up ourselves thus in the
avenue OF trade and become in our turn the
China of the West? For what reason shall
we do this? Not by any pressure upon China
ourselves For what reason shall we refuse
from China a part in that world that is be-
ing developed in these islands only 5000 miles
distant? Is property more secure, is 1t more
advanced in civilized nations of the world?
And for that reason l have been the more
willing to assume the possession of the Phil
1ppines. And for that reason l am in favor
of holding them, ruling and governing them
under the conditions and limitations stated,
so long as they are not fit to govern them
selves, and when they do become fit to govern
themselves let them govern themselves, as
l stated few moments ago.
The United States has become great no.
ton. 1t has been found out-that 1t has be-
teen months. Fourteen months ago any Eu-
ropean power could stand off our sores If
they elected, casting merely a sdelong glance
OF languid contempt at the United States
Now we are to be reckoned with at least In
the great moral forum of international af-
fairs. What man or woman is there in this
city who does not feel, that does not delight
In the greatness and grandeur and business
of this nation? Does not every one of you
feel that he VINO dreams, who sleeps upon
beds of ease and dreams occasionally of
arisen, clad in armored steel and with all the
vigilance, perhaps, that the most powerful ma
tions Of the world offers mankind and hu-
mainly everywhere, but says: 81 am hire not
only for the fulfilment Of modern destiny
and to perform the duties that is necessary
wherever the providence of God may place
these 7O,OO0,O 600 people"
GOV. LIND'S REMARKS.
Gov. Lind, called upon at the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Yale (Rep), of Winona,
ccurteously asked to be excused from
speaking at length. He said:
shall say one word, and in saying that I
feel that 1 perform the duties of citizenship
and give expression to your own pride-that
which in cases of this kind inspires every
American. l have to indorse and re-echo the
statements of our senior senator, that at
this time the American people feel in a
greater degree than they ever did that
the people of great, powerful community,
and l trust we will all feel, a just nation.
1t has been my pleasure for many years
back to have absolute and abiding conf
dence in markets, to which our senator
has referred, and is now in the possession OF
all Of us. l have always believed that we
were as great in power, In actual power. by
offensive as we'll as moral processes. as we
were in the potentiality of power with which
we have been credited. We people of the
West, twelve, fourteen or sixteenth months
ago, said that we. could afford to take UP
the couse of Cuba but the East said we could
not afford to take up the matter because our