The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-29

people and another. The sovereign power
owns nothing, but there is something ii
owes. 1t Is charged with the responsibility
Of government. Our relations with the Phil
ippines will be misrepreSented 50 long as we
retain that fatal confusion of government
and property. We simply possess, in virtue
of the treaty of Paris. the right TO govern,
or aid in governing the people of the Philip
pine islands. Unhappily, We have not yet
got beyond the first function OF government.
the suppression of Instruction and the es-
Establishment OF peace and order"
There was, said President Schurman. no
instance in history of the successful gov
eminent of a colony where profit to the
parent state of its citizens had been a
leading consideration. On the other hand,
there were many examples of disasters
and rebellions from such unworthy greed
and exploitation. Let a nation" he said,
seek TO enrich itself or its citizens at the
expense of its colonists and Ii impover-
ishes all. But let a nation in all its deal
ings with its colonies take as its sole cri-
terion of judgment and standard of con-
duct. the welfare of the colonists and 1t will
result. as history everywhere demonstrates.
that the enriched dependencies become the
most profitable traders with the ruling
country
President Schurman said that the initiative
and the directing power belonged to the
sovereign nation and must be exercised by
her representatives. A few will suffice. OF
course there must be one responsible head.
But with an organizing genius at the helm,
it was simply astonishing how much could
be got out of the natives. Continuing. he
said:
II was often asked in the Philippines if
our civil service was better than that OF
Spain. Here is a point where the Fflipinos
fear and suspect Us. We must allay their
anxiety and suspicion by n splendid Philip
pine civil service. / believe We shall. II Is
absolutely necessary. But there will be no
harder task in connection with our govern
ment of the archipelago. / repeat, how
ever; that the success OF our administration
we send out TO conduct 1t much more than
upon acts of Congress or any other cir
cumStances.
In conclusion, Mr.. Schurman said: What
is the end of colonization? Why should We
extend our sovereignty over remote coun-
tries and alien people? 1 answer that the
only justifiable object OF such expansion Is
the establishment of good government in the
territory annexed. the elevation of its people
in civilization and the training of them in
progressive self-goverr ment with a view to
ultimate independence whether by partner
ship in or separation from the sovereign
state. AS the end OF the moral being is
| perIeCIlOn, ana the Gnu IOT the eCOifOIIllC
society is wealth, so the end for the political
community Is independence. In the divine
education OF the race no people can be per-
manently kept I'm a state of subsection to,
or even dependence upon another people. OF
all colonizing nations England is the only
one which has realized this great principle;
and it took a successful rebellion in her first
empire to impress the truth even upon Eng
land.
In the Philippine islands our own mis-
sion is to educate and elevate the Filipinos
and aid them in governing themselves. We
shall not adopt the policy of scuttle, nor,
although American sovereignty must be es-
tablished even by force, shall we ever dream
of the policy of determination. Not oppres-
sion. nor yet abandonment and desertion. not
these, but honest and fraternal co-operation
with the Filipinos for the establishment Of
a just and stable government of the natives
shall have ever increasing participation in
proportion to the development of their polit-
ical capacities, the growth of their political
experience. the progress of the masses in
education and civilization. and the evolution
of the idea and sentiment of nationality, a
sentiment and idea which will be nourished
and developed by the habit of common ac-
ton. the Improvement of the means of COM
munication, the freer intermingling of the
tribes and race. and hearty native CO.
operation with the Americans, whose best
| political traditions are but the realization
OF the dearest ideals of the Filipino peoples"